The Nizkor Project: Remembering the Holocaust (Shoah)

Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression
Volume I Chapter X
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:

[Page 931]

Reich Commissioner Ukraine daily 3,000 (6,000) workers.
W1 Jn South daily 1,000 (2,000) workers.
W1 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.

[Page 932]

"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)


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