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• 13. Order . for Training Inmates (194.1)
• The. importance attached by the SS tO the potential labour
force in concentration camps cannot be better presented than it
is in the following letter of 5 Dec 194.1, signed by MUER:
"Building projects- of the SS, particularly after the war,
will be on such a large scale that long 'term preparations must
be made. The SS is fortunate in having at its disposal the
labour of concentration - camp prisoners and I have authorised.
SS Gruppenftihrer POHL, Head of the VWHA., to create & reserve of
at least 3,000 stonemasons and 10,000 bricklayers before peace
is conciluded. These \Workers are needed since the FÜhrer has
already ordered that, after the war the Deutsche Erd. u.
Steinwerke G.m.,b.H., as an imidertaking of the SS, shall deliver
at least 100,000 cubic metres of granite a year-, more than was
ever produced by all the quarries in the old Reich. Since there
were Only 4,000 skilled stonemasons in the whole of Germany
before the war, this will require extensive training, which can
be accomplished only if all the authorities concerned, i.e. the
Chef. des SD Hauptamtes, the Inoektetir der konzentrationslager
and the Camp Commandant, cooperate intelligently.
To this end., Cathp Ccounandants -rust see that the efficiency
of prisoners chosen for training is increased through suitable
food and. clothing and. that they are trained to take an_ interest
in the work; Willing prisoners . should be given prbrrinence to
act as an example to the indifferent. Transfer of prisoners
undergoing training should be avoided wherever' possible.
NCOs„. the Ooncentration Oxlip staff and. guards should have
the aim of the training explained to them: and be kept constantly:
infornea.
Thus, the Camp Commandants are largely responsible for the
success of a task that has long been oonsidered impossible.
Many SS experts have asserted that it is imPossible to transform
inmates into skilled workers - they have now been convinced of
their error.'!
In accordance with the policy outlined above, a new
administrative 'department was established in concentration camps -
Department VI ,- in charge of the training of inmates. The
following is quoted from an order of the Beauftragter ftir den
Arbeitseinsatz to the Schutzhaftlagerithrer E;
"The training of Hitftlinse (inmates) will in the future be
an important duty of the Schutthaftlagerithrer E. In all the
larger camps, to compensate for the apparent lack of tradesworkers,
intensive trairring for the building trades' will be
conducted. While the Schutzhaftlagerftihrer E is responsible for
the organisation, civilian personnel for the actual vocational
training will be obtained from the Reich,sfachgrupoe des Deutschen
Handwerki3 (State Guild. of the German Mechanical Trades).
•Instruction, primarily, will cover the , most important branches of
the construction trades; especially, masonry, plastering,
carpentering and cabinet-making. Exact, training directives will
be specially published. Meanwhile, the preliminary selection of
suitable Hilftlinge is to be carried (nit on the basis of the
following:
Hliftlinge whose tern of imprisonment will probably be long
litiftlinge who already have s'ome knowledge of a trade
118.ftlinge "who are physically strong and healthy
HIftlinge who possess an inclination and aptitude for the
above vocations.
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