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Sobibor - Holocaust Propaganda And Reality - Unity of Nobility ...

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254 J. GRAF, T. KUES, C. MATTOGNO, SOBIBÓR<br />

In the following chapter we will examine the conclusions which may<br />

be drawn from this state <strong>of</strong> affairs.<br />

8.3.3. Construction <strong>of</strong> the Alleged Gas Chambers: General<br />

Problems<br />

According to the <strong>of</strong>ficial theses the alleged gas chambers at Sobibór<br />

were built on the model <strong>of</strong> those at Beec, and the latter were modelled<br />

on those <strong>of</strong> the euthanasia institutions. This alleged sequence has no<br />

backing in reality, though.<br />

First <strong>of</strong> all there is no documentary evidence that the euthanasia institutions<br />

were equipped with gas chambers operating with carbon monoxide<br />

nor that carbon monoxide cylinders were ever used for homicidal<br />

purposes in the euthanasia centers.<br />

There is furthermore no solid pro<strong>of</strong> that the first alleged gassing<br />

building at Beec contained three gas chambers. In the course <strong>of</strong> his<br />

archeological investigations <strong>of</strong> that camp between 1997 and 1999, Pr<strong>of</strong>.<br />

<strong>And</strong>rzej Kola found traces neither <strong>of</strong> the first nor <strong>of</strong> the second alleged<br />

gassing building. 749<br />

In his statements made on 14 October 1945 mentioned above, the<br />

witness Stanisaw Kozak expressed himself as follows on the subject <strong>of</strong><br />

the alleged first extermination site <strong>of</strong> Beec: 750<br />

“In each <strong>of</strong> the three sections <strong>of</strong> this barrack there were water<br />

pipes at a level 10 cm above the floor. In addition, on the western<br />

side <strong>of</strong> each part <strong>of</strong> this barrack, water pipes branched <strong>of</strong>f to a level<br />

<strong>of</strong> 1 m above the floor, ending in an opening directed towards the<br />

center <strong>of</strong> the barrack. The elbow pipes were connected to those running<br />

along the walls <strong>of</strong> the barrack beneath the floor. In each <strong>of</strong> the<br />

three parts <strong>of</strong> the barrack we mounted ovens each one weighing<br />

some 250 kg. It is to be assumed that the elbowed pipes were later<br />

connected to the ovens. The ovens had a height <strong>of</strong> 1 m 10 cm, a<br />

width <strong>of</strong> 55 cm, and a length <strong>of</strong> 55 cm. Out <strong>of</strong> curiosity I looked into<br />

the inside <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the ovens. I could not detect any hearths. The inside<br />

– as far as I could make out – was lined with refractory bricks. I<br />

could not detect any other openings. The oven door was oval, with a<br />

749<br />

750<br />

C. Mattogno, op. cit. (note 11, Engl. ed.), pp. 93-96.<br />

ZStL, 252/59, vol. I, pp. 1129f. (Translation from Polish text); published in: Y. Arad,<br />

“Die ‘Aktion Reinhard,’” in: E. Kogon, H. Langbein, A. Rückerl et al. (eds.), op. cit.<br />

(note 45), pp. 152f.

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