miRS-tonpon - Sturmpanzer.com

The nuSKF'Wf s&lfeifrms 1 is estimated at over one thousand, possiblyreaching 1500. There is no figure available for the average numberof men employed by the French OT-sub-contractors; an estimate puts 3at no more than 25 o&n per firm.The age groups of the French 0T workers cculd by and large be dividedinto two classes, one for those under 21 and the other for those over40 years of age. Men between 21 and 40 were rare. One reason for thisis the large number of French prisoners of war in German hands.Another reason was the urgency with which German labour authoritiescanvassed the French manpower supply for the war plants in Germany.The subject of industrial manpower recruitment xn France - part ofwhich was allotted to the 0T - was, a3 has already been remarked, themost pressing problem of its type facing the German labour authoritiesin occupied Europe and its study in view of the constant modificationsto which regulations were subjected, leads to ramifications oflabyrinthian proportions. Not much more than the features essentialfor a bare understanding of the problem in its entirety is given here.Understanding the labour situation in France will furnish the backgroundnecessary for an understanding of strategic labour distributionthroughout German controlled Europe, including that of 0T.16% Regulations Governing Manpower Recruitment in France,The basic laws and regulations through which the Germans claimedto derive their authority to enforce their manpower requisitions were:(1) Article 52 of the Hague Convention.(2) Article 3 of the Franco-German Armistice Commission*(3) Occupation authorities regulation of 31 Jan 1942.(4) Verordnung Nr. 916 (Decree No* 916) of 27 Mar 1943*(This decree by the Vichy government made all males18 to 50 and all females 21 to 45 subject to compulsorylabour*This decree was modified 2 Feb 1944 by extending the age ofmales to from 16 to 60 and of females to from 18 to 45*Males between 16 and 18 were exempt from conveyance toGermany, as were females*(5) VICHT. Decree of 8 Dec 1943*(6) VICHY" Decree of 8 Jun 1944*170. Three phases of German Manpower Policy in FranceGerman manpower policy in France may be divided into three phases.The first phase lasted from the occupation of Northern France tothe summer of 1942, an era of organization and consolidation as far asthe 0T was concerned. It culminated in the appointment in May 1942,of Dr. Fritz SCHMSLTER as Controller of 0T Manpower and Director ofRecruitment for the 0T, the latter function by virtue of his membershipon SABuKEL's staff. Industrial manpower for Germany»s was plantsrated the highest priority after which came French industries workingfor Germany's account. All in all, OT f s tasks had not acquired theurgency which made its manpower needs imperative, and OT-f inns wereallowed, albeit unofficially, to increase their personnel through,their own individual efforts* This they did mainly "by sub-contractingFrench construction firms*