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Auschwitz and Fuerstengrube
As early as 1938, the
erection of a plant for the production of buna rubber in the eastern part of
Germany was discussed between ter Meer and the Reich Economics Ministry. A site
was considered in Upper Silesia and another in the northern part of
Sudetenland. Later, at the time the site at Auschwitz was selected, Norway was
also considered.
At a conference in the Reich Ministry of Economics on
6 February 1941
[NI-11112, Pros. Ex. 1413], the planning of the expansion
of buna production was discussed. Ambros and ter Meer were present. It was
reported that at a previous meeting held on 2 November 1940 the Reich Ministry
of Economics had approved such expansion and Farben was instructed to choose an
appropriate site in Silesia for a fourth buna plant. It appears that, pursuant
to this instruction and upon the recommendation of the defendant Ambros, the
site at Auschwitz was chosen.
It was estimated that the new buna plant
would have a production capacity of 30,000 tons per year. It was planned to
combine the buna factory with a new fuel-producing plant on the same site, but
buna was to be given preference. A number of considerations entered into the
selection of Auschwitz: they included an ideal topographical location which was
not vulnerable to air attacks from the west, the proximity to important raw
materials, an abundant supply of coal und water, and the availability of labor.
The labor situation embraced two factors: the comparatively dense population of
the area and the nearby concentration camp Auschwitz, from which forced labor
could he obtained. The evidence is sharply conflicting as to the importance of
the concentration camp in deciding upon the location of the plant. We are
satisfied after a thorough consideration of the evidence, that while the camp
may not have been the determining factor in selecting the location, it was an
important one and, from the beginning, it was planned to use concentration-camp
labor to supplement the supply of workers.
The three Farben officials
most directly responsible for construction at Auschwitz were Ambros,
Buetefisch, and Duerrfeld.
Ambros was the technical expert with respect
to buna. He was a member of the planning committee, whose meetings he attended
regularly. Buetefisch was the expert in regard to fuels and dealt with the
planning and erection of the fuel-producing plant. His headquarters were at
Leuna, a Farben plant devoted mainly to important fuel production. According to
his own testimony, he went to Auschwitz about twice a year and informed himself
about the progress of the construction project. He visited the site and the
various workshops and saw the concentration-camp inmates at work. He visited
the main concentration camp at Auschwitz in the winter of 1941-1942 in company
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