Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression The teletype message of 15 May 1945 indicates that the
operation is in its last stage:
"A special unit once more searched the last block of
buildings which was still intact in the Ghetto, and
subsequently destroyed it. In the evening the chapel,
mortuary, and all other buildings in the Jewish
cemetery were blown up or destroyed by fire.." (1061-PS)
On 24 May 1943 the final figures were compiled by Major
General Stroop:
"Of the total of 56,065 caught about 7,000 were
destroyed in the former Ghetto during large scale
operation. 6,929 Jews were destroyed by transporting
them to T.II [believed to be Treblinka Camp No. 2]. The
sum total of Jews destroyed is therefore 13,929. Beyond
the number of 56.065 an estimated number of 5 to 6,000
Jews were destroyed by being blown up or by perishing
in the flames." (1061-PS)
It was not always necessary, or perhaps desirable, to place
the Jews within Ghettos to effect elimination. In the Baltic
States a more direct course of action was followed.
According to a report by SS Brigade Fuehrer Stahlecker to
Himmler, dated 15
[Page 999]
October 1941, entitled "Action Group A," which was found in
Himmler's private files, 135,567 persons, nearly all Jews,
were murdered in accordance to basic orders directing the
complete annihilation of the Jews. SS Brigade Fuehrer
Stahlecker continues his report:
"*** To our surprise it was not easy at first to set in
motion a extensive pogrom against the Jews. Klimatis,
the leader of the partisan unit, mentioned above, who
was used for this purpose primarily, succeeded in
starting a pogrom on the basis of advice given to him
by a small advanced detachment acting in Kowno and in
such a way that no German order of German instigation
was noticed from the outside. During the first pogrom
in the night from 25 June to 26 June the Lithuanian
partisans did away with more than 1,500 Jews, setting
fire to several synagogues or destroying them by other
means and burning down a Jewish dwelling district
consisting of about 60 houses. During the following
nights about 2300 Jews were made harmless in a similar
way. ***"
*******
"It was possible, though, through similar influences on
the Latvian auxiliary to set in motion a pogrom against
the Jews also in Riga. During this pogrom all
synagogues were destroyed and about 400 Jews were
killed." (L-180)
Nazi ingenuity reached its zenith with the construction and
operation of the gas van as a means of mass annihilation of
the Jews. A description of the operation of these vehicles
of death is fully set forth in a captured Top Secret
document dated 16 May 1942, addressed to SS
Obersturmbannfuehrer Rauff, 8 Prince Albrecht-Strasse,
Berlin, from Dr. Becker, SS Untersturmfuehrer. The report
reads in part:
"The overhauling of vans by groups D and C is finished.
While the vans of the first series can also be put into
action if the weather is not too bad, the vans of the
second series (Saurer) stop completely in rainy
weather. If it has rained for instance for only one
half hour, the van cannot be used because it simply
skids away. It can only be used in absolutely dry
weather. It is only a question now whether the van can
only be used standing at the place of execution. First
the van has to be brought to that place, which is
possible only in good weather. The place of execution
is usually 10 to 15 km away from the highways and is
difficult of access because of its location; in damp or
wet weather it is not accessible at all. If persons to
be executed are
[Page 1000]
driven or led to that place, then they realize
immediately what is going on and get restless, which is
to be avoided as far as possible. There is only one way
left; to load them at the collecting point and to drive
them to the spot.
"I ordered the vans of group D to be camouflaged as
house-trailers by putting one set of window shutters on
each side of the small van and two on each side of the
larger vans, such as one often sees on farm houses in
the country. The vans became so well-known, that not
only the authorities but also the civilian population
called the van 'death van', as soon as one of these
vehicles appeared. It is my opinion the van cannot be
kept secret for any length of time, not even
camouflaged."
*******
"Because of the rough terrain and the indescribable
road and highway conditions the caulkings and rivets
loosen in the course of time. I was asked if in such
cases the vans should be brought to Berlin for repair.
Transportation to Berlin would be much too expensive
and would demand too much fuel. In order to save those
expenses I ordered them to have smaller leaks soldered
and if that should no longer be possible, to notify
Berlin immediately by radio, that Pol.Nr. is out of
order. Besides that I ordered that during application
of gas all the men were to be kept as far away from the
vans as possible, so they should not suffer damage to
their health by the gas which eventually would escape.
I should like to take this opportunity to bring the
following to your attention: several commands have had
the unloading after the application of gas done by
their own men. I brought to the attention of the
commanders of those S.K. concerned the immense
psychological injuries and damages to their health
which that work can have for those men, even if not
immediately, at least later on. The men complained to
me about headaches which appeared after each unloading.
Nevertheless they don't want to change the orders,
because they are afraid prisoners called for that work,
could use an opportune moment to flee. To protect the
men from those damages, I request orders be issued
accordingly.
"The application of gas usually is not undertaken
correctly. In order to come to an end as fast as
possible, the driver presses the accelerator to the
fullest extent. By doing that the persons to be
executed suffer death from suffocation and not death by
dozing off as was planned. My directions now have
proved that by correct adjustment of the levers
[Page 1001]
death comes faster and the prisoners fall asleep
peacefully. Distorted faces and excretions, such as
could be seen before, are no longer noticed.
"Today I shall continue my journey to group B, where I
can be reached with further news.
"Signed: Dr. Becker, SS Untersturmfuehrer." (501-PS)
A letter signed by Hauptsturmfuehrer Truehe on the subject
of S-vans, addressed to the Reich Security Main Office, Room
2-D-3-A, Berlin, and marked "Top Secret," establishes that
the vans were used for the annihilation of the Jews. The
message reads:
"A transport of Jews, which has to be treated in a
special way, arrives weekly at the office of the
commandant of the Security Police and the Security
Service of White Ruthenia. "The three S-vans which are
there are not sufficient for that purpose. I request
assignment of another S-van (five tons). At the same
time I request the shipment of twenty gas hoses for the
three S-vans on hand (two Diamond, one Saurer), since
the ones on hand are leaky already.
(signed) The Commandant of the Security Police and the
Security Service, Ostland." (501-PS)
The
original plaintext version
of this file is available via
ftp.
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Volume
I Chapter XII
The Persecution of the Jews
(Part 10 of 14)