The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-05-11
Compulsory Work
Ensluves Germdns
Labor Conscripts Deprived
Of All Rights Under
Hitler

regularly from reliable sources in
formation regarding the conditions OF
working men and women in Nazi Ger
many and releases the information
from time to time in publication call
ed "Fascism."
The March issue of "Fascism" con-
|tains an article entitled Lifelong
Compulsory Employment in Ger
many" which reveals many hitherto
secreted facts regarding the oppressive
economic conditions imposed on Ger
man workers by the compulsory labor
scheme promulgated early in 1888.
The text of the article follows:
Compulsory Work Is Universal
"The regulations concerning compul-
sorry employment in Germany have
been made very much more severe.
"Since February Ia, 1889, all inhabi
|tants of the German Reich are liable
to be assigned at any time by the la
Dor exchange to compulsory employ
ment; this applying not only to Ger
man subjects, as since July 1, 1888,
but to foreigners and persons without
lnaClOnallCy aS we'll.
"Men and women, children and aged,
may at any moment be assigned to
compulsory employment for an indefi-
mite period, nor merely for limited
period as hitherto. No one any longer
has the right to claim a medical ex-
animation to establish whether he is
fit for the work assigned to him.
Labor Conscripts Are Victimized
"The Nazi officials at the labor ex-
changes can assign people to any
work they like without medical con-
sultation. Regulations protec in g
workers, women and youth may be
suspended for labor conscripts. Hith-
erto labor conscripts had right to
hearing before being deported, and
although the labor exchange was un-
der no obligation to consider their OBJ
jections, in some cases alleviations
could be obtained. On the pretext that
the timely supply of labor may not
be prejudiced, the labor exchanges can
now deport people without hearing.
Wage Adjustments Denied
"The pledge solemnly given in June,
1888, by Goring's Four Year Plan Di
rectory that labor conscripts would
not suffer economic disadvantage has
been cancelled.
"The pledge was not kept anyway,
but now it is definitely stated: Com
pensation for hardship due to loss of
wages is not given
"Railwaymen, civil servants and
postal employees, transferred to the
Sudeten area under the compulsory la
Dor scheme are no fonger entitled to
wage adjustments. Adults skilled
manual and non-manual workers may
be engaged and paid in unskilled occu-
| pations.
Dependents Suffer
"The dependents of those condemned
: to compulsory labor only get main
tenance allowance if no work is avail
able for them. Under the conditions
-|obtaining in Germany today women
may have their children taken from
home and labor exchanges may even
to save maintenance allowances, take
the children of labor recruits from
school and find employment for them
: Against families politically or relig-
: iously suspect such provisions are ap.
: piled ruthlessly.
l No Jobs for Ex-labOr Conscripts
"Those drafted to forced labor fol
: d limited period must upon completion
= of their time return to their old en-
, ployer if he wants them, but expert
ence is that the employer is under nc
obligation to keep the jobs open. The
labor exchanges have hitherto regular.
,ly acceded to applications of employ
ers wishing to refuse unemployment
Of eX-labor conscripts.
=, Compulsory Work For Unlimited
Periods
= = "But the worst feature of the strict
er regime is the general introduction
: of compulsory employment for unlim
tied periods.
:, 'In practice condemnation to com
: pulsory labor for unlimited periods
: has been fact in Germany since th'
4 beginning of the Nazi regime.
'Since March, 1888, tens Of thous
ands of Germans have worked as la
Dor conscripts in the concentration
camps. Since the summer of 1913;
u thousands have been building barracks
: and military works, in the eastern ant
: northwestern parts of Germany es
Most Of them have been il
the labor camps continuously excep
S for short periods of leave.
e Life Sentences to Penal Labor Camp
+ "There are so-called penal labo
camps, the occupants Of which hav'
a been definitely told they will probabl.
y never get any other employment, ant
y hundreds hostile to the regime VIII
under orders of the Gestapo may onl.
II seek employment in certain localities
"But compulsory employment for al
o unlimited period was hitherto reserves
y for the low-paid classes and opponent
: ,of the regime. Now non-political, eve1
= Nazi partisans, small business me-
n and salaried servants are liable to un
+ limited compulsory employment. The
y may be ordered to accept employment
in another occupation at considerable
lower wages.