Archive/File: imt/nca/nca-01/nca-01-10-slaves-09
Last-Modified: 1996/06/12

   Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, Volume One, Chapter Ten

  9. 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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