dtufail/nuremberg-trials-corpus huggingface dataset:
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 report in 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, ot scrutinize all measures taken for the care of foreign workers employed in the factories and camps, also to remove immediately all defects
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, ot 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 of 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 1,662,829 prisoners of war are employed in the German economy." (407-V-PS). A subsequent report dated 3 June 1943, states that 846,511
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 1,662,829 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 CONSPIRATIORS 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, date 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. Fir 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
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
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
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. Goebbels." (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
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 Air Force 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
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 (R-124). In these meeting s 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
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
"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