This gave them the opportunity to falsify for propaganda purposes the number of the captured Red Army soldiers in their reports on military operations, on the one hand, and to draw on them for manpower, on the other hand. Coming back to Page 7 of the same minutes we come across the following eloquent statement by Goering on the subject of labour conditions for Russian workers and particularly their wages. . . . My intention is to finish my presentation to- day. The worker may receive a little pocket money. . . . Since his labour is available to the employer at slight expense, financial compensation from the employer is to be given special attention.
Infractions are subject to the severest penalties.
This is followed by two lines which are of interest, not only because they incriminate the defendant Goering for introducing the system of forced labour. Therefore I shall not quote this letter. The next document which I consider necessary to submit to the Tribunal and which I beg you to accept in evidence as Exhibit USSR 379, contains a decree issued by the defendant Goering on 10 January, 1942. On the one hand, the recruiting situation of the armed forces necessitates the release of all members of the younger age groups for its task. On the other hand, urgent armament production and other phases of the war economy, and also of agriculture, must be provided with the manpower sorely needed by them.