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Purpose Camps) and Politische Abteilungen Political Sections)
16. Subordinate Camp* Officials
The rank of .a (Camp Commandant) is usually
in accordance with the importance and size of the camp of which
he is in charge.
The camp guards are under the command of their awn officers,
but the latter execute the orders of the Camp Commandant in so
far as the posting of guards, sentries etc. is concerned.
As deputies, the Commandant has one or''Imore Sohetzhaftlagerffihrer
(Camp Sub-Commanders), the number depending on the size
275 camp; they generally hold the rank of SS Untersturmffihrer
(2 Lt.).
Another post, about which little is known, is that of
Ranportfahrer, who calls the roll at all parades, and probably
comes under the command of the Lagerffihrer. Rapportffihrer exist
•imost camps, certainly in the larger ones.
Under the Commandant, as adjutant and ,general supervisor, is
the Hauptwachtmeister (Chief Warden), a Post often filled by the
CO of the SS men. He Controls thePlattmeister (wardens) who
have Charge of working parties.
•Under each Lagerffihrer, as his NOO, is at Arbeitsdienstffihrer
(Works Supervisor), who is in direct contact with the inmates
and keeps .a record of the work to be performed by them.
Assisting the Arbeitsdienstffihrer are Vorarbeiter (Foremen)
and Arbeitskapos (Labour or Works bosses). These foremen and
overseers are usually chosen from among those prisoners who are
serving court sentences for common crimes and who were committed
to the camps by the Criminal Police rather than by the Secret
State Police.
In some camps they are graded and known as Kmpos or Capos
(Bosses), Ober-Kapos (Superior Bosses) and Haupt-Kapos,(ahief
Bosses). These leaders may either wear, an armband with the
_inscription Kapo on the left upper an or Gefreiterwinkel (stripes
similar to those of a German Corporal).
In charge of the living quarters in the camps are Blockffihrer
(Block Leaders). , Poorly paid, these officials supplement their
•incomes through bribes and similar means, though, of course, they
are not the only camp officials to do so.
•
Prisoner parties which work
supervision of a Kommandoffihrer,
are usually two guards for every.
guard is. amned with a submachine
•
outside the camps; under the
are known as Kommandos. There
five prisoners and every third
gun -
Among the inmates, the Lagertateste (Camp Senior Inmate) is
believed to hold the most privileged position. His duties are
not clear but reports indicate that he receives his orders from
the Lagerffihrer, and in some instances, he has even been reported
to be the "right hand man" of the Lagerkommandant.
Ranking below the foregoing officials are the Block&lteste,
who may be compared with an Army First Sergeant; the
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