 |
| forced foreign labor on the Auschwitz construction project. On 25
February 1941, Krauch wrote a letter to Ambros in which he referred to
Goering's order emphasizing the urgency of the project and advising Ambros of
the priority of Auschwitz in the procurement of labor [NI-11938, Pros. Ex. 2199].
Later Krauch himself visited the construction site. On 17 January 1943, Krauch
addressed a letter to Duerrfeld in which he complimented Duerrfeld, as Krauch's
commissary, in setting up the Poelitz installation [NI-11085, Pros. Ex. 1500]. He
then ordered Duerrfeld to continue as commissary for the setting up of the
whole Auschwitz plant, and states: “I wish to assure you of my personal
support in every way in your carrying out of this task.” The minutes of a
meeting of the Central Planning Board on 2 July 1943, with Krauch present as
one of the board members, discloses that Ambros gave a review of damage,
apparently from Allied bombing, at the Huels plant of Farben, in which he
discussed the labor requirements for reconstruction which involved the
procurement of men from the compulsory service of the Reich. The Planning Board
promised the fulfillment of Ambros’ requests in this respect. It also
discussed the labor situation at Auschwitz and the need for more workers,
including additional inmates from the Auschwitz concentration camp. With
respect to the latter request, it is stated that Reichsfuehrer Himmler should
be contacted immediately. On 13 January 1944, Krauch addressed a letter to
President Kehrl of the Central Planning Board, in which he discussed the
allocation of labor. It appears that there had been in the past some
misunderstanding between Krauch’s office and the Armaments Office. Krauch
maintained his position by saying: |
| |
“May I be allowed to point
out, however, that the efforts of my office in such matters as the procurement
of foreign labor within the restrictions set out on the initiative of the
individual employer by the Plenipotentiary General for the Provision of
Manpower [Allocation of Labor], and the employment of certain classes of
manpower (prisoners of war, inmates of concentration camps, prisoners, units of
the Military Pioneer Corps, etc.) have had an effect upon the speed of progress
of chemical production, and upon that production itself, which must not be
underestimated. I consider that the initiative displayed by my staff in the
procurement of labor, a virtue which has proved its worth in the past, must not
be repressed in the future.” [NI-7569, Pros. Ex. 477.] |
| Krauch vigorously challenges the charges that he participated in the
recruitment of slave labor. His agents were active in voluntary recruitment
prior to the initiation of the Sauckel program. Some of these agents continued
to seek skilled workers for some time thereafter. To what extent, if any, these
skilled workers were forced to emigrate |
1188 |
. 
