Introduction
A telex dated February 20, 1943 from SS-Obersturmführer Heinrich Schwarz, head of labour deployment in Auschwitz, to the SS Main Economic and Administrative Office (WVHA) in Oranienburg on selection and categorization of 5,042 Jews deported from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz. According to the report, nearly 73% of the total arrivals in Auschwitz were considered unfit for work and were “accommodated specially” – a Nazi euphemism to camouflage killing. The report states that many of the men were “accommodated specially” due to “excessive infirmity”, while the women were selected for special accommodation because most had children.
On the euphemism specially accommodated see “Separate accommodation” in Auschwitz: a code word for extrajudicial executions.
Document
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Nr. 4645
An: W.V.-Hauptamt
Amt D II
Oranienburg
20.2.43
Betreff: Überstellung von 5042 Juden aus Theresienstadt.
Bezug: Dort. FS. v. 17.2.43 Nr. 1023
Gesamtstärke der Zugänge vom 21.1.43
2.000 Juden, davon ausgesucht zum Arbeitseinsatz 418 = 254 Männer u. 164 Frauen = 20,9 %.
vom 24.1.43 2029 Juden davon zum Arbeitseinsatz 228 = 148 Männer u. 80 Frauen = 11,2 %
vom 27.1.43 993 Juden, davon zum Arbeitseinsatz 284 = 212 Männer u. 72 Frauen = 22,5 %.
Gesondert untergebracht wurden am 21.1.43 1582 = 602 Männer u. 980 Frauen u. Kinder.
am 24.1.43 1801 = 623 Männer u. 1178 Frauen und Kinder, am 27.1.43 709 = 197 Männer u. 512 Frauen und Kinder. Die Sonderunterbringung der Männer erfolgte wegen zu grosser Gebrechlichkeit, die der Frauen, weil der grösste Teil Kinder war.
gez. Schwarz
SS-Obersturmführer
Wenden !
Sämtliche Häftlinge waren nach Ablauf der Quarantäne am 15.2.43 der Bauleitung zugestellt.
Alter der Männer: 18 – 40 Jahre
Alter der Frauen: 18 – 33 Jahre
Telegram · Telex · Radio Message · Urgent Telegram
No. 4645
To:
W.V. Main Office
Department D II
Oranienburg
20 February 1943
Subject: Transfer of 5,042 Jews from Theresienstadt.
Reference: Their telegram of 17 February 1943, No. 1023
Total number of arrivals since 21 January 1943:
2,000 Jews, of those selected for labor deployment 418 = 254 men and 164 women = 20.9%.
from 24 Jan 1943 2,029 Jews, of those for labor deployment 228 = 148 men and 80 women = 11.2%
from 27 Jan 1943 993 Jews, of those for labor deployment 284 = 212 men and 72 women = 22.5%.
Accommodated specially were on 21 Jan 1943 1,582 = 602 men and 980 women and children.
on 24 Jan 1943 1,801 = 623 men and 1,178 women and children, on 27 Jan 1943 709 = 197 men and 512 women and children.
The special accommodation of the men was due to excessive infirmity; that of the women, because the majority were [recte: have] children.
Signed: Schwarz
SS-Obersturmführer
Turn over!
All prisoners were handed over to the construction office after the end of the quarantine on 15 February 1943.
Age of the men: 18–40 years
Age of the women: 18–33 years
Archivial reference:
APMA-B, D–Au-I-3a/65
Reference according to Die Verfolgung und Ermordung der europäischen Juden durch das nationalsozialistische Deutschland 1933-1945. Band 16: Das KZ Auschwitz 1942-1945 und die Zeit der Todesmärsche 1944/45, p. 228 (Dokument 56). Image taken from here
