The Gas Vans: A Critical Investigation - Holocaust Handbooks

SANTIAGO ALVAREZ, THE GAS VANS 269
story. It is safe to say that many, if not all, of the witnesses testifying
regarding the “gas vans” have seen German transport vehicles equipped
with wood gas generators. Since this technology was introduced by
Germany en masse only during the war, it was a new and unknown
technology particularly to most people in the occupied territories. In
this context it is interesting to note the following fact:
a) In trucks and vans the wood gas generators were frequently
placed between the driver’s cabin and the cargo box, frequently making
it look like a part of the cargo box (see the two illustrations showing
Saurer trucks equipped with gas generators on pp. 102 & 103).
b) The generator was connected to the engine with a pipe leading the
fuel gas into the engine.
c) Before being able to drive off and sometimes in mid-operation,
the driver or co-driver had to either “start” the generator by lighting its
fire, or he had to check its proper operation. This required manipulating
of valves and a fan driving the fuel into the engine.
Illustration 11: Design of an Ostmark producer gas generator. (Rudolf
2003, p. 464; descriptions translated)