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1942-01-06 Memorandum of SS-Obersturmbannführer Krumey: “as many SS leaders, sub-leaders, and men as possible are to be detached…for the Kommando Lange”

On January 6, 1942, Herman Krumey, the head of the Migration Central Office in Litzmannstadt, recorded the names of three SS men provided by the Migration Central Office to Sonderkommando Lange: SS-Obersturmführer Herbert Otto, SS-Hauptscharführer Fritz Ismer, and SS-Scharführer Karl Goede. The group was accompanied by the driver Grebe, whose first name remains unknown.

Contemporary Source

1941-12-18 Letter of Damzog to Krumey: “Providing SS members to the commando Lange”

On December 18, 1941, Ernst Damzog, the Inspector of the Security Police and SD in Posen, wrote to Hermann Krumey, the head of the Migration Central Office Litzmannstadt, that he has “informed SS-Hauptsturmführer Krim.-Kommissar Lange about the delegation of the 3 SS leaders or sub-leaders to his commando”. The notorious obligation declaration, binding all members of the Sonderkommando to strict secrecy, was scheduled to be administered personally by Lange.

hans staegemeir
Perpetrator

Staegemeir, Hans – Forester at Body Disposal Area of Kulmhof Extermination Camp

Hans Staegemeir was forester of the area at Kulmhof extermination camp. He observed the activities of theSonderkommando and shared his experiences with his superior, Forester Heinrich May. Members of the Sonderkommando visited his forestry office to make telephone calls. Staegemeir also had the opportunity to visit the extermination site in the forest camp.

Höppner to Eichmann on extermination of Jews
Contemporary Source

1941-07-16 Letter of Höppner to Eichmann: “…to eliminate the Jews, as far as they are not capable of working, by some quick-acting agent.”

On July 16, 1941, authorities in the Reichsgau Wartheland convened to deliberate on what was euphemistically termed the “solution of the Jewish question.” Rolf-Heinz Höppner, head of the SD and Umwandererzentralstelle (Migration Center Office) in Posen, forwarded the discussed proposals to Adolf Eichmann, seeking his feedback. Höppner himself regarded the suggestions as “fantastic,” yet entirely viable.

Contemporary Source

1945-02-00 Report of Heinrich May on Kulmhof Extermination Camp

The following report, dated February 1945, was authored by Heinrich May, detailing his experience and knowledge of the Kulmhof (Chelmno) extermination camp in the Warthegau. The document integrates May’s firsthand observations on-site, explanations provided by members of Sonderkommando Kulmhof, and descriptions relayed by other visitors of Sonderkommando Kulmhof.

hans bothmann
Perpetrator

Bothmann, Hans – Commander of Kulmhof Extermination Camp

In March 1942, Hans Bothmann assumed the role of commander at the Kulmhof extermination camp, succeeding Herbert Lange in this position. Witness accounts depict a man who oscillated between calculated professionalism and unpredictable cruelty. He was “generally calm and deliberate,” recalled one former colleague, “except when he had been drinking.” And he drank often. Others remembered him shooting Jewish prisoners in the neck when they were no longer able to work, or casually joking about killing his own men.

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