TNA Ref: HW 16/10: WW2 Decrypts - Bletchley Park:

German Police Concentration Camp: GPCC Series

Periodic Summary Report: ZIP / OS2 / 27.9.42


ZIP/OS 2/27.9.42 (Page: 1)
                      M O S T    S E C R E T.
 
TO BE KEPT UNDER LOCK AND KEY: NEVER TO BE REMOVED FROM THE OFFICE.
 
THIS DOCUMENT IS TO RECEIVE CX/MSS SECURITY TREATMENT.
IF FUTURE CIRCULATION IS NECESSARY, IT MUST BE PARAPHRASED,
SO THAT NEITHER THE SOURCE OF THE INFORMATION NOR THE
MEANS BY WHICH IT HAS BEEN OBTAINED IS APPARENT.

                    § § § §
 
GPDD No’s.:- 194/199, 201/203, 205, 218, 219, 222/3, 226,
             233, 236, 239, 240/2, 247.
================================================================
 
Covering the period 3rd Aug. 1942 – 25th Sept. 1942


                 S  U  M  M  A  R  Y

I.      Personalities involved.
II.     The Waffen SS.
III     Concentration Camps.
IV      Labour and Industry.
V       Supplies.
VI      Transport.
VII     Norway.
VIII    Finland.
IX      Miscellaneous.


 
GENERAL

          Evidence points to the formation of an SS Corps
in the near future. The Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler and the
Reich have been identified in France; the Totenkopf which
has seen much hard fighting on the LOWAT will probably follow
them. The Wiking is fighting in the Caucasus, and the new
Cavalry Division has taken the field in Central Russia.
Detailed information is given of M.T. in SS Divisions. A
further examination is made of Concentration Camp figures;
deaths from typhus have reached a very high figure in
AUSCHWITZ. Finland has appeared in these messages for the
first time.
 
References are to GPDD Nos. unless otherwise stated.
 
DISTRIBUTION LIST:
 
1. Major Leathem.
2. B.P.I.E.
3. Sigs. Officer Hut 3.
4. B.M.
5. Hut 6
6. Squadron Leader OESER.
7. Mr. F.L.Lucas.
8. File.
9. M.I.14(d).
ZIP/OS 2/27.9.42 (Page: 8)
 
III. CONCENTRATION CAMPS
 
a) General
 
          For the first time returns are given for deaths of
prisoners (223b/14,24,43,50): the figures for August are:
NIEDERHAGEN 21, AUSCHWITZ 6829 (or 6889) men, 1525 women;
BUCHENWALD 74; FLOSSENBÜRG 88.  The AUSCHWITZ figure represents
about 30% of the total given in the GPCC figures (see below);
the cause is likely to be typhus, as typhus was rife in June
(see last summary) and a policeman is suspected of typhus in
September. (233b/40). Deaths must constitute a large proportion,
if not all of the “departures” mentioned in the GPCC figures,
which total 5325 for 19 days in August.  During 19 days of
August arrivals total 4989 so that they nearly balance deaths.
About half of the prisoners are Jews.  AUSCHWITZ is said to be
under a ban on 4th September (223b/10). Deaths in BUCHENWALD
represent a tiny proportion of the departures: for NIEDERHAGEN
34 departures are recorded for 19 days, and there are 21
deaths; for FLOSSENBÜRG 176 departures are recorded for 16
days and there are 88 deaths.  A message of 4th Sept. implies
that natural deaths will in future only be reported in writing.
(226b/15).  Executions are reported: a Russian civilian is
shot when attempting to escape from NIEDERHAGEN (219B/17).
FLOSSENBÜRG is allowed a lorry and a bus to convey Polish
civilians to a wood for execution (223b/28).  A prisoner is
hung in HINZERT and nine more are shot.  (223b/67, 226b/4).
 
A Study of GPCC figures (to Aug.31st).
 
          The starting point for interpreting these figures
must be the instructions given by ORANIENBURG.
 
          On 12 June (121/7), DACHAU is instructed by
ORANIENBURG that Column 1 should be the total, including
Russian Prisoners of War, Column 2, arrivals, Column 3,
departures, . . . (column 6), total of Poles, Column 7,
Russian prisoners of War.
 
          On 17 July (169/21), DACHAU is told that Russian
civilian workers are to be added to the total of the daily
prisoners strength returns (presumably the HOR HUG lists),
and in the Camp report to be entered as civilian prisoners
(cf. instructions to FLOSSENBUERG xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
131/25)-  The missing columns in June instructions may be
filled in from the STUTTHOF returns as column 4, Germans
(or most probably political prisoners, as described in 131/25)
and column 5, Jews.
ZIP/OS 2/27.9.42 (Page: 9)

 
1)        The FLOSSENBÜRG figures (G.P.C.C. E) give a complete
picture of the Camp from June 13th (erroneously quoted as
July 13th in ZIP/O.S.1, p.18). On 29th August the total is
4777, consisting of 3207 Germans (all civilians) 11 Jews,
491 Poles, and 1068 Russian prisoners of war.  This total
includes 93 new arrivals and takes into account two departures.
Mistakes are mostly easily seen, e.g. 1034 in column 2 of 20th
August; 164 in column 7 for 1st July; 519 in column 3 for
6th July; 4652 in column 1 for 6th July. Sometimes the
corruption is a little more difficult to detect: on July 2nd
the total is 4454, but the figures in columns 4,5,6,7 add up
to 4437.  Arrivals are 34, and departures 4; the figures for
July 1st suggest that the 4 departures are 1 from column 6,
and 3 from column 7, and therefore that the 34 arrivals are
to be found in columns 4 and 5 if these columns are emended
to read 2613, and 47, the total is correct and the figures in
columns 4 and 5 also agree with the figures for 3rd July,
column 8.
          The last figure given for July is 4152 (erroneously
given as 4652) for 6th July, on which day 420 political
prisoners, 9 Jews, 88 Poles and 2 Russians (=519) had
departed.  The next figure is 10 August, when little change
has taken place in the total, now 4159, (including Slowenes
and Russian civilian workers, 131/25).   Political prisoners
have risen by 317 and rise steadily during the month to a
peak of 3207 on 29th August; most of the arrivals belong to
this category and the only large departures are 27 on 11th
August and 53 on 31st August.  Jews have fallen to 10, Poles
rise gradually from the low figure of 427 to 491.  Russian
prisoners of war have fallen to 1091 and fall still further
to 1068.
 
2)        KL. DACHAU (GPCC:B). The numbers given are not
complete and are not entirely clear.  On August 1st., total is
9544, including 53 arrivals and 13 departures, but 3973
Political prisoners, 103 Jews, 3282 Poles, 0 Russian prisoners
of war only total 7358.  Therefore DACHAU is presumably
following the instruction of 17th July (169/21) and entering
non-German political prisoners in the total, but not in the
first column of the daily returns.  It seems clear, moreover,
that Column 6 represents Poles in all these reports and not
Jews as erroneously stated in ZIP/O.S.1, p.16. Column 7 gives
Russian prisoners of war for which the camp has apparently not
been used since July 17th; a similar clear out seems to have
occurred on the 12th June. It is possible that, as no corres-
ponding change occurs in the total, these prisoners have been
reclassified as civilian workers (but cf. BUCHENWALD). Column
8 was clearly used for Russian civilian workers from 8th May
(66/43); on 6th June the figure of 92 changes to 0.  Only
three prisoners have left since the preceding day; the 71
arrivals are distributed between Poles and Russian prisoners.
The Russian civilian workers must therefore have been included
in the total, but not in any of the columns, and column 8,
which survives at least until 23rd June is probably kept as at
STUTTHOF (152/11) for other nationalities.  During August
there is a net increase of 1323 prisoners, of which some 200
are political prisoners, some 40 Jews, and some 20 Poles. The
bulk therefore are presumably Russian civilians. Although many
figures are missing it is clear that large numbers of these
have been passing through DACHAU in August, leaving however
the increase of over 1,000.


 
ZIP/OS 2/27.9.42 (Page: 10)
 

513 prisoners departed on 8th August, and the figures show that
the bulk of these were Russian civilians, of which a large
number must have arrived in the missing days.  On the 10th
there is a net gain of 208, of which columns 4,5, and 6 only
account for 123. On 27th to 29th, 99 plus 164 plus 53 arrive, and
20 plus 23 plus 10 depart; the bulk of the change again appears
to be in Russian civilians.
 
3) MAUTHAUSEN (GPCC C)
 
          The August figures are arranged on the same pattern
as the DACHAU figures except that again the Russian civilians
do not appear in a separate column. On Aug.1. a total of 5916
includes 1447 political prisoners, 69 Jews, 846 Poles, 157
Russian prisoners of war and 10 (presumably “other nationalities”
as above).  On 9th July the Polish column receives an increase
of 697 of the 751 arrivals, it was for these that MAUTHAUSEN
asked ASUCHWITZ for waggons on 30 June (179/1); 400 of these
apparently leave again on 14th July. The figures are arranged like
this back to the change over on 15 June when they read: Total
5261, arrivals 27, departures 14, political prisoners 1491,
Jews 29, Poles 561, Russian prisoners of war 278, others 10.
But on June 10th a new column appears between the Poles and the
Russian prisoners, 1929; if the July and August figures are
true to type, this column is not, as stated in ZIP/O.S.1 page .17,
the Polish column; it appears with the 1491 of 15 June to make
up the balance of the total.  It would seem most likely that,
as it appears next the Russian prisoners of war figures, it
represents Russian civilian figures but when in March the
prisoner column starts decreasing rapidly without making any
difference to the total (e.g. March 13th, 17th, 19th, 20th,
21st, 28th, 30th) there is no corresponding increase in this
column; the increase is either in the unseen balance which later
becomes the political prisoner’s column or, as at BUCHENWALD,
Russian prisoners are not reckoned in the total at all.
 
            The August figures have gone badly astray for the
25th and 26th.  It seems certain however that there has been
a considerable decerease in Russian prisoners of War.
 
4. BUCHEWALD (GPCC D)
 
         The August figures follow the prescribed form of 7
columns. The aggregate of columns 4 to 7 falls over 3,000 short
of the total. During the month the aggregate of columns 4 to 7
changes from 5752 on the 5th to 5716 on the 31st; the total
increases from 9021 to 9886.  It is reasonable to suppose a
large increase of Soviet civilian workers.  Before June 12,
political prisoners are not included and there is a column
between Poles and Russian prisoners of war for other nationalities.
On 19th May two messages refer to the transfer of 1,000 Soviet
prisoners (70/18,24): this change appears in the prisoners column
for May 21st but is not reflected in the total. It must be
assumed therefore that here at any rate Russian prisoners of
war are not included in the total.
 
5. AUSCHWITZ (GPDD F)
 
          The August figures follows the prescribed form of 7
columns. Compared with camps hitherto examined, two points
stand out 1. that the figures for arrivals and departures are
very large every day (see above), 2. that the proportion of
Jews is very high and increases from 6241 at the beginning of
July to 12011 at the beginning of August.  The aggregate of
columns 4 to 7 are about 1888 below the total, which includes
Russian civilian workers.  The movements appear for the most
part to be reflected in Columns 4 to 6. In view of the method
of reckoning at BUCHENWALD it now appears likely that the large
figures for Russians in the January and February returns are all
prisoners of war, but that as at BUCHENWALD prisoners of war
are not included in the total.
ZIP/OS 2/27.9.42 (Page: 11)

6. KL NIEDERHAGEN.
 
        The August figures follow the normal form.
 
7. KL LUBLIN.
 
          As at FLOSEENBÜRG from 9th July at least the
figures give a complete picture of the camp.  Before that
as at AUSCHWITZ, prisoners of war were omitted.  As at
AUSCHWITZ, the proportion of Jewish prisoners is very high.
 
8. KL STUTTHOF
 
         These figures, which follow the standard form,
do not appear in GPCC but in GPDD messages.  The figures
for men have remained at about 2,000; the figures for women
have risen from 162 to 220 during August.
 
Comment.
 
          Only FLOSSENBÜRG and LUBLIN give true returns.
The omission by most camps of Russian civilians from Column 4,
which is probably the letter of the German instruction) gives
some room for falsification. The omission by some camps of
prisoners of war from the total and from columns 2 and 3
leaves a large loophole for falsification.




 
IV.  LABOUR


              ORANIENBURG requests KL DACHAU for the transfer of 35
prisoners for the building of huts for the Bekleidungswerk of
Waffen SS (223b/26)  In answer to a request from BERLIN, the
Kdt. Truppenübungsplatz DEBICA reports that owing to official
difficulties he is unable to provide the 30 Polish civil
workers; he will try to procure other workers (239a/1).
FLOSSENBURG is using prisoner labour to build a new camp at
KRONSDORF (219b/9; 223b/18), and are told to send 86 prisoners
to work in quarries near GROSSROSEN (223b/39).  AUSCHWITZ are
asked either for 1,000 prisoners or to house 1,000 prisoners
for clearing quarries of stone needed for building the DONAUBAHN
(223b/10,51; 226b/1). Brigadeführer KAMMLER requires skilled
labour (joiners, tinsmiths) for construction schemes in
DNJEPROPETROWSK (205a/22). Brigadeführer GLOBOCNIK, SSuPf. LUBLIN,
says that he is ready to undertake a settlement of Slowenes in
his district after October 1st. (202a/31).
 
 
V.  SUPPLIES
 
a) Petrol
 
           KGF Lager LUBLIN is to receive 6,000 Kg. Diesel
(197a/50). SS Kav. Brig. Truppenübungsplatz PUSTKOW are to draw
10,000 liters “Otto” (201a/73).  Their requirements appear to have
been 14,200 liter “Otto” and an additional 5,000 liters “Otto” (201a/74,75)
*2,000 Kg. Diesel from KRAKAU. (205a/46 cf 203a/28). SS O.A. DONAU
has not received its August allocation on the 12th of the month.
(203a/8).  Kraftfahrtechnische Lehranstalt VIENNA is to draw 1,000
liters “Otto” (205a/44).  KGF LUBLIN is allotted 5,000 Kg. Diesel
(219a/19).  Lubricating oil is urgently required in Norway. (223a/
39). “Otto” and Diesel for the delivery of cars to the band
(Musikzug) of the L SS AH was refused.  (222d/4). A ban on
Einzeltransport is also mentioned (223a/26) and is presumably due
to shortage of fuel.
 
* Four days later SS. Kav. Brig. DEBICA is to draw 5,000 liters “Otto”,
ZIP/OS 2/27.9.42 (Page: 12)


PAGE 12 NOT TRANSCRIBED.

 
ZIP/OS 2/27.9.42 (Page: 13)
 
IX. MISCELLANEOUS
 
a) Medical
 
           A suspected case of typhus is reported from
AUSCHWITZ (223b/42). It is probable that on the 6th August
Nachschubkdtr. Russland Mitte requests typhus vaccine for
50 men and spottenfever serum for 20 (197a/7); on the 8th;
Dr. BLUMENREUTHER, FHA San.amt answers that the vaccine
and serum are on the way by courier (199a/11).  All front
workers for South RUSSIA must be medically examined before
leaving BERLIN (205a/22). The arrival of 31 Norwegian
Nurses in BERLIN is mentioned on 1.9.42 (223a/34). One case
of dysentery is reported from BOBRUISK. (239a/53).
 
b) Crime and Discipline.
 
          Two messages deal with the posting of men, whose
sentences are almost expired, to a Sondereinheit of the
Waffen SS (201a/9-10.,11/12). The Rf SS refuses to grant a
pardon for an SS Schütze who has been condemned to death.
(202a/49-51). In a similar case an SS Richter asks for
further details and decrees that the sentence is not to be
carried out pending further investigation (202a/43-4). A
Schütze cannot be posted to Truppenübungsplatz DEBICA as he,
together with several other prisoners, is suspected of
having carried out large scale robberies in the prison
buildings of SS Gericht VI. (239a/14).  Another Schütze is
suspected of careless handling of arms and ammunition.
(239a/26).
 
c) Shortage of personnel.
 
          A message from BERLIN to SS Reiter Regt.3. DEBICA,
states that it is impossible to provide NCO’s in view of
th lack of training personnel (197a/18). Nachschubkdtr.
Russland Süd requests FHA to postpone sending of munitions,
as guards to ensure security of munitions are not available.
(201a/13). SS Kav. Ers. Abt. Refuses to give up instructors
for extension courses for the Hitler Jugend, as these are
Required on other important work. At the same time the
Abt, renews a request for volunteers (223a/21).
 
d) Volksdeutsche in Waffen SS
 
          The oath taken by Hungarian Volksdeutsche
recruits is as follows : I swear to you, Adolf Hitler,
as Führer and Chancellor of the Reich, fidelity and
valour. To you, and the leaders appointed by you, I
promise obedience unto death, so help me God.”
(201a/ADD 84).

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