The Gas Vans: A Critical Investigation - Holocaust Handbooks

SANTIAGO ALVAREZ, THE GAS VANS 5
Contents
Page
Preface ....................................................................................................... 11
Introduction .............................................................................................. 13
1.Material and Forensic Evidence ......................................................... 17
1.1. Material Traces of the Weapon of Crime ...................................... 17
1.2. Material Traces of the Victims ...................................................... 20
1.3. Forensic and Technical Considerations ......................................... 24
1.3.1.The Toxicity of Diesel Exhaust Gas .................................... 24
1.3.2.Hermetically Sealed Gassing Boxes .................................... 28
2.Documents ............................................................................................. 31
2.1. Photographs ................................................................................... 31
2.2. German Contemporary Documents ............................................... 36
2.2.1.Introduction ......................................................................... 36
2.2.2.The Becker Document (501-PS), 16 May 1942 .................. 40
2.2.2.1. Origin ........................................................................ 40
2.2.2.2. Analysis of the Form ................................................ 40
2.2.2.3. Translated Content .................................................... 43
2.2.2.4. Analysis of the Content ............................................ 47
2.2.3.The Telegrams of 501-PS .................................................... 55
2.2.3.1. Two Versions ............................................................ 55
2.2.3.2. 9 June 1942 from Belgrade ....................................... 55
2.2.3.3. 15 June 1942 from Riga ............................................ 58
2.2.3.4. 22 June 1942 from Berlin ......................................... 60
2.2.3.5. Leaky Exhaust Hoses ................................................ 61
2.2.4.The Just Document, 5 June 1942 ......................................... 63
2.2.4.1. Translation ................................................................ 64
2.2.4.2. Analysis .................................................................... 66
2.2.4.3. Ingrid Weckert on the Just Document ...................... 78
2.2.4.4. The Just Document and the Letter of 23 June
1942 .......................................................................... 80
2.2.4.5. Comparison of the Three Versions of the Just
Document ................................................................. 81
2.2.5.Comparison of the Becker and Just Document.................... 83
2.2.6.The Real Purpose of the RSHA Special Vehicles ............... 84
2.2.7.The Turner Letter, 11 April 1942 ........................................ 87
2.2.7.1. Problematic Content ................................................. 88
2.2.7.2. Problematic Language .............................................. 89
2.2.7.3. Spelling and Punctuation .......................................... 90
2.2.7.4. Assessment ............................................................... 91
2.2.8.Activity Report by Einsatzgruppe B ................................... 92