And then various firms under Amtsgruppe D are listed there - primarily to the DEST - as recipients of those prisoners who have been released from concentration camps, and who are to be assigned to work in the brick and quarry works.
I turn to page 118 of Document Book II, and offer Document NO-3031, as Exhibit 316. This is a file note signed by Himmler. This is Exhibit 316. And the note refers to Himmler's visit to Lublin and to other camps. In paragraph 2, entitled DAW, he makes the following statement:
"The present camp is to be enlarged for auto repairs and carpenter shops exclusively. A new labor camp with the necessary workshops for clothing, locksmith's shop, tanner, shoe repair shops and wheelwright shop (sleigh production) is to be erected in the eastern sector of Lublin."
"Paragraph 6) The responsible foremen of the workshops, of the construction managements, etc. are to be promoted to grades which are in accordance with their knowledge and responsibility. SS-Oberfuehrer Dr. Kammler is to submit the propositions in this connection to SSGruppenfuehrer Pohl and SS-Gruppenfuehrer Juettner."
"Paragraph 8) The DAW are to conduct the training of masons, carpenters, etc. (building laborers) for utilization in the East. Furthermore, large tailorshops with female Jewish personnel are to be established.
"Paragraph 11) The action "Search for German Blood" will be extended to the whole General Government, and a large settlement will be established in the German colonies near Zamose. A beginning should be made as soon as possible with changing the style of farms, fields, etc., in order to give them a pure, German character.
Great importance has to be attached to the planting of hedges, detc. The small drill field turned over by the Wehrmacht is to be made a central point."
At page 121 I offer Document NO-585 as Exhibit 317. This is a letter dated 18 November 1941, concerning regulations for payment for concentration camp inmates working for the firm Peter Stiel, Cologne, and establishes standard operating procedure. The letter states that this decision is definitive and will be used as a basis in future similar cases, and outlines the procedure to be used, and, similarly, the so-called wages for concentration camp inmates.
At page 123 I offer Document NO-718, as Exhibit 318. This also establishes certain standard operating procedure; is dated 29 November 1941 -- excuse me, 28 November 1941 - and is a circular from the Inspectorate of Concentration Camps explaining the procedure to be adopted when supplying inmates from the camps to private industry.
At page 128 I offer NO-2113 as Exhibit 319. This is a letter from the Inspector General of Concentration Camps signed by - as well as I can make out - a person named G-a-i-t, and it is addressed to the commanders of various concentration camps, and reads as follows:
"I think the time has come when Russian prisoners of war may be recruited for work. Already during the conference on 10 and 11 November 1941 short statements on strength-reports and allowances were made." Evidence will be offered in this case to show that Russian prisoners of war were used on an extensive scale in the W industries.
At page 129 I offer Document NO-385. I beg your pardon - this document has already been offered into evidence and will not be offered again. Its exhibit number is 54, and was offered in Document Book III at page 43 of that book. Exhibit 54 in Document Book No. III.
At page 131 appears Document 331. I do not propose to offer this document in evidence.
At page 133 I offer Document NO-1958 as Prosecution Exhibit 320. This is a letter from Liebehenschel, who at that time was the Inspector of Concentration Camps, to the commanding officer of Buchenwald, and reads: "The Chief of the Security Police and of SD, Heydrich, has agreed to the transfer of 138 Soviet prisoners of war whose names were submitted to us for work in the quarry of the Mauthausen concentration camp."
Document NO-500 at page 134 has already been offered in evidence, and that is Exhibit 55 in Book III. At page 45, Exhibit 55 in Book III.
At page 135 Document 1215 has already been offered in evidence. It is Exhibit 57 in Book III at page 55 of that book. Exhibit 57 in Book III.
The next document is NO-569, and I offer this as Exhibit 321. This is a letter dated 17 March 1942, and is a record of a correspondence in Saur's office regarding the transfer of armament production to concentration camps, and giving the number of inmates used there.
DR. SEIDL: This document has already been submitted.
MR. ROBBINS: Has it?
Dr. Seidl tells me that this document is also included in Book II, NO-569. However, I do not see it. Do you have the exhibit number?
For the time being I should like to reserve - I should like to go ahead and offer this in evidence. The Clerk has the photostats there. I can not find from my record that it has been offered previously. As Exhibit 321, the next document is Document 421, which I offer as Exhibit 322. This is at page 139 and it is dated 17 March 1942; is a memorandum referring to certain plans to transfer inmates from Neuengamme to a certain private firm, Franke Works, in Berlin, for the manufacture of munitions.
Two hundred-fifty to three hundred Russian PW's were employed there. I can not make out the signature on this document. It is addressed to Dr. Schieber.
At page 140 I offer Document NO-505 as Exhibit 323. This is a teletype dated 2d of April 1942 from Gluecks to Himmler referred to the rerection of four barracks started in Buchenwald. He says that "300 prisoners will be used for manufacturing carbines... 500 for small ammunition and pistols." He reports on the conference with the representatives of the Speer Ministry regarding the manufacture in the Neuengamme concentration camp: "...300 to 400 prisoners".. will be used... "in three shifts."
I next offer Document 596 at page 142 as Document 324 - Exhibit 324. This is a letter from the defendant Pohl to Himmler dated 8 April 1942, reporting on preparations made for the construction of a Volkswagen factory at Fallersleben.
"The WVHA," he states, "manages the construction and has set up barracks for guards and concentration camp inmates."
This completes Document Book XI.
JUDGE PHILLIPS: Mr. Robbins, as a matter of informa tion, whatever became of Gluecks?
MR. ROBBINS: I am sorry, I can not state that at the moment. Mr. McHaney, I think, made some reference to that in his opening statement.
JUDGE PHILLIPS: He did, and I was trying to recall what it was.
MR. ROBBINS: I just do not remember.
I turn to Document Book No. XII, which is also concerned with slave labor. The first document in Book XII has already been introduced in evidence. That is Document NO-1284. It is Exhibit 114 in Book IV at page 110 of that book.
I next offer Document 604 on page 2 of Book XII as Exhibit 325. This is a letter from the chief of Amt II, Liebehenschel - the document, rather. The stencil indicates that the signature is illegible but I have determined that it was signed by Liebehenschel and is addressed to the commanding officers of various concentration camps, concerning the assignment of clergymen to work. It states that the "transfer to Dachau for labor assignments in the medicinal-herb gardens will be ordered" for certain priests.
The previous letter has already ordered that Polish and Lithuanian priests are to do work of all kinds but the German, Dutch, and Norwegian clergymen are to be worked in gardens.
On Page 3 I offer Document NO-1552 as Exhibit 326. This is also a letter from Gluecks to the commanders of various concentration camps, dated 16 March 1944, concerning the assignment of clergymen. It states that "under no circumstances may clergymen be employed as clerks in the protective custody camps or in the camp headquarters or in any other SS office (SS works, pay office, camp administration, political department, post office, registration office, infirmary, crematorium, etc.). Clergymen who were up to the present employed on work as described above are to be relieved at once."
On Page 4 I offer Document NO-602 as Prosecution Exhibit 327. This is a letter from Maurer, who was at that time chief of Amtsgruppe D-II, to the labor allocation headquarters of various concentration camps, and it directs that inmates employed in agricultural labor who up to that time have been classed as unskilled laborers are hereafter to be carried in the reports as agricultural laborers.
The next document on Page 5, NO-1215, has already been offered in evidence. It is Exhibit 56 contained in Book 3 at Page 55 - Exhibit 57 in Book 3. The next document is NO-598 at Page 7 of Document Book 12 and will be Exhibit 328. This is a letter from Himmler to Pohl, dated 7 July 1942, and the second part of the document is Pohl's reply of 8 July.
I should like to read the first paragraph of Himmler's letter to Pohl. It says, "I had an opportunity today to talk with SS-Brigadefuehrer Dr. Schieber. He was very satisfied with the total development of our concentration camps. To these questions, still a few remarks:
"1. Buchenwald is clear. Indeed, a plant will be set up there for the production of 55,000 carbines and be put in operation as soon as possible. Parallel to it runs the production of 10,000 carbines at present, to be increased later to 20,000.
"2. I have come to the decision to take Neuengamme as location for the plant, notwithstanding the danger of air raids in the vicinity of Hamburg.
Pistol 08 shall be manufactured there."
The next paragraph refers to camouflage of those works. He states in paragraph 4 that in Auschwitz the 3.7 anti-aircraft guns shall be produced on a large scale. As I stated, the latter part of this document is Pohl's reply and states that the erection of a plant at Neuengamme has been started and that Juettner has negotiated with Speer and Werlin regarding the matter.
I should like to reserve Exhibit Number 329 for Document 3032. It is not in the English document book, and I shall not offer it at this time. On page 11 I offer Document 2175 as Prosecution Exhibit 330. This is a letter from Kammler, Amtgruppe C, to the DAW in Dachau, referring to the dispatch of inmates, and enclosing a questionnaire. It refers to the fact that forty-two prisoners are requested from this administration for the office there for the loading of the wood located at the yard station.
DR. SEIDL: Dr. Seidl for the defendant Pohl. May it please the Court, the document which is now to be submitted is not in our document book. It is contained in the index, it is true, but there is nothing where it should give the page number, and that shows that the document should not be submitted at this point. Nor is the next document contained in our book. It is again listed in the index; however, by mistake it may be the document has not been added to our document book. I would ask the prosecution to submit the document only when the defense has obtained their copy in good time.
THE PRESIDENT: During the short recess which the Court is about to take you can examine this, Mr. Robbins, and see whether the doctor's statement is true. Court will now be in recess.
THE MARSHAL: This Tribunal is in recess fifteen minutes.
(A recess was taken.)
THE MARSHAL: Tribunal 2 is again in session.
MR. ROBBINS: Dr. Seidl was correct, if Your Honor please. They do not know of Document NO-2175 in German. I should like then to offer it provisionally and we will furnish a copy later.
The same is true of Document NO-2128, page 12, which I should like to assign Exhibit No. 331 and offer conditionally. I should like, however, to read a part of this document because it explains the organizational set-up of the SS Economic Administrators who were assigned to the higher SS and police leaders in the East and in the occupied territories. This is a letter signed by the defendant Pohl, and the first part of it deals with budgets - first in paragraph 1 he says:
"SS Economic Administrators will be appointed for the following Senior SS and Police leaders, as from 1 August 1942 --
"For the Senior SS and Police Leader Ostland, Middle Russia, Southern Russia, East, North, and Serbia.
"The SS Economic Administrator signs as:
"The Senior SS and Police Leader "The SS Economic Administrator "Rank "The SS Economic Administrator is competent for all economic and administrative matters pertaining to SS offices and SS units within the sphere of the above mentioned Senior SS and Police leaders.
Excepted from this rule are the SS units subordinate to the Wehrmacht.
"The SS Economic Administrator has the following duties:
"1. Budget.
"a) Reich:
"In accordance with Paragraph 19, Clause 2, of the economic regulations for the Reich authorities, I appoint the SS Economic Administrator of the Senior SS and Police leaders as specialists for budgetary matters. SS Economic Administrators take full responsibility for the most economical management of all funds.
"b) Party:
"With regard to the use of Party funds, the SS Economic Admini strators are authorized to make payments in accordance with the following regulations."
And then four separate regulations are cited.
"c) Economy:
"The SS Economic and Administrative Main Office is responsible for making available funds to economic enterprises not administered by the Reich.
"2. Cash and Accounting.
"a) Provision of Funds:
"Field pay offices are to be established for the Senior SS and Police leaders insofar as this has not been done yet, taking into consideration the administrative bulletin for the Waffen-SS 1940, No. 6, paragraph 39. They have to provide currently the administrative offices within their district (account-rendering offices) with funds. The Field Pay office forwards the funds to the administrative offices in accordance with the directive of the Waffen-SS 1940, No. 11, paragraph 278.
"b) Bookkeeping and Settlement:
"For the bookkeeping of the administrative and payment offices applies paragraph 1, No. 2 of the administrative bulletin for the WaffenSS 1940."
And the remainder of that paragraph consists merely of bookkeeping details and the same is true of "c", which concerns bank and post office accounts and postal matters.
"e) Payment:
"Peace and wartime pay for members of the SS are in principle paid at home. Changes which affect the amount of peacetime or wartime pay are to be reported immediately by the administrative offices to the fiscal department. Applications for emergency relief, allowances, advance on pay interest free, annulment of excess pay, are to be sent to the peacetime and wartime pay offices through the SS Economic Administrator. The salaries and wages for employees and workers from the Reich are paid by the fiscal department of the SS Economic and Administrative Main Office, the WVHA.
Special payment for operational duty is paid by the competent local administrative office. Employees and workers who receive their wages from the Economic Offices are to be excepted. Salaries and wages for indigenous German employees and workers, who resided in the occupied territories at the beginning of the occupation, will paid by the respective administrative office.
"f) The SS WVHA reserves the right to grant permission and make decisions in regard to traveling expenses, expenses incurred through change of residence and separation allowances, for which normally the highest Reich authorities are competent."
And then paragraph 3 deals with legal matters which come under the WVHA and the SS Economic Administrator. Sub-paragraph f under that number provides that:
"Complaints against decisions of the SS Economic Administrator, the conducting of lawsuits and all matters dealing with acquisition of real estate will fall under the jurisdiction of the WVHA."
Auditing. Paragraph 4. "The pre-auditing of accounts rendered by the administrative office will be made by the pre-auditing office of the SS-Economic Administrator.
"To secure a uniform auditing system, the SS-Economic Administrator will receive official instructions from the WVHA."
Paragraph 5 deals with the food supply. Paragraph C provides "It is the responsibility of the SS-Economic Administrators that rations and canteens goods are utilized in accordance with the present laws and regulations, as well as the order of the WVHA."
"Six, Clothing Economy.The establishment or re-starting of manufacturing plants will be planned and carried out exclusively by the WVHA. All independent processing of textile raw materials, skins, furs, or leather, prohibited.
"For the clothing factories and other manufacturing plants within the jurisdiction of a Senior SS-and Police leader, the SS-Economic Administrator receives technical instructions from the WVHA.
"The right to dispose of stocks of clothing stores is held only by the SS-Economic and Administrative Main Office" the WVHA., "In special cases of emergency the SS Economic Administrator can make a decision concerning a distribution on his own initiative. It is necessary to inform the SS-Economic and Administrative Main Office immediately and to apply for retrospective approval.
"Instructions issued up to date for administration of stores and reports on stocks will retain their validity. In principal the provision of the fighting troops with clothing equipment will be effected through the WVHA. This applies also to new field-units to be established. The provision of all locally established units, (replacements units, garrisons administration, etc.) is effected by the SS-Economic from their own clothing stores, whereby care should be taken to avoid the establishment of too extensive stocks." and so forth.
"e. The authority to write off losses of clothing and equipment up to 5000.- RM in individual cases will be transferred to the SS Economic Administrators."
The next paragraph 7 deals with the accommodation economy, which is explained as embracing the administration of buildings and real estate, the provision, administration, utilization and control of equipment and expendable materials for housing purposes. "Above all the provision of accommodation equipment within their own sphere is to be attempted. In so far as this is not possible, well founded applications are to be submitted to the WVHA."
Paragraph 8 deals with motor transportation. "The SS-Economic Administrator is responsible for the control and assignment of motor vehicles of all offices subordinate to him.
"Independent provision of motor vehicles and motor vehicle accessories is prohibited.
"Absolutely essential requirements are to be requested from the WVHA."
Paragraph 9 deals with raw materials economy and states that secured raw materials are to be stored appropriately and then reported to the WVHA.
On page 6 of this document, page 17 of the Document Book, the translator placed the certificate of translation in the middle of the document, but that may be ignored.
Page 7, page 18 of the Document Book, continues with the same letter by Pohl. Paragraph 10 deals with building matters. It provides that "when the executory regulations come into force the existing building inspectorates will be dissolved. The entire personnel of the Building Inspectorates will be transferred for duty with the Higher SS - and Police Chief and SS Economic Administrator.
"The present Central Administrations will remain in existence. The chiefs of the Central Building Administrations will be given the disciplinary powers of company commanders. The setting up of new Central Building Administrations requires the authority of the WVHA.
"c) The constructions tasks of the SS-Economic Administrator embrace 3 phases:
"Phase 1) Constructional Planning "Phase 2) Erection of Buildings
3) Maintenance of Buildings:
The construction units are for the purposes of utilization of labor subordinated to the Economic Administrator. Technical directives are issued by the WVHA.
"The Chief of the building department represents the authority of the Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police" Himmler "in constructional matters. The SS Economic Administrator is the highest building police authority for building measures within the jurisdiction of the Higher SS and Police Chief."
Paragraph numbered 11 deals with concentration camps and provides that "The Economic Administrator is the competent authority in all matters concerning concentration camps.
"The concentration camp commandants will report by teletype all special occurrences, such as mass escapes, escapes of individual prisoners, executions, suicides, in the first instance to the SS Economic Administrator. The latter will at once submit the report to the Higher SS and Police Chief.
"This instruction does not affect the reports to be made to the WVHA (Department D,), to the Reich Security Main Office, Berlin, to the Personal Staff of Himmler and to the Assigning Office; reports to these authorities will continue to be made.
"All occurrences affecting the SS Guard Troop are to be reported to the SS Economic Administrator attached to the Higher SS and Police Chief. A duplicate of this report is, at the same time, to be submitted to the WVHA.
"Enquires into all disciplinary cases beyond the disciplinary authority of the camp commandant will be conducted by the Higher SS and Police Chief in his capacity as appointing authority.
"All state police tasks in connection with the concentration camps, such as assignments, discharges and furloughs of prisoners will be handled directly by the WVHA as previously.
The Higher SS and Police Chief is to be notified of important measures, such as the assignment of large numbers of prisoners."
"g" provides that, "allocation of labor from concentration camps is handled directly by the Higher SS and Police Chief and SS Economic Administrator. Construction orders of WVHA have priority.
"The Promotion and supervision of prisoners' training for specialized jobs is the responsibility of the SS-Economic Administrator who will receive appropriate instructions through the WVHA.
"Sanitary and hygienic measures in the concentration camps, prevention and combating of epidemics, and moreover the supervision of medical experiments, are the responsibility of the Medical Officer on the staff of the Higher SS and Police Chief."
Paragraph 12 deals with the economic enterprises. It provides that "The Economic Administrator has supervisory authority over the economic enterprises of the WVHA, within his jurisdiction. In particular he has to ensure that, first and foremost, the requirements of the Waffen-SS and the police are met according to the degree of urgency in precedence of all other requirements. All negotiations with the higher authorities are to be conducted by the economic enterprises only with the concurrence of the SS Economic Administrator.
"Intervention in the internal management and financial matters of installations affiliated to an enterprise possessing legal independence is only permitted at the express order of the WVHA.
The next paragraph 13 deals with personnel administration: "All SS officers, Unterfuehrers, men and civilian employees at present assigned by the WVHA to the subsidiary offices of the WVHA within the jurisdiction of a Higher SS and Police Chief will be transferred to the Higher SS and Police Chief -- SS Economic Administrator."
The following paragraph deals with promotions and appointments.
Paragraph 14 deals with judicial and disciplinary matters which are under the supervision of the WVHA. The letter is signed by the Defendant Pohl.
The second part of the last, the last part of the document is another letter b Pohl to Himmler dated 27 July 1942. This is still part of Document NO-2128. I will not read this letter. It simply makes recommendations to Himmler as to the appointment of certain economic administrators for the occupied countries.
The last part of the document is a letter from Himmler's Staff to the WVHA, and to Oswald Pohl reading as follows: "Dear Obergruppenfuehrer; Your letter of 27 July 1942 enclosing executive provisions has been submitted to the Reichsfuehrer SS. He has marked on them, in handwriting, the following: 1. Approved. 2. Suggestions for appointments approved."
At page 25 there is a Document No. NO-1505. I will not offer this, because it is identical with Document NO-1017, which has been offered at page 50 of Book 5, and gives the Exhibit No. 127. Document NO-1505 on page 25 is the same as the Document No. 1017, Exhibit No. 127. This is a letter dated 1 August 1942, from Gluecks to all the Reich Concentration Camp Commandants, referring to the saving of paper, and the work be not recorded as to the deaths of the Russians prisoners of war. It provides, "There will be no special treatment of each individual case. In order to save paper and labor, I, therefore, direct that neither the arrival of such a prisoner nor his transfer into another camp is to be announced individually; moreover, no camp indexcards are to be made out and sent to the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) office IV C 2. Reports to this office are not to be made either."
At page 27 I offer Document No. NO-497 as Prosecution Exhibit 332. This is a cable from Gluecks of Amtsgruppen D to Grothman, who was an official of Amtsgruppen "regarding the transfer of 250 women from Ravensbrueck to Luebeck. It reads as follows: "I contacted the Mayor of Luebeck at once as to the transfer of 250 women from the concentration camp Ravensbrueck. He informed me that the camp is not quite ready yet to receive the prisonlabor. As soon as this will have been done the 250 women which I am selecting will be moved to Leubeck according to the order."
The following series of documents concern the agreement which was made between Himmler and the Reichministry of Justice providing that certain people would be transferred to the Reichs Ministry of Justice to be worked -- to be transferred to the SS to be worked to death.
The first Document is No. 654-PS, page 28 of the Document Book 12, and I offer this as Prosecution's Exhibit No. 333. It refers to a conference on 18 September 1942, and has been a basic memorandum, according to the agreement between Himmler and Thierack, wherein Thierack would deliver anti-social elements from the execution of their sentence to the Reich Fuehrer of SS to be worked to death. I refer to the second paragraph: "The delivery of anti-social elements from the execution of their sentence to the Reich Fuehrer of SS to be worked to death. Persons under protective arrest, Jews, Gypsies, Russians and Ukrainians. Poles with more than 3 year sentences, Czechs and Germans with more than 8 year sentences, according to the decision of the Reich Minister for Justice. First of all the worst anti-social elements amongst these just mentioned are to be handed over. I shall inform the Fuehrer of this through Reichsleiter Bormann." And the memorandum is initialed by Theirack.
At page 31 I offer Document NG-059. The index is incorrect, which refers to document NO-059. The document is actually NG059. This is Prosecution's Exhibit No. 334. It is a filememorandum dated 19 September 1942, stating that the Minister of Justice conferred with Himmler for five and one-half hours.
DR. SEIDL: Dr. Seidl for the defendant Oswald Pohl. May it please Your Honor, I would like to draw Your Honors' attention to the fact that this document here is not in our Document Book. I would like to ask the Prosecution to at least submit photostatic copies of this document later on.
MR. ROBBINS: I shall merely offer this conditionally at this time then. I should like to read it, as it is quite short. It is as follows: "On 18 September 1942 following an invitation by the Reichsfuehrer SS, Dr. Thierack, Reich Minister of Justice, and Dr. Rothenberger, State Secretary met at the Reichsfuehrer's field command post.
They had a discussion, lasting 5½ hours, with the Reichsfuehrer, in which also participated on the side of the Reichsfuehrer SS-Gruppenfuehrer Streeckenback (Security Police) and SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Bender (SS-Judge with the Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police). The results of the discussion, about which State Secretary Dr. Rothenberger expressed greatest satisfaction, are to be summarized in the minutes. (Annex in ink) Afterward the Reich Minister of Justice, and the Reichsfuehrer SS had a private conversation alone."
On page 32 I offer the Document NO --- again this is Document NG-558, which is Prosecution's Exhibit No. 335. It is a letter from the Minister of Justice to Bormann informing him to use Poles, Jews, Russians and Gypsies which will be turned over to the SS to be exterminated. I should like to read part of it. It is initialed by Thierack, dated 13 October 1942:
"With a view to freeing the German people of Poles, Russians, Jews and Gypsies and with a view to making the Eastern territories which have been incorporated into the Reich available for settlements for German nationals, I intend to turn over criminal proceedings against Poles, Russians, Jews and Gypsies to the Reichsfuehrer SS. In so doing I base myself on the principle that the administration of Justice can only make a small contribution to the extermination of members of these people. The Justice Administration undoubtedly pronounces very severe sentences on such persons, but that is not enough to constitute any material contribution towards the realization of the above-mentioned aim. Nor is any useful purpose served by keeping such persons in German prisons and penitentiaries for years, even if they are utilized as labor for war purposes, as is done every day on a large scale.
"I am, on the other hand, of the opinion that considerably better results can be accomplished by surrendering such persons to the police, who can then take the necessary measures unhampered by any legal criminal evidence.
I start from the principle that such measures seem entirely justified in war-time and that certain conditions which I consider essential are fulfilled. These conditions consist in the prosecution of Poles and Russians by the police only if they resided until 1 September 1939 in the former sectors of Poland or the Soviet Union; and, secondly that Poles who were registered as being of German descent will continue to be subjected to prosecution by the administration of justice as before.
"On the other hand the police may prosecute Jews and Gypsies irrespective of these conditions.
"But no changes whatsoever are to be made in regard to the prosecution of other foreign nationals by the administration of justice.
"The Reichsfuehrer SS, with whom I discussed these views, agrees with them. I also informed Herr Dr. Lammers.
"I submit this matter to you, requesting you to let me know whether the Fuehrer approves this view. If so, I would make my official recommendations through Reich Minister Dr. Lammers."
Then comes Document No. NO-1285, which shows Pohl's connection with this nefarious plan, and shows the success that the WVHA had accomplished in working the prisoners to death. This document has already been presented in a previous book, and had been given the exhibit No. 164, in Book 6, at page 30, and of this Document NO-1285 I should like to read a part of it, since it is not referred to in detail at that time. Pohl writes to Himmler on 15 March 1943: "According to concurring reports received from all camps occupied by prisoners in protective custody, the state of health and thus the working capacity of the prisoners sent in by the administration of Justice is catastrophic. In all the camps a loss of between at least 25 -- 30% is to be reckoned with, and then this number is only reached if the prisoners are treated with consideration for a greater length of time.
The camp Mauthausen/ Gusen constitutes an exception. Here the working in capacity and also the mortality of prisoners in protective custody is on a considerably higher level. One can definitely assume that Mauthausen received the worst material. In the subordinate concentration camps according to the census of 1 March 1943 till now there were 10,191 prisoners in protective custody of which 7,587 were assigned to the concentration camp Mauthausen/Gusen. From these the deaths totaled 3,853; 3,306 of them in Mauthausen/Gusen. The reason for the increased incapacity for work, and mortality must presumably be that the many prisoners in protective custody who have been in prisons for years are suffering from physical debility owing to the transfer to a different milieu, so that in spite of all efforts death during labor assignment and sojourn in the open air can not be retarded. The consequences are especially unfavorable as a great number of tuberculosis patients were also delivered."