1943

Memo from Janisch June 28, 1943 on Auschwitz Cremation Capacity
Contemporary Source

1943-06-28 Central Construction Office Report on Auschwitz’ Cremation Capacity: “Total for 24-hour Operation: 4,756 Persons”

On June 28, 1943, the Central Construction Office Auschwitz wrote a report addressed to the SS-WVHA on the completion of the third crematorium at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The document was written by SS-Untersturmführer Josef Janisch and prepared for the signature of SS-Sturmbannführer Karl Bischoff, head of the office. According to the report, Crematoria II and III each had the ability to cremate “1,440 persons” per day, while Crematoria IV and V could handle “768 persons” per day. Combined with the older crematorium at Auschwitz I, the camp’s total daily capacity reached “4,756 persons”.

Himmler to Globocnik, November 4 1943
Contemporary Source

1943-11-30 Letter from Himmler to Globocnik Acknowledging Completion of Aktion Reinhard (Operation Reinhard)

In this letter dated 30 November 1943, Heinrich Himmler replied to Odilo Globocnik letter of 4 November 1943 and acknowleged “the completion of Operation Reinhardt”. Himmler expresses his gratitude and appreciation for Globocnik’s role in what he describes as “great and unique services” to the German people. This operation was responsible for the mass extermination of Jews in the General Government.

Contemporary Source

1943-08-13 Letter from Plate to Gestapo Litzmannstadt confirming “the rental shortfall of the district gardening grounds used by the SS-Sonderkommando in Kulmhof (Chełmno)”

Albert Plate, deputy commander of Kulmhof extermination camp, confirmed the correctness of the claim by Walter Becht, Disctrict Administrator of Warthbrücken (Koło) for reimbursement of lease loss for the district gardening ground next to the Kulmhof castle. The letter was sent on August 13, 1943, with the field post number of the Feldgendarmerie-Trupp 7 of SS-Freiwilligen-Gebirgs-Division Prinz Eugen.

Letter from Landrat Warthbrücken to Gestapo Lodz of June 24, 1943
Contemporary Source

1943-06-24 Letter from Becht to Gestapo Lodz about the “use of part of the district gardening area by the SS-Sonderkommando in Kulmhof”

The letter dated June 24, 1943 was sent from Walter Becht, Disctrict Administrator of Warthbrücken (Kolo) to the State Police Office in Litzmannstadt. Becht reveals in this document that the SS-Sonderkommando Kulmhof took over the gardening area next to the estate with the “castle” (mansion) as early as October 1941. After the dissolution of the commando, the original tenant resumed full lease payments from April 1, 1943. The document requests reimbursement for the remaining lease loss of 50 RM for the period from October 1, 1942, to the end of March 1943.

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