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| INADEQUACY OF AIR RAID PROTECTION |
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The principal prisoner of war camps in Essen were Kraemerplatz,
Raumerstrasse, Bottroperstrasse, and Noeggerathstrasse. There is no substantial
controversy with respect to the prosecution's description of the conditions
prevailing in these camps as to air raid protection and it is fully supported
by the evidence. Originally, the French prisoners of war were housed in
Kraemerplatz. They were transferred to Bottroperstrasse in March 1942. That
camp was destroyed in an air raid in 1943, and the prisoners were then moved to
Noeggerathstrasse where they remained to the end of the war notwithstanding
that the camp was hit at least six times in air raids, twice severely.
Bottroperstrasse was in the area of the Cast Steel Factory, and Kraemerplatz
was immediately adjoining. Noeggerathstrasse was some distance away but was
close to the main line of a railroad. The proximity of these camps,
particularly the first three, to the 80-odd Krupp factories in Essen, rendered
them extremely dangerous. The responsibility for the selection of the camp
sites and their equipment was upon the firm, subject to the approval of
representatives of the Stalag. In September 1939 after the outbreak of war the
Krupp officials immediately anticipated that the Krupp buildings would be
bombed. This affirmatively appears from the testimony of Schroeder, a Krupp
official.
Nevertheless, the prisoner of war camps were located in about
as dangerous places as could be found. Presumably, the location was due in part
at least to the fact that proximity to the factories would prevent loss of
working time in going to and from the camps. However this may be, it is certain
that the camps were located in an area that was subject to bombing attacks;
that these became increasingly severe as the war progressed, and that never at
any time were adequate shelters provided. In 1941, at Kraemerplatz, there
existed air raid shelters in the form of slit trenches. The Stalag protested
that these facilities offer shrapnel proof protection for 220-225 men at most,
whereas the total complement of the camp at that time was 450. Correction of
the situation was delayed by the firm because “of the possibility of
moving the prisoner of war camp.” The number of inmates had reached 600 by
a year later and so far as appears from the credible evidence the request of
Stalag had not been complied with.
A railway tunnel served as the air
raid shelter at Noeggerathstrasse where between 1,200 and 1,500 prisoners
lived. The tunnel was sufficient to accommodate about two-thirds of that
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