Chapter X (3)

“On the whole, we found this camp to have been operated and
administered much in the same manner as Buchenwald had been
operated and managed. When the efficiency of the workers
decreased as a result of the conditions under which they were
required to live, their rations were decreased as punishment.
This brought about a vicious circle in which the weak became
weaker and were ultimately exterminated.” (_L-159_)

Such was the cycle of work, torture, starvation and death for concentration camp labor—labor which Goering, while requesting that more of it be placed at his disposal, said had proved very useful; labor which Speer was “anxious” to use in the factories under his control.

8. THE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF SAUCKEL

Sauckel bears special responsibility for the Nazi slave labor program and the manner in which it was executed. Sauckel was appointed as Plenipotentiary General for Manpower because he was an old and trusted Nazi. He has certified, on 17 November 1945, that he held the following positions:

“1. Member of _Nationalsozialistischen Deutschen Arbeiterpartei_
(1925-1945). (Member of National Socialist German Workers Party.
Member No. 1395.)

2. Member of Reichstag (_Mitglied des Reichstags_) (1933-1945).

3. Gauleiter of Thuringia (1927-1945).

4. Member of Thuringian legislature (_Landtag_) (1927-1933/34).

5. Minister of Interior and head of Thuringian State Ministry
(May 1933).

6. _Reichsstatthalter_ for Thuringia (1933-1945).

7. SA Obergruppenfuehrer (November 1937-1945).

8. SS Obergruppenfuehrer (January 1942-1945).

9. Administrator Berlin-Suhler Waffen & Fahrzeugwerke (1935).

10. Head of Gustloff-Werke Nationalsozialistische
Industrie-Stiftung (1936). Honorary Head of Foundation.

11. General Plenipotentiary for Labor Allocation
(_Generalbevollmaechtigter fuer den Arbeitseinsatz_) (21 March
1942-1945).” (_2974-PS_)

Sauckel’s official responsibilities are borne out by other evidence. His appointment as Plenipotentiary-General for Manpower was effected by a decree of 21 March 1942 signed by Hitler, Lammers, and Keitel. By that decree (_1666-PS_) Sauckel was given authority as well as responsibility subordinate only to that of Hitler and Goering for all matters relating to recruitment, allocation, and handling of foreign and domestic manpower. Goering, to whom Sauckel was directly responsible, abolished the recruitment and allocation agencies for the Four Year Plan, delegated their powers to Sauckel and placed his far-reaching authority, as deputy for the Four Year Plan, at Sauckel’s disposal. This was the result of Goering’s decree dated 27 March 1942 (_1666-PS_) and providing as follows:

“In pursuance of the Fuehrer’s Decree of 21 March 1942 (RGBl I,
179), I decree as follows:

“1. My manpower sections (_Geschaeftsgruppen Arbeitseinsatz_)
are hereby abolished (circular letter of 22 Oct 1936/St M. Dev.
265). Their duties (recruitment and allocation of manpower,
regulations for labor conditions (_Arbeitsbedingungen_)) are
taken over by the Plenipotentiary General for Arbeitseinsatz,
who is directly under me.

“2. The Plenipotentiary General for _Arbeitseinsatz_ will be
responsible for regulating the conditions of labor (wage policy)
employed in the Reich Territory, having regard to the
requirements of _Arbeitseinsatz_.

“3. The Plenipotentiary General for _Arbeitseinsatz_ is part of
the Four Year Plan. In cases where new legislation is required,
or existing laws required to be modified, he will submit
appropriate proposals to me.

“4. The Plenipotentiary General for _Arbeitseinsatz_ will have
at his disposal for the performance of his task the right
delegated to me by the Fuehrer for issuing instructions to the
higher Reich authorities, their branches and the Party offices,
and their associated organisms and also the Reich Protector, the
General Governor, the Commander-in-Chief, and heads of the civil
administrations. In the case of ordinances and instructions of
fundamental importance a report is to be submitted to me in
advance.” (_1666-PS_)

By a Hitler decree of 30 September 1942 Sauckel was given extraordinary powers over the civil and military authorities of the territories occupied by Germany. The decree (_1903-PS_) provided as follows:

“I herewith authorize the Deputy General for the
_Arbeitseinsatz_, Reich-governor and district leader (Gauleiter)
Fritz Sauckel to take all necessary measures for the enforcement
of my decree referring to a Deputy General for the
_Arbeitseinsatz_ of 21 March 1942 (_Reichsgesetzblatt_, I, page
179) according to his own judgment in the Greater German Reich,
in the Protectorate, and in the Government General
(_General-gouvernement_) as well as in the occupied territories,
measures which will safeguard under all circumstances the
regulated deployment of labor (_Geordneter Arbeitseinsatz_) for
the German war-economy. For this purpose he may appoint
commissioners (_Beauftragte_) to the bureaux of the military and
civilian administration. These are subordinated directly to
Deputy General for the _Arbeitseinsatz_. In order to carry out
their tasks, they are entitled to issue directives to the
competent military and civilian authorities in charge of the
_Arbeitseinsatz_ and of wage-policy.

“More detailed directives will be issued by the Deputy General
for the _Arbeitseinsatz_.

“Fuehrer-Headquarters, 30 Sept. 1942.

“The Fuehrer
“(signed) Adolph Hitler.” (_1903-PS_)

Within a month after his appointment, Sauckel sent Rosenberg his “Labor Mobilization Program”, which might more appropriately be termed Sauckel’s “Charter of Enslavement.” This program envisaged the forcible recruitment and the maximum exploitation of the entire labor resources of the conquered areas and of prisoners of war in the interests of the Nazi war machine, at the lowest conceivable degree of expenditure to the German State. Sauckel explained his plans in these terms:

“It must be emphasized, however, that an additional tremendous
number of foreign labor has to be found for the Reich. The
greatest pool for that purpose are the occupied territories of
the East. Consequently, it is an immediate necessity to use the
human reserves of the Conquered Soviet Territory to the fullest
extent. Should we not succeed in obtaining the necessary amount
of labor on a voluntary basis, we must immediately institute
conscription or forced labor.

“Apart from the prisoners of war still in the occupied
territories, we must, therefore, requisition skilled or
unskilled male and female labor from the Soviet territory from
the age of 15 up for the labor mobilization * * *.”

* * * * * *

“The complete employment of all prisoners of war as well as the
use of a gigantic number of new foreign civilian workers, men
and women, has become an undisputable necessity for the solution
of the mobilization of labor program in this war.” (_016-PS_)

Sauckel proceeded to implement this “Charter of Enslavement” with certain basic directives. In Regulation No. 4, which he issued on 7 May 1942, Sauckel provided that if voluntary recruitment of foreign workers was unsuccessful, compulsory service should be instituted. This regulation provides:

“The recruitment of foreign labor will be done on the
fundamental basis of volunteering. Where, however, in the
occupied territories the appeal for volunteers does not suffice,
obligatory service and drafting must, under all circumstances,
be resorted to. This is an indisputable requirement of our labor
situation.” (_3044-PS_)

Sauckel provided also for the allocation of foreign labor in the order of its importance to the Nazi war machine. Sauckel’s regulation No. 10 of 22 August 1942 had these aims:

“* * * 3. The resources of manpower that are available in the
occupied territories are to be employed primarily to satisfy the
requirements of importance for the war, in Germany itself. In
allocating the said labor resources in the Occupied Territories,
the following order of priority will be observed:

“(_a_) Labor required for the troops, the occupation
authorities, and the civil authorities;

“(_b_) Labor required for the German armaments (_Ruestungen_);

“(_c_) Labor required for food and agriculture;

“(_d_) Labor required for industrial work other than armaments,
which is in the interest of Germany;

“(_e_) Labor required for industrial work in the interests of
the population of the territory in question.” (_3044-A-PS_)

Sauckel and agencies subordinate to him exercised exclusive authority over the recruitment of workers from every area in Europe occupied by, controlled by, or friendly to the German nation. Sauckel affirmed this authority in the following decree:

“The recruitment of foreign labor in the areas occupied by
Germany, in allied, friendly or neutral states will be carried
out exclusively by my commissioners, or by the competent German
military or civil agencies for the tasks of labor mobilization.”

* * * * * *

“For the carrying out of recruitment in allied, friendly or
neutral foreign countries, my commissioners are solely
responsible.” (_3044-PS_)

Sauckel participated in the formulation of overall labor requirements for Germany and assigned quotas to be filled by and with the assistance of the individuals and agencies mentioned above, with knowledge that force and brutality were the only means whereby his demands could be met. Thus, the Lammer’s report states (_1292-PS_):

“1. A conference took place with the Fuehrer today which was
attended by:

“The Plenipotentiary for the Employment of Labor Gauleiter
Sauckel,

“The Secretary for Armament and War Production, Speer,

“The Chief of the Supreme Command of the Army, General Field
Marshal Keitel, General Field Marshal Milch,

“The Acting Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture State
Secretary Backe,

“The Minister of the Interior, Reichfuehrer SS Himmler, and
myself.

(The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of National
Economy had repeatedly asked to be permitted to participate
prior to the Conference, but the Fuehrer did not wish their
attendance.)

“The Fuehrer declared in his introductory remarks:

‘I want a clear picture:

(1) How many workers are required for the maintenance of
German War Economy?

(_a_) For the maintenance of present output?

(_b_) To increase its output?

(2) How many workers can be obtained from Occupied
Countries, or how many can still be gained in the Reich
by suitable means (increased output)? For one thing, it
is this matter of making up for losses by death,
infirmity, the constant fluctuation of workers, and so
forth, and further it is a matter of procuring
additional workers.’

“The Plenipotentiary for the Employment of Labor, Sauckel,
declared that, in order to maintain the present pool of workers,
he would have to add at least 2½ but probably 3 million new
workers in 1944. Otherwise production would fall off.
Reichsminister Speer declared that he needs an additional 1.3
million laborers. However, this would depend on whether it will
be possible to increase production of iron ore. Should this not
be possible, he would need no additional workers. Procurement of
additional workers from Occupied Territory would, however, be
subject to the condition that these workers will not be
withdrawn from armament and auxiliary industries already working
there. For this would mean a decrease of production of these
industries which he could not tolerate. Those, for instance, who
are already working in France in industries mentioned above,
must be protected against being sent to work in Germany by the
Plenipotentiary for the Employment of Labor. The Fuehrer agreed
with the opinions of Reichsminister Speer and emphasized that
the measures taken by the Plenipotentiary for the Employment of
Labor should order no circumstances which would lead to the
withdrawal of workers from armament and auxiliary industries
working in occupied territories, because such a shift of workers
would only cause disturbance of production in occupied
countries.

“The Fuehrer further called attention to the fact that at least
250,000 laborers will be required for preparations against air
attacks in the field of civilian air raid protection. For Vienna
alone, 2,000-2,500 are required immediately. The Plenipotentiary
for the Employment of Labor must add at least 4 million workers
to the manpower pool, considering that he requires 2½ million
workers for maintenance of the present level, that Reich
Minister Speer needs 1.3 million additional workers, and that
the above-mentioned preparations for security measures against
air attacks call for 0.25 million laborers.”

* * * * * *

“The Reichsfuehrer SS explained that the enforcement agents put
at his disposal are extremely few, but that he would try helping
the Sauckel project to succeed by increasing them and working
them harder. The Reichsfuehrer SS made immediately available
2,000 to 2,500 men from concentration camps for air raid
preparations in Vienna.”

* * * * * *

“_Results of the Conference_:

“(1) The Plenipotentiary for Employment of Labor shall procure
at least 4 million new workers from occupied territories.”
(_1292-PS_)

Moreover, Sauckel, in requesting the assistance of the Army for the recruitment of 1,000,000 men and women from the occupied Eastern territories, informed Keitel that prompt action was required; and that, as in all other occupied countries, pressure had to be used if other measures were not successful (_3012-PS_). Finally, Sauckel was informed by Rosenberg that the enslavement of foreign labor was achieved by force and brutality (_018-PS_). Notwithstanding his knowledge of conditions, Sauckel continued to request greater supplies of manpower from the areas in which the most ruthless methods had been applied. Indeed, when German Field Commanders on the Eastern Front attempted to resist Sauckel’s demands, because forced recruitment was swelling the ranks of the partisans and making the army’s task more difficult, Sauckel sent a telegram to Hitler, dated 10 March 1943, in which he implored him to intervene:

“Therefore, my Fuehrer, I ask you to abolish all orders which
oppose the obligation of foreign workers for labor * * *.”

* * * * * *

“If the obligation for labor and the forced recruiting of
workers in the East is not possible any more, then the German
war industry and agriculture cannot fulfill their tasks to the
full extent.” (_407-II-PS_)

In addition to being responsible for the recruitment of foreign civilian labor by force, Sauckel was responsible for the conditions under which foreign workers were deported to Germany and for the treatment to which they were subjected within Germany. The conditions under which Sauckel’s slaves were transported to Germany, were known to Sauckel (_2241-PS_). Moreover, he accepted responsibility for these conditions. Regulation Number 4 of 7 May 1942, issued by Sauckel as Plenipotentiary General for the Mobilization of Labor, deals with recruitment, care, lodging, feeding, and treatment of foreign workers of both sexes (_3044-PS_). By this decree, Sauckel expressly directed that the assembly and operation of rail transports and the supplying of food therefor was the responsibility of his agents until the transports arrived in Germany. By the same regulation, Sauckel directed that within Germany the care of foreign industrial workers was to be carried out by the German Labor Front and that care of foreign agricultural workers was to be carried out by the Reich Food Administration. By the terms of the regulation, Sauckel reserved for himself ultimate responsibility for all aspects of care, treatment, lodging, and feeding of foreign workers while in transit to and within Germany. The regulation reads (_3044-PS_):

“The care of foreign labor will be carried out.

“_a._ up to the Reichs border
“by my commissioners or—in the occupied areas by the competent
military or civil labor mobilization agencies. Care of the labor
will be carried out in cooperation with the respective competent
foreign organization.

“_b._ Within the area of the Reich
“1. By the German Labor Front in the cases of non-agricultural
workers.
“2. By the Reich Food administration in the case of agricultural
workers.
“The German Labor Front and the German Food Administration are
bound by my directives in the carrying out of their tasks of
caring for the workers.

“The agencies of the labor mobilization administration are to
give far-reaching support to the German Labor Front and the
German Food Administration in the fulfillment of their assigned
tasks.

“My competence for the execution of the care of foreign labor is
not prejudiced by the assignment of these tasks to the German
Labor Front and the Reichs Food Administration.”

* * * * * *

“_b._ Composition and operation of the transports.

“The composition and operations of the transports up to the
place of work is the task of my representatives, in the occupied
territories of the labor mobilization agencies of the military
and civil administration. In the countries in which foreign
representatives are to direct the transports up to the frontier,
the German recruiting agency must take part in the supervision
and care of the transports.”

* * * * * *

“_c._ Supply for the Transports.

“The food supply for the industrial workers in transit within
the Reich, is the duty of the (DAF) German workers front, office
for labor mobilization.

For the rest, my offices effect the supply for the transport.”
(_3044-PS_)

Sauckel, in an agreement with Ley, the head of the German Labor Front (DAF) dated 2 June 1943, again emphasized his ultimate responsibility by creating a central inspectorate charged with examining the working and living conditions of foreign workers, and reporting thereon to Sauckel’s agency (_1913-PS_). The agreement reads in part as follows:

“* * * 2. The Reichsleiter of the German Labor Front,
Reichsorganisationleiter Dr. Ley, in collaboration with the
Plenipotentiary General for the _Arbeitseinsatz_, Gauleiter
Sauckel, will establish a ‘central inspection’ for the
continuous supervision of all measures concerning the care of
the foreign workers mentioned under 1. This will have the
designation:

‘Central inspection for care of foreign workers.’

“The central inspection for the care of foreign workers
exercises its functions upon directives and in the name of the
Plenipotentiary General for the _Arbeitseinsatz_ and of the
Reichsleiter of the German Labor Front. In order to avoid all
duplication of work, it will be its sole responsibility, to
scrutinize all measures taken for the care of foreign workers
employed in the factories and camps, also to remove immediately
all defects discovered—as far as possible—on the spot and to
issue the necessary instructions for this.

“The authority of the Plenipotentiary General for the
_Arbeitseinsatz_ to empower the members of his staff and the
presidents of the state employment offices to get direct
information on the conditions regarding the employment of
foreigners in the factories and camps, will remain untouched.

“3. The central inspection for the care of foreign workers will
be continuously in touch with the main office VI of the
Plenipotentiary General for the _Arbeitseinsatz_. It will
instruct the office on the general observations made and will
make suggestions for changes, if that should become necessary.

“4. The offices of the administration of the _Arbeitseinsatz_
will be constantly informed by the ‘central inspection for the
care of foreign workers’ of its observations, in particular
immediately in each case in which action of State organizations
seems to be necessary.” (_1913-PS_)

Sauckel was also responsible for compelling citizens of the occupied countries against their will to manufacture implements of war for use in operations against their own country and its allies. These functions were included in the terms of Sauckel’s appointment. (_1666-PS_)

In a series of reports to Hitler, Sauckel described how successful he had been in carrying out his program. One such report, dated 14 April 1943, states that in a single year Sauckel had incorporated 1,622,829 prisoners of war into the German economy:

“My Fuehrer,

* * * * * *

“1. After having been active as Plenipotentiary for
_Arbeitseinsatz_ for one year I have the honor to report to you
that 3,638,056 new foreign workers have been added to the German
war economy between April 1st. of the last year and March 31st
of this year.”

* * * * * *

“Besides the foreign civilian workers another 1,622,829
prisoners of war are employed in the German economy.”
(_407-V-PS_)

A subsequent report dated 3 June 1943, states that 846,511 additional foreign laborers and prisoners of war were incorporated into the German war industry:

“My Fuehrer:

“1. I beg to be permitted to report to you on the situation of
the _Arbeitseinsatz_ for the first five months of 1943. For the
first time the following number of new foreign laborers and
prisoners of war were employed in the German war industry: * * *
Total: 846,511”. (_407-IX-PS_)

9. THE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUAL CONSPIRATORS

In addition, the following conspirators who were informed by Sauckel of the quotas of foreign laborers which he required, collaborated with Sauckel and his agents in filling these quotas:

A. _Keitel, Chief of the OKW._

The record of a telephone conversation of the Chief of the Economic Staff East of the German Army, dated 11 March 1943, reads in part as follows (_3012-PS_):

“The plenipotentiary for the _Arbeitseinsatz_, Gauleiter
Sauckel, points out to me in an urgent teletype, that the
_Arbeitseinsatz_ in German agriculture as well as all the most
urgent armament programs, ordered by the Fuehrer, make the most
rapid procurement of approx. 1 million women and men from the
newly occupied territories an imperative necessity. For this
purpose, Gauleiter Sauckel demands the shipment of 5,000 workers
daily beginning 15 March, 10,000 workers male and female
beginning 1 April from the newly occupied territories.

“The daily quota of 5,000 (10,000) workers was distributed with
the consent of the GBA as follows:

Reich Commissioner Ukraine daily 3,000 (6,000) workers.

Wl Jn South daily 1,000 (2,000) workers.

Wl Jn Center daily 500 (1,000) workers.

Commissioner General White Ruthenia daily 500 (1,000) workers.

“In consideration of the extraordinary losses of workers, which
occurred in German war industry because of the developments of
the past months, it is now necessary, that the recruiting of
workers be taken up again everywhere with all emphasis. The
tendency momentarily noticeable in that territory, to limit
and/or entirely stop the Reich recruiting program is absolutely
not bearable in view of this state of affairs. Gauleiter
Sauckel, who is informed about these events, has because of
this, turned immediately to General Fieldmarshal Keitel on 10
March 1943, in a teletype, and has emphasized on this occasion,
that, as in all other occupied territories, there, where all
other methods fail, by order of the Fuehrer a certain pressure
must be used.” (_3012-PS_)

Confirmation of Keitel’s collaboration with Sauckel is also found in the transcript of an interrogation under oath of Sauckel held on the morning of 5 October 1945:

“Q. Was it necessary in order to accomplish the completion of
the quotas given to have liaison with the OKW?

“A. I remember that the Fuehrer had given directives to Marshal
Keitel, telling him that my task was a very important one, and
I, too, have often conferred with Keitel after such discussions
with the Fuehrer, when I asked him for his support.

“Q. It was his task to supervise the proper performance of the
military commanders in the occupied countries in carrying out
their missions, was it not?

“A. Yes, the Fuehrer had told me that he would inform the Chief
of the OKW, and the Chief of the Reichs chancellery, as to these
missions. The same applies to the Foreign Minister.” (_3722-PS_)

B. _Alfred Rosenberg, Reichs Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories._

The following colloquy is taken from the transcript of an interrogation under oath of Alfred Rosenberg on the afternoon of 6 October 1945:

“Q. Isn’t it a fact, that Sauckel would allocate to the various
areas under your jurisdiction the number of persons to be
obtained for labor purposes?

“A. Yes.

“Q. And that thereafter, your agents would obtain that labor, in
order to meet the quota which had been given; isn’t that right?

“A. Sauckel, normally, had very far-reaching desires, which one
couldn’t fulfill unless one looked very closely into the matter.

“Q. Never mind about Sauckel’s desires being far-reaching or not
being far-reaching. That has nothing to do with it. You were
given quotas for the areas over which you had jurisdiction, and
it was up to you to meet that quota?

“A. Yes; it was the responsibility of the administrative
officials to receive this quota and to distribute the allotments
over the districts in such a way, according to number and
according to the age groups, so they would be most reasonably
met.

“Q. These administrative officials were part of your
organization, isn’t that right?

“A. They were functionaries or officials of the Reichskommissar
for the Ukraine, but, as such, they were placed in their office
by the Ministry for the Eastern Occupied Territories.”
(_3719-PS_)

Corroboration is to be found in letters written by Sauckel to Rosenberg requesting the latter’s assistance in the recruitment of additional foreign laborers. (_017-PS_; _019-PS_)

C. _Seyss-Inquart, Reichscommissar for the Occupied Netherlands._

The transcript of an interrogation under oath of Sauckel on the morning of 5 October 1945, reads in part, as follows:

“Q. For a moment, I want to turn our attention to Holland. It is
my understanding that the quotas for the workers from Holland
were agreed upon, and then the numbers given to the
Reichskommissar Seyss-Inquart to fulfill, is that correct?

“A. Yes, that is correct.

“Q. After the quota was given to Seyss-Inquart, it was his
mission to fulfill it with the aid of your representatives; was
it not?

“A. Yes. This was the only possible thing for me to do and the
same applied to other countries.” (_3722-PS_)

D. _Frank, Governor-General of the Government-General of Poland._

The transcript of interrogation under oath of Sauckel on the morning of 5 October 1945 reveals the part played by Frank:

“Q. Was the same procedure substantially followed of allocating
quotas in the General Government Poland?

“A. Yes. I have to basically state again that the only
possibility I had in carrying through these missions was to get
in touch with the highest German military authority in the
respective country and to transfer to them the orders of the
Fuehrer and ask them very urgently, as I have always done, to
fulfill these orders.

“Q. Such discussions in Poland, of course, were with the General
Governor Frank?

“A. Yes. I spent a morning and afternoon in Krakov twice or
three times, and I personally spoke to General Governor Frank.
Naturally, there was also present Secretary Dr. Goebble.”
(_3722-PS_)

E. _The SS, as in all matters involving the use of force and brutality, extended its assistance._

This is clearly indicated in Reichschancellor Lammers’ report of a conference with Hitler attended by, among others, Sauckel, Speer, and Himmler (the Reichsfuehrer SS). The conference proceeded as follows:

“The Plenipotentiary for Employment of Labor, Sauckel, declared
that he will attempt with fanatical determination to obtain
these workers. Until now, he has always kept his promises as to
the number of workers to be furnished. With the best of
intentions, however, he is unable to make a definite promise for
1944. He will do everything in his powers to furnish the
requested manpower in 1944. Whether it will succeed depends
primarily on what _German_ enforcement agents will be made
available. His project cannot be carried out with domestic
enforcement agents. The Reichsfuehrer SS explained that the
enforcement agents put at his disposal are extremely few, but
that he would try helping the Sauckel project to succeed by
increasing them and working them harder.” (_1292-PS_)

10. THE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF SPEER

The use of prisoners of war in the manufacture of arms and munitions, allocated thereto by Sauckel, was confirmed by Speer. Speer stated in an interrogation under oath on 18 October 1945 that 40% of all prisoners of war were employed in the production of weapons and munitions and in subsidiary industries:

“* * * A. In the last phase of production, that is, in the year
1944 when everything collapsed, I had 40% of all prisoners of
war employed in the production. I wanted to have this percentage
increased.

“Q. And when you say employed in the production, you mean in
these subsidiary industries that you have discussed and also in
the production of weapons and munitions, is that right?

“A. Yes. That is the total extent of my task.” (_3720-PS_)

The minutes of the 36th Meeting of the Central Planning Board, of 22 April 1943, report Speer’s statement that:

“* * * 90,000 Russian prisoners of war employed in the whole of
the armament industry are for the greatest part skilled men.”
(_R-124_)

Speer actively participated in the planning and execution of the vast program of forcible deportation and enslavement of the citizens of the occupied countries. As Reich Minister of Armaments and Munitions and Chief of the Organization Todt, both of which positions he acquired on 15 February 1942, and by virtue of his later acquisition of control over the armament offices of the Army, Navy and Airforce and the production offices of the Ministry of Economics, Speer was responsible for the entire war production of the Reich, as well as for the construction of fortifications and installations for the _Wehrmacht_. Proof of the positions held by Speer is supplied by his signed statement. (_2980-PS_)

The industries under Speer’s control were the most important users of manpower in Germany. According to Sauckel, Speer’s labor requirements received unconditional priority over all other demands for labor. In an interrogation under oath on 22nd September 1945, Sauckel stated:

“The others I only got whatever was left. Because Speer told me
once in the presence of the Fuehrer that I am here to work for
Speer and that mainly I am his man.” (_3721-PS_)

Speer has admitted under oath that he participated in the discussions during which the decision to use foreign forced labor was made, that he concurred in the decision, and that it was the basis for the program of bringing foreign workers into Germany by compulsion. The transcript of the interrogation under oath of Speer, on 18 October 1945, contains the following colloquy:

“Q. But is it clear to you Mr. Speer, that in 1942 when the
decisions were being taken concerning the use of forced foreign
labor that you participated in the discussions yourself?

“A. Yes.

“Q. So that I take it that the execution of the program of
bringing foreign workers into Germany by compulsion under
Sauckel was based on earlier decisions that had been taken with
your agreement?

“A. Yes, but I must point out that only a very small part of the
manpower that Sauckel brought into Germany was made available to
me; a far larger part of it was allocated to other departments
that demanded them.” (_3720-PS_)

This admission is confirmed by minutes of Speer’s conferences with Hitler on 10, 11, and 12 August 1942 (_R-124_). In these meetings Speer related the outcome of negotiations concerning the forcible recruitment of a million Russian laborers for the German armaments industry, and stated that Hitler would agree to any necessary compulsion.

The use of force was again discussed by Hitler and Speer on 4 January 1943. It was decided that stronger measures were to be used to accelerate the conscription of French civilian workers. (_556-13-PS_).

Speer demanded foreign workers for the industries under his control and used these workers with the knowledge that they had been deported by force and were being compelled to work. Speer has stated under oath, in an interrogation on 18 October 1945 that:

“I do not wish to give the impression that I want to deny the
fact that I demanded manpower and foreign manpower from Sauckel
very energetically.” (_3720-PS_)

Speer also admitted, in the course of the same interrogation, that he knew he was obtaining foreign labor, a large part of which was forced labor:

“Q. So that during the period when you were asking for labor, it
seems clear, does it not, that you knew that you were obtaining
foreign labor as well as domestic labor in response to your
requests and that a large part of the foreign labor was forced
labor.

“A. Yes.

“Q. So that, simply by way of illustration, suppose that on
January 1, 1944 you required 50,000 workers for a given purpose,
would you put in a requisition for 50,000 workers, knowing that
in that 50,000 there would be forced foreign workers?

“A. Yes.” (_3720-PS_)

Speer has furthermore stated under oath that he knew at least as early as September 1942 that workers from the Ukraine were being forcibly deported for labor in Germany. He also knew that the great majority of the workers of the Western occupied countries were slave laborers forced against their will to come to Germany. These facts are revealed in his interrogation under oath on 18 October 1945:

“Q. When did you first find out then that some of the manpower
from the Ukraine was not coming voluntarily?

“A. It is rather difficult to answer this here, that is, to name
a certain date to you. However, it is certain that I knew that
at some particular point of time that the manpower from the
Ukraine did not come voluntarily.

“Q. And does that apply also to the manpower from other occupied
countries, that is, did there come a time when you knew that
they were not coming voluntarily?

“A. Yes.

“Q. When, in general, would you say that time was, without
placing a particular month of the year?

“A. As far as the Ukraine situation goes, I believe that they
did not come voluntarily any more after a few months, because
immense mistakes were made in their treatment by us. I should
say offhand that this time was either in July, August or
September of 1942.

* * * * * *

“Q. But many workers did come from the West, did they not, to
Germany?

“A. Yes.

“Q. That means then that the great majority of the workers that
came from the Western countries, the Western occupied countries,
came against their will to Germany.

“A. Yes.” (_3720-PS_)

This admission is borne out by other evidence. In April 1943 Speer was informed at a meeting of the Central Planning Board, that in all countries conscription for work in Germany could be carried out only with the active assistance of the police, and that the prevailing methods of recruitment had provoked such violence that many German recruiting agents had been killed (_R-124_). Again, at a meeting with Hitler to discuss overall manpower requirements for 1944, Speer was informed by Sauckel that labor requirements for the German war economy (including Speer’s requirements of 1,300,000 additional laborers) could be met only if German enforcement agents were furnished to carry out the enslavement program in the occupied countries. (_1292-PS_)

Notwithstanding his knowledge that foreign workers were being conscripted and deported for use as slave laborers in Germany, Speer formulated requirements for the foreign workers and requested their allocation to industries subject to his control. At another meeting of the Central Planning Board, Speer stated:

“_Speer_: Now, the labor problem in Germany. I believe it is
still possible to transfer some from the western territories.
The Fuehrer stated only recently he wishes to dissolve these
foreign volunteers as he had the impression that the army groups
were carting around with them a lot of ballast. Therefore, if we
cannot settle this matter ourselves, we shall have to call a
meeting with the Fuehrer to clear up the coal situation. Keitel
and Zeitzler will be invited to attend in order to determine the
number of Russians from the rear army territories who can be
sent to us. However, I see another possibility; we might
organize another drive to screen out workers for the mines from
the Russian Ps/W in the Reich. But this possibility is none too
promising.” (_R-124_)

At another meeting of the Central Planning Board, Speer rejected a suggestion that labor for industries under his control be furnished from German sources instead of from foreign countries, for these reasons:

“_Speer_: We do it that way: Kehrl collects the demands for
labor necessary to complete the coal-and-iron-plan and
communicates the numbers to Sauckel. Probably there will be a
conference at the Reich Marshal’s in the next week, and an
answer from Sauckel should have arrived by then. The question of
recruitment for the armaments industry will be solved together
with Weger.

“_Kehrl_: I wish to urge that the allotments to the mines should
not be made dependent on the recruitment of men abroad. We were
completely frustrated these last three months because this
principle had been applied. We ended December with a deficit of
25,000 and we never get replacements. The number must be made up
by men from Germany.

“_Speer_: No, nothing doing!” (_R-124_)

Speer also advocated terror and brutality as a means of maximizing production by slave laborers who worked in the industries under his control. In the course of a discussion concerning the supply and exploitation of labor, Speer stated:

“_Speer_: We must also discuss the slackers. Ley has ascertained
that the sick list decreased to one-fourth or one-fifth in
factories where doctors are on the staff who are examining the
sick men. There is nothing to be said against SS and Police
taking drastic steps and putting those known as slackers into
concentration camps. There is no alternative. Let it happen
several times and the news will soon go round.” (_R-124_)

Speer is also guilty of compelling Allied nationals and prisoners of war to engage not only in the production of armaments and munitions, but also in direct military operations, against their own country and its actively resisting allies. Speer, as Chief of the Organization Todt, is accountable for its policies which were in direct conflict with the laws of war. The Organization Todt, in violation of the laws of war, impressed allied nationals into its service. Proof of its activity is furnished by an International Labor Office Study of Exploitation of Foreign Labor by Germany:

“The methods used for the recruitment of foreign workers who
were destined for employment in the Organization did not greatly
differ from the methods used for the recruitment of foreigners
for deportation to Germany. The main difference was that, since
the principal activities of the Organization lay outside the
frontiers of Germany, foreigners were not transported to
Germany, but had either to work in their own country or in some
other occupied territory.

“In the recruitment drives for foreign workers for the
Organization methods of compulsion as well as methods of
persuasion were used, the latter usually with very little result
* * *.” (_L-191_)

Similar violations of the laws of warfare are disclosed in (_407-VIII-PS_).

As Chief of German war production, Speer sponsored and approved the use of prisoners of war in the production of armaments and munitions which were used against their own country and its actively resisting allies. This fact has been demonstrated by the evidence already discussed. To recapitulate:

1. After Speer assumed responsibility for armament production, his primary concern in his discussions with his co-conspirators was to secure a larger allocation of prisoners of war for his armament factories. In a meeting of the Central Planning Board on 22 April 1943, Speer complained that only 30% of the Russian prisoners of war were engaged in the armament industry. (_R-124_)

2. In an earlier speech, Speer stated that 10,000 prisoners of war were put at the disposal of the armaments industry upon his orders. (_1435-PS_)

3. Finally, Speer advocated returning escaped prisoners of war to factories as convicts. He said, at a meeting of the Central Planning Board:

“We have to come to an arrangement with the Reichsfuehrer SS as
soon as possible so that prisoners of war he picks up are made
available for our purposes. The Reichsfuehrer SS gets from 30 to
40,000 men per month. First of all they have to be divided up.
From what classes do these people come, anyhow? There certainly
is a certain percentage of miners among these people who are
picked up. These few thousand men have to go to the mines
automatically. Certainly, some educational work has to be done.
The men should be put into the factories as convicts. But they
have to return to the factories where they were before * * *.”
(_R-124_)

Speer is also guilty of having approved and sponsored the program for using concentration camp labor in Nazi armament factories, which was part of the larger program of extermination through work. The proof of this activity may be summarized and supplemented as follows:

1. Speer proposed measures for the exploitation of the concentration camp labor in armament factories under his jurisdiction. At a meeting with Hitler Speer proposed and Hitler agreed that armament production should not be established within concentration camps but that concentration camp labor should be made available to established armament factories. (_R-124_)

2. Speer, by arranging for the use of concentration camp laborers in factories under his control, created an increasing demand for such labor. This demand was filled in part by placing in concentration camps persons who would not ordinarily have been sent there. (_1063-D-PS_)

3. Speer participated in the exploitation of the victims of the Nazi program of extermination through work. He personally selected sites for subsidiary concentration camps which were established near factories in Upper Austria, and knew and approved of the general practice of locating concentration camps near industrial plants which they supplied with labor (Speer’s interrogation under oath on 18 October 1945. (_3720-PS_)

Speer visited the concentration camp Mauthaussen and factories such as those of Krupp, where concentration camp labor was exploited under barbarous conditions. Despite personal and first-hand knowledge of these conditions, Speer continued to direct the use of concentration camp labor in factories under his jurisdiction. In Speer’s interrogation under oath on 18 October 1945, he stated:

“Q. But, in general, the use of concentration camp labor was
known to you and approved by you as a source of labor?

“A. Yes.

“Q. And you knew also, I take it, that among the inmates of the
concentration camps there were both Germans and foreigners?

“A. I didn’t think about it at that time.

“Q. As a matter of fact you visited the Austrian concentration
camp personally, did you not?”

“A. I didn’t—well I was in Mauthaussen once but at that time I
was not told just to what categories the inmates of the
concentration camps belonged.

“Q. But in general everybody knew, did they not, that foreigners
who were taken away by the Gestapo, or arrested by the Gestapo,
as well as Germans, found their way into the concentration
camps?

“A. Of course, yes. I didn’t mean to imply anything like that.”

* * * * * *

“Q. Did you ever discuss, by the way, the requirements of Krupp
for foreign labor?

“A. It is certain that it was reported to me what Krupp had in
foreign workers.

“Q. Did you ever discuss it with any of the members of the Krupp
first?

“A. I cannot say that exactly, but during the time of my
activities I visited the Krupp factory more than once and it is
certain that this was discussed, that is, the lack of manpower.”
(_3720-PS_)

* * * * *

LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SLAVE LABOR
PROGRAM, THE ILLEGAL USE OF PRISONERS OF WAR, AND THE SPECIAL
RESPONSIBILITY OF SAUCKEL AND SPEER THEREFOR