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Kiev,
May 16, 1942
Field
Post Office No. 32704
B.
Nr 40/42
Reich
Secret Document
To
SS-Obersturmbannfuehrer Rauff
Berlin
The
overhauling of the vans of [Einsatz] Gruppe D
and C has been completed....
I
have had the vans of [Einsatz] Gruppe D
disguised as house-trailers, by having a single window shutter
fixed to each side of the small vans, and on the large ones,
two shutters, such as one often sees on farmhouses in the
country. The vans had become so well known that not only the
authorities but the civilian population referred to them as
the "Death Vans" as soon as one appeared. In my
opinion the vans cannot be kept secret for any length of time
even if they are camouflaged.
The
brakes of the Saurer van which I took from Taganrog to
Simferopol were damaged on the way... When I reached Stalino
and Gorlovka a few days later the drivers of the vans there
complained of the same trouble....
I
also gave instructions that all personnel should stay as far
away as possible from the vans when the gassing is in progress
to prevent damage to their health in the event of gas leaking
out. I would like to take this opportunity to call attention
to the following: several of the special units let their own
men do the unloading after gassing.
I
pointed out to the commanders of the Sonderkommando
(Special Unit) concerned the enormous psychological and
physical harm this may cause the men, possibly later even if
not immediately. The men complained to me of headaches that
recur after each such unloading. Nevertheless there is
reluctance to change the orders because it is feared that if
prisoners are used for this work they might make use of a
favorable moment to escape. I request appropriate instructions
in order to save the men from suffering harm.
The
gassing is generally not carried out correctly. In order to
get the Aktion finished as quickly as possible the
driver presses down on the accelerator as far as it will go.
As a result the persons to be executed die of suffocation and
do not doze off as was planned. It has proved that if my
instructions are followed and the levers are properly adjusted
death comes faster and the prisoners fall asleep peacefully.
Distorted faces and excretions, such as were observed before,
no longer occur.
Today
I shall continue my journey to [Einsatz] Gruppe B,
where I may be reached for further instructions.
Dr.
Becker
SS
Untersturmfuehrer
PS-501. |
