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On
the occasion of the visit of the RFSS [Reichsfuehrer
SS] in Poznan yesterday and the day before I had an
opportunity to discuss and clarify two questions which concern
the area of your work.
The
first question is as follows:
The
ghetto in Lodz will not be converted into a concentration
camp, as was emphasized at the discussion on February 5, held
at my office, the Reich Governorate in Poznan, by SS Oberfuehrer
Baier and SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Volk, who had been
sent to my Gau (province) by your office. The order of
the RFSS of June 11, 1943, will therefore not be carried out.
I have agreed the following with the RF:
1.
The population of the ghetto is to be reduced to a minimum,
and only those Jews are to remain who are absolutely required
in the interests of the armaments industry;
2.
The ghetto thus remains a Gau ghetto of the Reichsgau
Wartheland;
3.
The reduction of the population will be carried out by the Sonderkommando
of SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Bothmann, which operated in
the area previously. The RF will issue an Order instructing SS
Hauptsturmfuehrer Bothmann and his Sonderkommando
to leave their station in Croatia and be available for service
in the Wartheland;*
4.
The disposal and use of the property of the ghetto will remain
the responsibility of the Reichsgau Wartheland;
5.
After the removal of all the Jews from the ghetto and its
demolition, the entire area of the ghetto will become the
property of the city of Lodz.
The
RF will then give appropriate orders to the Central Trustees
Office for the East (Haupt-Treuhandstelle Ost).
May
I request you to convey your proposals on this subject to me.
Greiser
NO-519.
*
Bothmann and his unit set up and operated the extermination
camp at Chelmno in the Wartheland. |
