|
| Volume |
I |
| Subdivision |
The Case Against the Nazi Secret Police, Security and Intelligence System and Ernst Kaltenbrunner |
| Part |
Not applicable |
| Section |
"Murder Wagons" (.PDF) |
| Title |
"Feldpostnummer S2704 / SECRET" |
| Pages |
7 |
| Pages Supplemental |
Unpaginated, including title page |
| Date |
16 May 1942 |
| Language |
English (the translator's name is not given) |
| Author |
Becker |
| Witness |
Not applicable |
| Other Names |
Rauff; Ernst; Kopf (?); Truehess;; Dr. Schaefer; Sukkel; Just Major Pradl; Goetz; Mayer; Niederhausen |
| Other Dates |
22 June 1942; 13 July 1942; 15 June 1942; 11 June 1942; 12 June 1942; 16 June 1942 |
| Abstract |
This section comprises four separate documents, each of which demonstrates the Nazis' use of Murder Wagons, also known as "Death Vans," to implement their execution programs in the Eastern occupied territories. The first document (see Title, above), a letter from Becker to Rauff, is the most substantial; it is also the most remarkable. In virtually the same straightforward, nuts-and-bolts manner in which it recounts the logistical problems and the mechanical breakdowns to which the vehicles were susceptible, the author reports his concern with "the atrocious spiritual and physical effect that this kind of work [unloading the vans after the gassing] may have on the men, if not just now then in the future." The execution process appalls the murderers themselves to such an extent that "In order to get over the work as quickly as possible, the driver gives full gas [with the result that] the people to be executed die from suffocation and not as foreseen by being put to sleep." The other three documents, two of which are identified as telegrams, are much more ordinary, dealing as they do with problems like broken axles and vehicles otherwise in need of cleaning and repair. These documents are typewritten carbon copies of fair to good quality on slightly browning but adequate paper. |
| Keywords |
Death Vans; Gassing; Sipo; SD; S-Vehicles; Gas pipes; Brake clutch; RSHA; Telegrams; Jews; Riga; Berlin; Belgrad; Kiev; Crimes against humanity; Atrocities; War crimes; Crimes against humanity |