The Gas Vans: A Critical Investigation - Holocaust Handbooks

64 SANTIAGO ALVAREZ, THE GAS VANS
2.2.4.1. Translation 45
II D 3 a (9) No. 214/42 g. Rs. Berlin, June 5, 1942
Onliest Copy.
Top Secret!
I. M e m o:
Regarding: Technical modifications to the special vehicles deployed in
service and in the process of construction.
For example 97,000 were processed since December 1941 with 3
deployed vehicles without any defects in the vehicles becoming apparent.
The known explosion at Kulmhof [=Chemno] has to be assessed as
a single case. Its cause is to be ascribed to an operating error. In order to
avoid such accidents, special orders have been issued to the offices concerned.
The orders have been kept in such a way that the degree of security
has been increased considerably.
The other experiences made so far let the following technical modifications
appear to be expedient:
1.) To allow for the rapid inflow of the carbon monoxide while preventing
excessive pressure, two open slits of 10 cm × 1 cm [4" × 0.4"]
are to be located in the upper back wall. These are to be covered on
the outside with easily movable hinged metal flaps in order to allow
for self-regulation of any potential excess pressure.
2.) The vans’ load usually amounts to 9 to 10 per m 2 [10 sqft]. Although
no overloading occurs thereby for the spacious Saurer special vehicles,
utilization in that form is not possible, because their off-road
capability is highly reduced by this. A reduction of the load area appears
to be necessary. This will be achieved by shortening the body
by approximately 1 m [39"]. The above difficulty is not to be solved,
as has been done so far, by reducing the number of units. This is because
a reduction in the number of units necessitates a longer operation
time, since the empty spaces also have to be filled with carbon
monoxide. In contrast to this, a substantially shorter operation time
suffices in case of a shorter loading area and a completely filled
loading space, since free spaces are absent.
In a discussion with the manufacturer it was pointed out by the
latter that a shortening of the cargo box would result in a disadvan-
45 Since several versions of this document have different passages underlined, hence are
probably later additions, underscores have been omitted here altogether.