 |
[ex...] panded to surrounding the outer enclosure of the camp by a
line of guards, while in the plant itself approximately 1 dozen work detail
leaders with the rank of SS-Hauptscharfuehrer checked the individual work
details. By this arrangement, the prisoners had a fairly good opportunity of
moving around quite freely and establishing contact with the free employees. I
know that in connection with mistreatment of the prisoners by I. G. Farben
people or their deputies, the I. G. Farben management, above all Dr. Duerrfeld,
intervened against this.
The working day was from 6 in the morning till
6 in the evening. Included in this time were the roll-calls connected with
arrival and departure. In winter in any case we returned to the camp before
darkness. During the time I was at camp Monowitz I cannot characterize the
tempo of work as murderous. I myself worked on the assembly line. I no longer
knew the name of the firm. I cannot complain about the treatment we received
from the I. G. people.
Through the auspices of I. G. Farben, there were
premium certificates for the prisoners. In exchange for these, the prisoner
could purchase additional goods (tobacco goods, vegetable salad, fish salad,
etc.) in the prisoners’ canteen.
The I. G. Farben plant management
checked the work details, and whenever in their opinion production was
insufficient, reported that fact to the SS. Thereupon punishments followed.
In the camp as well as in the plant there were young people [but] no
children. They were entrusted only with light work if they were employed. They
were employed in apprentice work details, cleaning up rooms and helping skilled
workers.
The prisoners in the labor reform camp
[Arbeitserziehungshaeftlinge] were free laborers, who were accommodated
separately in camp Monowitz up to 6 weeks for overstay of leave, refusal to
work, and similar matters. These prisoners could receive packages, their hair
was not cut, but otherwise they performed the same work as we did. These
prisoners were naturally released after they had served their sentences.
There was a rather large turnover in the population of the camp
whenever, for example, men had to be assigned to mines. It also happened that
fairly large transports were sent off with the Russians or Poles from Monowitz.
I. G. Farben can have had no interest in a constant turnover, because it always
had to train new people again. Of course, I. G. Farben took an interest in
keeping people unsuitable for work away from their plant. It is out of the
question that the entire population of camp Monowitz changed on an average of 3
times every year. It is also not correct that every day numerous prisoners died
of exhaustion while at work. In individual cases, it happened that prisoners
died of fatigue. There is no doubt that the prisoners |
824 |
. 
