Newsgroups: alt.revisionism Followup-To: alt.revisionism Subject: Holocaust Almanac: Chelmno's Gas Wagons (4 of 5) [Translation] Archive/File: camps/chelmno/gas-wagons/sonderdruck.0387 Last-Modified: 1996/03/08 Page thirteen, p. 415 --------------------- As construction plans for such an equipment were provided only for this type of van - they should be added/built into the vans already in operation subsequently - we may conclude, that the whole order for thirty chassis consisted of Saurer-vans. This consideration is corroborated by a letter from Becker to Rauff on 16th May 1942: "While the vans of the first series can be used in not too bad weather, the vans of the second series (Saurer) are completely immobile in rainy weather." [92] It becomes apparent, that Becker distinguishes between two series of vans; moreover, the description "Saurer" for the vans of the second series is only meaningful, if all vans in this series were of them same type. Hence , the _Referat II D 3a_ issued an order and delivered the Saurer-chassis to equip them with the superstructures/boxes/containers in the end 1941 and in April 1942 already 20 of them had been delivered [93]. The sources and witnesses say that gas-vans of the Saurer- type were operating only in January 1942 [94], i.e. later than the smaller vans. Considering the necessary time for the construction works [95], the order 1737 cannot be issued before December 1941. Becker's distinction relates therefore not only to the size of the vans, but as well to the date of their construction and of their operationing. This means that for starting six smaller vans had been built and were used, but already since December 1941, one only built larger vans of the Saurer- type, firstly, as one intended to provide each _Sonderkommando_ of the different _Einsatzgruppen_ with at least one van, and secondly to expand and extend the gassing- capacity. That the latter aim was foremost is shown by the note of 27th April 1942, which discusses several possibilities ("tip- up equipment for the box-superstructure", "facility to tip- up the bottom-grate", "facility to move in and out the bottom-grate") to achieve a quicker discharge of the 'cargo' (=gassed people) [97]. Even when it turned out that the large vans couldn't be used in the open ground in all weather it wasn't thought of using smaller vans as in the beginning, only the box-superstructure should be slightly shortened [98]. _Referat II D 3a_ was not only responsible for technical matters but as well for the operationing/handling of the vans/transportation park of the security police and consequently for the gas-vans. Page fourteen, p.416 -------------------- This is elucidated not only by the official tasks of the _Referat_, but as well by the work of _SS-Untersturmfuehrer_ Becker [99]. On Rauff's order he travelled to the _Einsatzgruppen_ to supervise the operationing/handling of the gas-vans and to mend occurring faults/difficulties [100]. According to his own statements, he was thus travelling from mid January to September 1942 [101]. During this time, he was in perpetual connection with Rauff, and reported continuously about his supervising/observations and his actions/work [102]. His reports provided basis of "technical alterations/improvements" which should be applied in the construction of vehicles which were still to be built [103]. Becker's intervening wouldn't have been necessary if the group Rauff had been responsible only for the production/construction/preparation of the vans. Becker's task shows that the group II D3 was as well responsible for the operationing/maintenance/handling of the vans. This is as well certified by the sources. On 15th June 1942, the Commanding Leader of the Security Police and of the SD in _Ostland_ [administrative district in occupied SU, comprising parts of Lithuania, Poland, Byelorussia - around Vilna, Baranowicze, Minks, Sluzk] addressed a request to Rauff for an additional van of Saurer-type [104]. In the same place, he ordered "another 20 exhaust-hoses to be send along, as the existing were already untight". From Becker's report we may infer that the failure of a van had to be reported by wireless telegraph to the _Amt II D_ and that the vans had to be sent to Berlin in the case of more involved repairs[105]. The note in the file on 5th June 1942 reports that a gas-van was exploded in Chelmno. This incident caused Rauff to order new experiments on gas- samples by the KTI. In the same place, the "services affected by this [got] special instructions" and smaller alterations to the vans were undertaken to prevent [the building-up] of high pressures in the box-superstructures [106]. _SS-Gruppenfuehrer_ Harald Turner, head of the administration staff with the military commander in Serbia, had requested and got a gas-van in April 1942 for the killing of the Jews of Belgrad [107]. On 9th June this Saurer-van was sent back to Belin after completed "special task" [108]. After due repair, it was sent to Riga conforming to the request on 15th June [109]. Often the gas-vans have been seen on intermediate stops on their way to the East, e.g. in Breslau or Krakau [110]. The Leader of _Einsatzgruppe D_, Ohlendorf, testified that the gas-vans didn't belong to the transportation- park/rolling stock of the _Einsatzgruppe_, but were commissioned/leased to them from Berlin [111]. Page fifteen, p.417 ------------------- With the gas-vans, the drivers, who had got a training to the handling of the vans [112] were sent along. Gas-vans drivers testified that on order of the operative leader of group II D 3a they had fetched/got the vans in Berlin and brought them to their operation location/area [113]. This means, that _Amt II D 3a_ was not only responsible for the construction of the gas-vans, but it directed/orchestrated centrally from/in the RSHA the operations of the gas-vans [114], providing the vans, drivers, and exchange parts/equipment; it controlled/supervised and coordinated the operationing of the vehicles. For finishing, a conclusion of the results: In the period of four months, on order by Himmler, a new killing method, the gas-van, was developed in the following sequence of actions/events: - 15./16.8.1941 Himmler's order. - 16./18.9. Experiments in Minsk and Mogilev. - Early October, order given to _Amt II D 3a_ - 3.11. experimental gassing in Sachsenhausen. - Late November and in December first usage of the vans. In this the RSHA cooperated closely with the following services: - the KTI; here emerged the idea to build gas-vans; and it was responsible for the "chemistry part" of the experiments. - _Referat II D 3a_; it prepared two series of vans, six smaller ones (Daimond and Opel-Blitz) and the thirty Saurer- vans; it directed and supervised the operationing of the vans, centrally from Berlin. In the development of the gas-vans, the experience gathered during the "Euthanasia", which was stopped officially in 1941 was purposively applied/used in technical matters ("_Kaisers Kaffee_"-vans) as well as with the staff employed (KTI, Becker, Lange). Unlike the case of "_Kaisers Kaffee_"- vans, a participation of Fuehrer's chancellery cannot be stated/found here. This staff worked during that time on the development of another method which was used in the destruction centers since 1942. "Technical developments" were a precondition for the perpetration of the premeditated/intended crimes. The step- wise perfectioning of the killing-methods were the development of the gas-van was only one step in the sequel of national-socialist killing methods, result in the killing of ever more people, mainly Jews.
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