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Shofar FTP Archive File: camps//dachau/using-the-hair



SS-Wirtschaftsverwaltungshauptamt                Oranienburg,
                                                 August 6. 1942
Amtsgruppe D - Concentration Camps
D II 288 Ma./Ha. Tgb. 112 geh.                   SECRET!
                                                 Copy 13
Re: Use of hair cuttings

To the Commandants of the Concentration Camps
Arb., Au., Bu., Da., Flo., Gr.Ro., Lu., Maut/Gu., Na., Nie., Neu.,
Rav., Sahs., Stutth., Mor., SS SL Hinzert.

SS Obergruppen fuhrer Pohl, Chief of the SS
Wirtschafts-Verwaltungshauptamt has ordered that the hair of concentration
camp prisoners is to be put to use. Hair is to be made into industrial
felt or spun into yarn. Woman's hair is to be used in the manufacture of
hair-yarn socks for 'U'-boat crews and hair-felt foot-wear for the
Reichs-railway.

It is therefore ordered that the hair of female prisoners be disinfected
and stored. Men's hair can only be put to use if it is longer than 20 mm.
SS Obergruppen fuhrer Pohl therefore agrees for an intial trial period to
the growing of the prisoners hair to a length of 20 mm before it is cut.
Long hair could facillitate escape and to avoid this the camp commandants
may have a middle parting shaved in the prisoners' hair as a
distinguishing mark, if they think it is necessary.

It is planned to planned to set up a hair processing workshop in one of
the concentration camps. Further details as to the delivery of the
accumulated hair will follow.

The total monthly amount of male and female hair is to be reported to this
office on the 5th of every month beginning from September 5, 1942.

                                                  signed: Glucks
                                                  SS-Brigadefuhrer und
                                                  Generalmajor der Waffen-SS

Source:   Distel & Jakusch, _Concentration Camp Dachau 1933-1945_, p.137
          Ref. Plate 282 with translation.


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