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D. Firms and Contractsa) Firms5k» Definition, Origin and Development of OT FirmsThe status of a firm in the OT is fundamentally similar to thatof a unit or individual in the Armed Forces of the Reich. Whethersuch a firm applied of its own accord for enrolment as an OT-Firmor whether it was "abgestellt fur OT" (conscripted for the OT), itcontracted itself to carry out construction under OT administration,just as a soldier, by taking the oath, contracts himself to ArmyService. Once enrolled, the firm is designated "OT Einheit"(OT Unit), and the term "Einheit" became, as far as OT isconcerned, synonymous with a building or construction firm contractedto it.The Einheit is expected to operate as a self-contained unit,composed of a clerical and technical staff, possessing the skill andequipment necessary to direct and execute the construction tasksassigned to it. It is also expected, if the situation demands,to convert itself from a static unit working on a comparativelylong term building progranme of fortifications, depots and so forth,to a mobile unit combining the functions of army signals andengineer units which restore rear communications. As a unit, it isfurthermore expected to abide by, and to confirm with the regulationsof the OT Central HQ in BERLIN concerning the daily routine of itsown personnel and their relationship to the rest of the OT personnel.The supervision of these firms is the function of Oberbauleitungenwhich are the administrative headquarters in the basic constructionsectors. It must be stressed at this point that the Oberbauleitungis the only direct link between a firm and the OT administration.Any request by a firm requiring action by a higher OT echelon hasto go through the Oberbauleitung controlling the particular sectorin which the firm operates.Regulation of the status of OT-fims was not only a gradualprocess, but also differed considerably in different localities, forexample, the methods employed in France varied from those practisedin Russia. At first, when the OT was organised by Fritz TODTin the spring of 1938, it was created for the one and specificpurpose of completing the Siegried Line or West Wall, In spiteof the vast proportions of this project, there was considerableuniformity in the type of work that had to be performed whichfacilitated regulation by the OT. Bonuses for speedy and efficientwork were offered by the government, and the patriotic aspect wasduly stressed by the Nazi press. Consequently, enough largebuilding firms offered their services so as to put the entireconstruction on a voluntary basis. (The individual firms even drewlots for the location of their particular building sector).Nor is there any basis later for assuming that firms in any largenumbers became so reluctant to work for the OT as to make massconscription of such concerns necessary. This willingness is dueto the attractive profits obtainable from OT contracts. The onlypossible instance of such reluctance occurred in late 1943 whena large number of firms had to be mobilised for the Russian winterCampaign.From mid-year 1938 until about May 1942, OT firms, backed bythe Reich construction industry, practically ran the OT, and it isonly the unfavourable development of the military situation whichstrengthened the grip of centralized governmental administration- 53 ­