Mass Killing Unit of Warthegau
Sonderkommando Lange in German Documents:
Sonderkommando Kulmhof in German Documents:
Part I: Origin and Foundation
Part II: The Extermination of 100,000 Jews
Part III: Body Disposal (Appendix)
Part IV: Pabianice Sorting Camp
Part V: Funding
Part VI: The Polish Working Detail
Part VII: Motor Pool and Fuel (Appendix)
Part IX: Farewell (1943)
The fate of the about 5,000 Sinti and Roma deported from the Reichsgaue Niederdonau (Lower Danube) and Steiermark in annexed Austria to the Litzmannstadt Ghetto in early November 1941 and forced to vegetate in the most inadequate conditions was sealed when a typhus epidemic broke out in early December 1941 [1] and, incidentally, an extermination camp was established 70 km North-West of Litzmannstadt: Kulmhof. The liquidation of the Sinti and Roma from the Ghetto by the Sonderkommando in December 1941/January 1942 was going beyond its initially assigned task to exterminate 100,000 Warthegau Jews and marked another escalation of the type of victims targeted after mental patients and unfit Jews.
It is not known who within the local (City and Ghetto Administration, ordinary police, Gestapo, Kripo) or state authorities proposed to solve the disaster created by themselves in the enclosure of the Sinti and Roma of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto by killing all his inhabitants. From the practice on the mental patients and unfit Jews, the use of Sonderkommando Kulmhof had to involve the Inspector of the Security Service and Police Ernst Damzog and the Higher SS and Police Leader Wilhelm Koppe, who could have obtained the Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler's approval, if this was considered necessary.
In any case, the decision to kill the Sinti and Roma of the Ghetto Litzmannstadt was apparently made between 5 December 1941 - when the risk of infection became so severe that the head of the Ghetto Administration prohibited his staff of entering the enclosure - [2] and mid-December 1941.
In any case, the decision to kill the Sinti and Roma of the Ghetto Litzmannstadt was apparently made between 5 December 1941 - when the risk of infection became so severe that the head of the Ghetto Administration prohibited his staff of entering the enclosure - [2] and mid-December 1941.
According to the chronicle of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto for the period 1 to 5 January 1942, "since ten days the 'gipsies' are brought away with trucks". However, the Dabie (Eichstädt) resident Lajwe Wołkowicz, who managed to escape to Warsaw via Grabow mentioned in a report of 26 February 1942 that he "saw two cars with Gypsies, who also went to Chelmno" on 14 December 1941. Since the Sonderkommando transport commando paused the deportation of Jews on the working days 15 and 16 December 1941, such an early transport of Sinti and Roma, perhaps of those with confirmed and suspected typhus, to Kulmhof seems possible. [3]
On 18 December 1941, the local Health Authorities reported that vaccinations of the Sinti and Roma are "obsolete" anyway because of their "partial resettlement carried out in the meantime" - supporting that the first Sinti and Roma had already left Litzmannstadt. [4] On the same day, the head of the Ghetto Administration Hans Biebow revealed as the destination of the Sinti and Roma a "special camp, which operates in the Ghetto interest" (Document 228).
After the killing of the Jews from Dabie, the Sonderkommando all of a sudden ceased the extermination of Jews from 18 December 1941 until 8 January 1942 (Sonderkommando Kulmhof in German Documents - Motor Pool and Fuel, Table 4) to carry out the more urgent liquidation of the "Gypsies camp" with its about 4,400 remaining inhabitants. The Kulmhof escapee Szlama Winer mentioned in a contemporary report the last extermination of Sinti and Roma on 9 January 1942 (however, another escapee, Michal Podchlebnik, recalled after the war a transport as late as 16 January 1942). The Criminal Police of the Ghetto no longer reported on Sinti and Roma since 10 January 1942. On 14 January 1942, the Ghetto Administration already referred to the "former Gypsies' camp". [3b]
The task of the SS commando was limited to the killing and burial of the Sinti and Roma, while the provision of transport means was apparently left to the police and the Ghetto Administration, which rented vehicles in early January 1942 specifically for this purpose. Another part of the deal between the Sonderkommando, or its higher up representative among the staff of the Inspector of the Security Police and Security Service, and the local authorities was that the Sonderkommando was to receive at least 40 litres of schnapps as precaution against typhus for free, which was to be supplied by the Ghetto Administration at the order of the Litzmannstadt Police President (Document 228).
The sloppy hygienic measures in Kulmhof resulted in the confirmed or suspected infection of at least half of the Polish prisoners (Document 18 here and Document 163 here) as well as of a member of the police battalion stationed in Litzmannstadt, Josef Rottmüller, who "was employed in the Sonderkommando carrying out the resettlement of the Gypsies" (Document 229). The Ghetto Administration ended up paying 20,000 RM as "special assignment" to the Kulmhof commandant on 9 January 1942, whether as danger bonus for the Sonderkommmando men or as compensation for the typhus epidemic (Document 105 here).
About half a year later, Biebow reminded the Reich Commissioner for the Spirits Trade for "allocation of spirits for employees working on a special action". He asked for 1/8 litres of schnapps per day for his staff at the Pabianice sorting camp as the "police and Gestapo forces employed in the same action receive 1/4 litres of spirits per day", which was "a special monthly allocation of spirits to the Secret State Police, Sonderkommando Kulmhof". (Documents 230 and 231). There are no records left to establish the amount of alcohol delivered to Kulmhof, as this was apparently purchased on the camp's own budget (apart from Documents 219 - 221). The Sonderkommando members received 1/2 litres of liquors per week according to Walter Burmeister, who was responsible for the rationing of special provisions. The Polish working detail got half of this amount according to Henryk Mania. Both the Sonderkommando men and the Polish prisoners could purchase beer. Stanislaw Rubach recounts that even the Jewish prisoners obtained vodka. It stands to reason that some of the perpetrators drowned their experiences and doings in the camp with alcohol. [5]
The special provision for the Sonderkommando also included cigarettes. Up to May 1942, the Sonderkommando apparently paid for it on its own budget (like with the schnapps). Only one purchase is known from the existing files, as the cigarettes were obtained from the warehouses of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto. On 28 February 1942, "Sonder-Kommando, Mr Lange, Posen" ordered 1,000 cigarettes type "Drava" from the Ghetto (Document 194).
The practise changed in June 1942 since when the contingent of cigarettes was either provided by the Ghetto Administration or ordered by the Reichs Governor's Office in Posen, which forwarded the bills to the Ghetto Administration for payment from its special account 12300 with the certificate that "the cigarettes are intended for distribution among the members of Sonderkommando ordered with the Jew-action". The Sonderkommando obtained in average 16,000 cigarettes per month between June - December 1942, which corresponds to 6 per day - the ration for the army - for 89 men (Documents 195 - 218). For the year 1943, only one purchase of 3,000 cigarettes is documented, possibly because no new contingent was granted as special provision since the commando was about to get dissolved.
Another article supplied to the Sonderkommando documented in the files is soft drinks bought by the Ghetto Administration in the period August to October 1942. In average, 2,800 litres of soft drinks were shipped to Kulmhof per month, corresponding to about 1 litre per day for those 89 men (Documents 222 - 227).
The special provision for the Sonderkommando also included cigarettes. Up to May 1942, the Sonderkommando apparently paid for it on its own budget (like with the schnapps). Only one purchase is known from the existing files, as the cigarettes were obtained from the warehouses of the Litzmannstadt Ghetto. On 28 February 1942, "Sonder-Kommando, Mr Lange, Posen" ordered 1,000 cigarettes type "Drava" from the Ghetto (Document 194).
The practise changed in June 1942 since when the contingent of cigarettes was either provided by the Ghetto Administration or ordered by the Reichs Governor's Office in Posen, which forwarded the bills to the Ghetto Administration for payment from its special account 12300 with the certificate that "the cigarettes are intended for distribution among the members of Sonderkommando ordered with the Jew-action". The Sonderkommando obtained in average 16,000 cigarettes per month between June - December 1942, which corresponds to 6 per day - the ration for the army - for 89 men (Documents 195 - 218). For the year 1943, only one purchase of 3,000 cigarettes is documented, possibly because no new contingent was granted as special provision since the commando was about to get dissolved.
Another article supplied to the Sonderkommando documented in the files is soft drinks bought by the Ghetto Administration in the period August to October 1942. In average, 2,800 litres of soft drinks were shipped to Kulmhof per month, corresponding to about 1 litre per day for those 89 men (Documents 222 - 227).
Footnotes
Archive abbreviations: APL = Archiwum Państwowe w Łodzi; APP: Archiwum Państwowe w Poznaniu; AIPN = Archiwum Instytutu Pamięci Narodowej; BArch = Bundesarchiv
[1] Klein, Die Gettoverwaltung Litzmannstadt 1940 - 1944, p. 407 - 418; Montague, Chelmno and the Holocaust, p. 65
[2] APL/221/29235, p. 31; cf. Klein, Die Gettoverwaltung Litzmannstadt 1940 - 1944, p. 414
[3] Feuchert et al., Die Chronik des Gettos Lodz/Litzmannstadt 1942, p. 17, cf. Klein, Die Gettoverwaltung Litzmannstadt 1940 - 1944, p. 416; testimony of Lajwe Wolkowicz of 26 February 1942, Ringelblum Archive volume 9, Tereny wcielone do Rzeszy: Kraj Warty, p. 70 - 74
[3b] interrogation of Fritz Ismer of 9 November 1960, BArch B162/3246, p. 73, translation from Montague, Chelmno and the Holocaust, p. 66: 'When we reported to Lange, he instructed us to go with him by car to the forest, which was about five kilometers away, in order to witness the commando in action. Lange had told us before that everything that happened there was top secret and that we had to keep absolutely silent about everything. When we arrived at the forest, one of the policemen who guarded it reported to us. The forest [camp] was a short distance off the county road, and a dirt road leading to it. Lange told us to come closer. We could see a clearing in the forest and a grey van that was parked there with the rear doors open. The van was full of bodies, which were taken out by a Jewish labor squad and thrown into a mass grave. The dead people looked like Gypsies. There were men, women and children there. The bodies were clothed. When I saw this, I began to feel sick and had to vomit. When I rallied a little, Lange told me, “You’ll get used to it.”We stayed there for only about ten minutes. I think two more vans came during this time. They were also full of Gypsies. When we came back, Lange told us that he wanted to show us the mansion. In the area of the mansion we saw people go directly from the trucks into the gas vans. Those people were Gypsies too.'; account of Szlama Winer of 1942, AZIH , ARG I 1115 (Ring. I/412), English translation in Pawlicka-Nowak, Chelmno witnesses Speak, p. 101 - 118: 'A group of Gypsies from Lodz had just been murdered Among their belongings there were concertinas, violins, feather beds, and even watches and gold jewellery. After about five minutes the SS-man shouted: 'Ihr Juden, herein und schmeisst alles raus.' The Jews rushed towards the vehicle and pulled the corpses out...After two hours the first van with Gypsies arrived. I can state firmly that the executions were carried out in the woods...A half an hour later, the second van with Gypsies arrived. It stopped about 100 meters (328 feet) from us so that we could not hear the screams of despair, which made us lose our temper. By lunch we did three vans, after lunch - four (we used to count them)...In the courtyard we saw two big uncovered trucks full of Gypsies ~ men, women and children, together with their belongings. We were quickly loaded on a covered truck so that we could not talk to the Gypsies. It was the first time we saw the victims alive. On the truck we stood in the front with seven armed gendarmes behind us. A car carrying a group of SS-men followed our truck...As soon as an hour later the first van with the Gypsies arrived; 20 minutes later the next one...The dinner was very quick, because another van with Gypsies arrived.'; interrogation of Helena Krol of 14 June 1945, AIPN GK 165/271, volume 1, p. 55-56: 'At the beginning of 1942 the Gypsies were brought.'; interrogation of Andrzej Miszczak of 14 June 1945, AIPN GK 165/271, volume 1, p. 51-53, English translation in Pawlicka-Nowak, Chelmno witnesses Speak, p. 139 - 144: 'I also saw Gypsies being brought by cars from the direction of Kolo'.; interrogation of Marja Mokrzanowska of 28 June 1945, AIPN GK 165/271, volume 2, p. 59 - 60: 'Once I saw three trucks full of gypsies.'; interrogation of Rozalia Peham of 27 June 1945, Chelmno Witnesses Speak, p. 163 - 167: 'Gassman, a chauffer, told me that apart from what Jews, 5,000 Gypsies had been murdered in Chelmno.'; interrogation of Michal Podchlebnik of 9 June 1945, AIPN GK 165/271, volume 1, p. 14 - 16, Chelmno Witnesses Speak, p. 114 - 119: 'I witnessed the extermination of Jews from Bugaj and then Izbica. On Friday they brought Gypsies from Lodz. On Saturday the first transport from the Lodz ghetto arrived.'; testimony of Michal Podchlebnik of July 1963, Pawlicka-Nowak, Swiadectwa Zaglady, p. 89 - 102: 'During my brief stay in Chelmno, I also witnessed two transports of Gypsies. I do not know where the transports came from, nor can I determine the number of people. I remember, however, that they were treated differently than the Jews. If the Jews were sent to a supposed bath and had a comedy with towels and soaps to prevent loud screams and wailing, the Gypsies were brought directly to the forest. There, with the help of machine gun salvos, they were shot.'; interrogation of Czeslaw Potyralski of 4 July 1945, AIPN GK 165/271, volume 2, p. 95 - 96: 'In the middle of January he telephoned a transport convoy arriving by car from Lodz. He called the criminal police. They were brought with Gypsy's cars. I heard the talk. The convoy reported: A transport of 800 people was delivered to Chelmno. The next day the same caller also dialled, so the content of the conversation was identical. Gypsies were brought on 3 days in a row. Regardless of the transport of gypsies, Jews were also brought in cars, albeit in smaller quantities.; Alberti, Die Verfolgung und Vernichtung der Juden im Warthegau, p. 434; Klein, Die Gettoverwaltung Litzmannstadt 1940 - 1944, p. 416f.
[4] APL/221/29238, p. 331, cf. Klein, Die Gettoverwaltung Litzmannstadt 1940 - 1944, p. 416
[5] interrogation of Walter Burmeister of 23 March 1961, BArch B 162/3248, p. 75: 'We got provisions as the fighting troops, furthermore special rations of about 1/2 bottle of schnapps...'; interrogation of Walter Burmeister of 26 January 1961, BArch B 162/3246, p. 162: '...we drunk quite a lot, since everyone got half a liter of schnapps as ration. Also, beer was available for purchase.'; interrogation of Josef Islinger of 26 February 1962, BArch B 162/3249, p. 158: 'We also received special rations of alcoholic drinks, which were provided by the forager.'; deposition of Walter Piller of 19 May 1945, YVA O.53 12.1, p. 13, English translation in Pawlicka-Nowak, Chelmno witnesses speak, p. 169 - 193: 'Apart from this, every member of the unit received a bottle of vodka every 10 days and 10 cigarettes a day.'; examination of Henryk Mania of 14 April 1964, Pawlicka-Nowak, Swiadectwa Zaglady, p. 128: 'In the camp, each of us received weekly 1/4 liter of vodka from the Germans.'; interrogation of Helena Krol of 14 June 1945, AIPN GK 165/271, volume 1, p. 55-56: 'They drank a lot but did not drink during the day and their duty time. They had so much alcohol that I had stolen vodka.'; interrogation of Henryk Glesman of 14 November 1945, AIPN GK 165/271, volume 5, p. 28: 'The people around me said that they still drink vodka there, that they had more than enough.'; Szlama Wiener, Chelmno witnesses Speak, p. 101 - 118: 'That day we had lunch at one thirty. It was 20 degrees below zero. The gendarmes lit a fire and thawed out our bread; it was burnt and charred. The dinner was very quick, because another van with Gypsies arrived. After lunch 'the Whip' went deeper into the woods and drank a bottle of vodka. When he returned, he started yelling: 'O, ihr Hellblaue, ihr wollt nicht arbeiten' and then he used his whip. He tormented the prisoners; their heads, noses, foreheads, and faces were in blood, their eyes swollen.'; diary of Stanislaw Rubach of 25 September 1942 quoted in the hearing of the investigation into the crimes committed in the extermination camp at Chelmno on 28 December 1945, AIPN, GK 165/271, volume 8, p. 68-77 & 104, cf. Pawlicka-Nowak, Swiadectwa Zaglady, p. 175 - 192: 'It is the work of young Jews who, in addition to vodka, receive a good life, about 250 people, one of the Jews plays the violin, apart from the German personnel, which is well-fed and receives plenty of vodkas, there work 6 Poles on the burning, probable prisoners.'; manuscript of Heinrich May of February 1945, Pawlicka-Nowak, Chelmno witnesses speak, p. 154 - 162: 'The special unit organised drinking sprees. Vodka and cognac flowed in streams.'
Contemporary German Documents
Documents 194 - 218.) Cigarettes for Sonderkommando Kulmof paid from the special account 12300
TABLE 1
| Doc. | Date | Recipient | Amount | Source | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 194 | 28/02/42 | Sonderkommando Mr. Lange Gestapo S |
1,000 | APL/221/30898, p. 9 APL/221/29216, p.141 APL/221/29665, p.236 |    |
| 195 | 04/06/42 | Gestapo S | 3,000 | APL/221/29666, p.75 |  |
| 196 | 13/06/42 | Gestapo S | 5,000 | APL/221/29666, p.78 |  |
| 197 | 27/06/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 10,000 | APL/221/29667, p.201 |  |
| 198 | 06/07/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 5,000 | APL/221/29669 p.204-205 |   |
| 199 | 20/07/42 | Gestapo S | 500 | APL/221/29668, p.156 |  |
| 200 | 20/07/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 4,000 | APL/221/29669, p.206 |  |
| 201 | 10/08/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 3,000 | APL/221/29670 p.266-267 |   |
| 202 | 11/08/42 | Gestapo S | ca. 10,000 | APL/221/29668, p.84 |  |
| 203 | 22/08/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 3,700 | APL/221/29670, p.268-269 |   |
| 204 | 24/08/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 3,000 | APL/221/29669, p.190 |  |
| 205 | 07/09/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 3,000 | APL/221/29671, p.211-212 |   |
| 206 | 19/09/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
3,060 | APL/221/29671, p.311-312 |   |
| 207 | 29/09/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 3,000 | APL/221/29672, p.113 |  |
| 208 | 03/10/42 | Gestapo S | 5,000 | APL/221/29671, p.309 |  |
| 209 | 09/10/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
3,060 | APL/221/29672, p.109-112 |   |
| 210 | 19/10/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
3,060 | APL/221/29673, p.253-254 |   |
| 211 | 29/10/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
3,120 | APL/221/29673, p.255-256 |   |
| 212 | 04/11/42 | Gestapo S | 10,000 | APL/221/29673, p.58 |  |
| 213 | 10/11/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
3,060 | APL/221/29673, p.5-6 |   |
| 214 | 20/11/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
3,080 | APL/221/29673, p.197-198 |   |
| 215 | 30/11/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 3,000 | APL/221/29674, p.300-301 |   |
| 216 | 02/12/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
1,080 | APL/221/29673, p.49-50 |   |
| 217 | 21/12/42 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
10,140 | APL/221/29674, p.298-299 |   |
| 218 | 11/01/43 | Sonderkommando Jew-action |
ca. 3,000 | APL/221/29674, p.296-297 |   |
Documents 219 - 221.) Spirits for Sonderkommando Kulmof paid from the special account 12300
TABLE 1
| Doc. | Date | Recipient | Amount | Source | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 219 | 18/12/41 | Gestapo | 40 l | APL/221/29665 p.241 |  |
| 220 | 28/02/42 | Gestapo S Gestapo |
40 l | APL/221/29216, p.141 APL/221/29665, p.235 |
  |
| 221 | 12/03/42 | Gestapo | 40 l | APL/221/29665, p.233 |  |
Documents 222 - 227.) Soft drinks for Sonderkommando Kulmof paid from the special account 12300
TABLE 1
| Doc. | Date | Recipient | Amount | Source | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 222 | 11/08/42 | Ghetto Administration | 1,000 l | APL/221/29669, p.172 |  |
| 223 | 20/08/42 | SS Sonderkommando | 880 l | APL/221/29672, p.265 |  |
| - | 25/08/42 | SS Sonderkommando | 1,000 l | APL/221/29672, p.265 | |
| - | 31/08/42 | SS Sonderkommando | 900 l | APL/221/29672, p.265 | |
| - | 04/09/42 | SS Sonderkommando | 800 l | APL/221/29672, p.265 | |
| 224 | 14/09/42 | SS Sonderkommando | 1,020 l | APL/221/29672, p.266 |  |
| - | 28/09/42 | SS Sonderkommando | 1,020 l | APL/221/29672, p.266 | |
| 225 | 08/10/42 | Ghetto Administration | 830 l | APL/221/29673, p.92 |  |
| 226 | 28/10/42 | Ghetto Administration | 990 l | APL/221/29673, p.92 | |
| 227 | 25/11/42 | SS Sonderkommando | 995 l | APL/221/29673, p.60 |  |
228.) Letter of Hans Biebow to the Reich Monopoly Administration for the Spirits of 18 December 1941:
DOCUMENT
TRANSCRIPTION
An die
Reichsmonopolverwaltung
f. Branntwein
z.Hd. Herrn Dir. Schmidt
Litzmannstadt
Königsbacherstrasse 26
18.12.1941
027/1/B/A
Betr.: Lieferung von Trinkbranntwein
Der Unterzeichnete nimmt höflich Bezug auf die soeben mit Ihnen geführte telefonische Unterredung und bittet hiermit um Lieferung von
40 Flaschen Trinkbranntwein
für die Belieferung eines Sonderlagers, welches im Gettointeresse eingeschaltet ist. Dies ist ein Aufenthaltslager für Zigeuner, das aus zwingenden Gründen und zum Schutz der Stadt errichtet worden ist.
Die Versorgung mit dem vorgenannten Branntwein erfolgt auf Wunsch des Herrn Polizeipräsidenten, Dr. Albert, der Ihnen gegenüber, falls noch erforderlich, diese meine Angaben bestätigen wird.
Ich betone zum Schluss nochmals ausdrücklich, dass hier keinerlei persönliches Interesses meiner Verwaltung vorliegt.
Ich danke Ihnen für die prompte Belieferung im voraus.
Im Auftrage:
[Unterschrift]
(Biebow)
Amtsleiter.
TRANSLATION
To the
Reichs Monopoly Administration
for Spirits
to the attention of director Schmidt
Litzmannstadt
Königsbacher Street 26
18.12.1941
027/1/B/A
Subject: Delivery of spirits
The undersigned politely refers to the telephone conversation that has just been conducted with you and hereby requests the delivery of
40 bottles of spirits
for the supply of a special camp, which operates in the ghetto interest. This is a Gypsy camp, which was erected for compelling reasons and for the protection of the city. The supply of the aforementioned spirits takes place at the request of the Police President, Dr. Albert, who, if necessary, will confirm this information to you. Finally, I emphasize once again that there is no personal interest of my administration here. Thank you for the prompt delivery in advance.
By order:
[signature]
(Biebow)
Head of Office.
229.) Letter of the District President to the Interior Minstry of 25 February 1942:
DOCUMENT
TRANSCRIPTION
Zweitschrift
Der Regierungspräsident
IM 220/5-2 Litzmannstadt, den 25.2.1942
An den
Herrn Reichsminister des Innern
in Berlin
über den
Herrn Reichsstatthalter im Warthegau
in Posen.
Betr.: Fleckfieberfall beim Unterwachtmeister der Schutzpolizei Rottmüller
Erlaß ohne
Berichterstatter: Reg. und Med.-Rat Dr. Patzschke.
Anlagen: ./.
Vom Gesundsheitsamt der Stadt Litzmannstadt ging hier ein Bericht über eine Fleckfiebererkrankung bei dem Unterwachtmeister der Schutzpolizei Josef Rottmüller, Litzmannstadt, Böhmische Linie 219 ein.
R. war bei dem Sonderkommando eingesetzt, welches die Umsiedlung der Zigeuner vornahm. Am 22.1.1942 kehrte R. von seinem Einsatz wieder zurück und wurde am 23.1.1942 in der Desinfektionsanstalt, Litzmannstadt, Neußerstraße entlaust.
Vom 23.1. - 2.2.1942 machte R. in seiner Kompanie Dienst, am 3.2.42 meldete er sich wegen leichter Grippeerscheinung krank. Am 4.2.42 wurde R. mit erhöhter Temperatur und einer leichten Bronchopneumonie in die Krankenstube des Polizeibataillons aufgenommen. Am 6.2.42 wurde R. in das "Bethlehem"-Krankenhaus überwiesen.
Am 9.2.42 wurde die Sanitätsstelle des "Bethlehem"-Krankenhaus fernmündlich benachrichtigt, daß der Unterwachtmeister der Schutzpolizei Rottmüller wegen Verdacht auf Typhus in das "Siegfried-Staemler"-Krankenhau überführt werden müßte. Die Überführung wurde am gleichen Tag noch vorgenommen.
[...]
TRANSLATION
Copy
The district president
IM 220/5-2 Litzmannstadt, 25.2.1942
To
Mr. Reichs Interior Minister
in Berlin
via
Mr. Reichs Governor in the Warthegau
in Posen.
Subject.: Typhus case among the Unterwachtmeister of the uniformed police Rottmüller
Decree none
rapporteur: Reg. and Med.-Rat Dr. Patzschke.
Attachment: ./.
The Health Department of the city Litzmannstadt reported on a case of typhus disease among the Unterwachtmeister of the uniformed police Joseph Rottmüller, Litzmannstadt, Bohemian line 219.
R. was employed with the Sonderkommando, which carried out the resettlement of the Gypsies. On 22.1.1942, R. returned from his mission and was deloused on 23.1.1942 in the disinfection facility, Litzmannstadt, Neußer-Street.
From 23.1. - 2.2.1942 R. performed service in his company, on 3.2.42 he reported sick because of mild flu. On February 4, 1942, R. was admitted to the infirmary of the police battalion with elevated temperature and mild bronchopneumonia. R. was transferred to the "Bethlehem" hospital on 6 February 1942.
On 9 February 1942, the sanitary station of the "Bethlehem" hospital was informed by telephone that the Unterwachtmeister of the uniformed police Rottmüller would have to be transferred to the "Siegfried Staemmler" hospital because of suspected typhus. The transfer was made on the same day.
[...]
230.) Letter of Hans Biebow to the Reich Commissioner for the Spirits Trade of 25 June 1942:
DOCUMENT
TRANSCRIPTION
An den
Herrn Reichsbeauftragten
für das Trinksbranntwein-
gewerbe beim Reichsnährstand
Berlin W 52
Kleiststraße
25.6.1942
027/1/Lu/Po
Betr.: Zuteilung von Trinkbranntwein für bei einer Sonderaktion Beschäftigte
Bezug: Mein Schreiben vom 13.6.1942.
Mit meinem Schreiben vom 13. ds. Mts. stellte ich bei Ihnen den Antrag auf Zuweisung von Trinkbrannwein für bei einer Sonderaktion Beschäftigte. Leider habe ich diese Zuteilung bis heute noch nicht erhalten, weshalb ich mir gestatte, nochmal an die Erledigung dieser Angelegenheit zu erinnern. Gleichzeitig möchte ich darauf hinweisen, daß das hiesige Gesundheitsamt heute mit Nachdruck bei mir die Herausgabe der befürworteten 1/8 Ltr. pro Tag und Mann angemahnt hat, mit dem Hinweis darauf, daß eine Beschäftigung der Leute ohne diese Zuteilung unverantwortlich sei. Die in der gleichen Aktion Beschäftigten Polizei- und Gestapo-Kräfte erhalten täglich 1/4 Ltr. Branntwein, und mit Rücksicht auf die augenblickliche, außerordentliche Knappheit ist schon davon abgesehen worden, diese Menge für die Leute der Gettoverwaltung zu beantragen. Es muß jedoch darauf gedrungen werden, daß wenigstens die reduzierte Menge schnellstens zugeteilt wird.
Ich wäre Ihnen sehr zu Dank verpflichtet, wenn Sie die hiesige Reichsmonopolverwaltung entsprechend anweisen würden.
Im Auftrage:
[Unterschrift]
(Biebow)
Amtsleiter
TRANSLATION
To
Mr. Reich Commissioner
for the Spirits Trade at
the Reich Nourishing Estate
Berlin W 52
Kleists Street
25.6.1942
027/1/Lu/Po
Subject.: Allocation of spirits for employees working in a special action
Reference: My letter of 13.6.1942.
In my letter of the 13th of this month, I applied for the allocation of spirits for employees working on a special action. Unfortunately, I have not yet received this allocation, which is why I allow myself to recall once again the settling of this matter. At the same time, I would like to point out that the local health authority has now stressed to me the delivery of the advocated 1/8 l spirits per day and man, pointing out that the employment of the people is irresponsible without this allotment. The police and Gestapo forces employed in the same action receive 1/4 liters of spirits per day, and with a view to the present extraordinary shortcomings, it has already been decided not to apply this amount for the people of the Ghetto Administration. However, it must be urged that at least the reduced amount is allocated as soon as possible.
I would be very grateful if you instructed the local Reich monopoly administration accordingly.
By order:
[signature]
(Biebow)
Head of Office
231.) Letter of Friedrich Ribbe to the State Food Office of the Warthegau of 15 July 1942:
DOCUMENT
TRANSCRIPTION
An denHerrn Reichsstatthalterim WarthegauLandesernährungsamtAbteilung APosenHohenzollernstrasse 33.
III C 212 027/2/Lu/R 15.7. 1942Betr.: Zuteilung von Spirituosen.Bezug: Ihr Schreiben vom 8. 7. 1942.Ich bestätige den Empfang Ihres Schreibens vom obigen Datum und des damit eingereichten Bezugscheines über 26 ltr. Trinkbranntwein. Für diese einmalige Zuteilung danke ich Ihnen bestens. Aus Ihrem Schreiben muss ich entnehmen, daß Sie in dem Glauben sind, die Zuteilung ist für Leute bestimmt, die Kontrollen innerhalb des Gettos der Stadt Litzmannstadt durchzuführen haben. Das möchte ich richtig stellen und darauf hinweisen, daß es sich bei den Leuten, die in den Genuss dieser Sonderzuteilung kommen sollen, um Angestellte und Arbeiter der Gettoverwaltung handelt, die bei einer Sonderaktion die von der Geheimen Staatspolizei veranlaßt worden ist, eingesetzt sind, und zwar in den verlausten und verwanzten Gettos der Landbezirke des Warthegaues, die aufgelöst werden sowie innerhalb eines der Gettoverwaltung unterstehenden Sortierbetriebes in Pabianice. Die Arbeit ist im äußersten Grade ekelerregend und vor allen Dingen ist bei diesen Arbeiten die Infektionsgefahr besonders groß.Aus diesem Grunde wurde mir auch vom hiesigen Gesundheitsamt bestätigt, daß den eingesetzten monatlich eine Trinkbranntwein-Zuteilung zugebilligt werden muss. Mein Schreiben vom 22.5.1942 an das städtische Gesundheitsamt Litzmannstadt, das ich am 13.6. 1942 nach Berlin gab, enthält auch eine dbzgl. Bestätigung.Ich bitte unter Berücksichtigung meiner vorstehenden Ausführungen und der eingehenden Schilderung in meinem Schreiben vom 22. 5. und 13. 6. 1942 freundliehst zu prüfen, ob es nicht doch möglich ist, den Trinkbranntwein laufend jeden Monat bis auf weiteres zuzuteilen. Erklärend möchte ich noch darauf hinweisen, dass es bei sich bei der vorstehend erwähnten Aktion um die gleiche handelt, für die Sie auch monatlich eine Branntwein Sonderzuteilung der Geheimen Staatspolizei, Sonderkommando Kulmhof, geben.Im Auftrage:
[Unterschrift]
(Fr. W. Ribbe)
TRANSLATION
ToMr. Reichs Governorin the WarthegauState Food officeAbteilung APosenHohenzollern-Street 33.
III C 212 027/2/Lu/R 15.7.1942Subject.: Allocation of spirits.Reference: Your letter of 8. 7. 1942.
I confirm the receipt of your letter from the above date and the coupon for 26 ltr. spirits. I thank you very much for this unique allocation. I understand from your letter that you believe that the allotment is for people who have to carry out controls within the ghetto of the city of Litzmannstadt. I would like to correct this and point out that the people who are to benefit from this special allocation are the employees and workers of the Ghetto Administration who are employed in a special action ordered by the Secret State Police, namely in the louse and buggy ghettos of the districts of the Warthegau, which are dissolved as well as for a sorting site in Pabianice supervised by the Ghetto Administration. The work is extremely disgusting and, above all, the risk of infection is particularly great during this work.
For this reason, it was confirmed to me by the local health authority that a monthly spirit allocation has to be granted. My letter of 22.5.1942 to the municipal health department Litzmannstadt, which I sent on 13.6. 1942 to Berlin, also contains the relevant confirmation.
In the light of my above comments and the detailed description in my letter of May 22 and June 13, 1942, I kindly ask you to check whether it is possible to allocate spirits every month until further notice. To explain this, I would like to point out that the above-mentioned action is the same, for which you also give a monthly special allocation of spirits to the Secret State Police, Sonderkommando Kulmhof.
By order:
[signature]
(Fr. W. Ribbe)
_______
last updated on 9 January 2018
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