CARLO MATTOGNO · THE REAL CASE AUSCHWITZ

CARLO MATTOGNO · THE REAL CASE FOR AUSCHWITZ 73
decision to transform “Leichenkeller 1” of Crematoria II and III into
homicidal gas chambers.
If we follow Pressac, the ZBL decided in November 1942 “to equip
the crematoria with homicidal gas chambers” (1993, p. 66). This decision
is said to have begun to permeate the crematoria projects such as
blueprint no. 2003 of December 19, 1942 (see chapter 2.9). Because a
ventilation with aeration and de-aeration had been planned only for
“Leichenkeller 1,” it is clear that this room had to become the homicidal
gas chamber. And because it was planned to implement mass exterminations,
it is also clear that “Leichenkeller 2” had to be turned into the
undressing room for the future victims, in keeping with the procedure
already tried out – according to Pressac – in Crematorium I. Hence, the
decision to transform “Leichenkeller 1” into a homicidal gas chamber
implied the decision to transform “Leichenkeller 2” into an undressing
room, and the two decisions were taken at the same time.
This having been said, let us go back to the letter discussed above.
1. The decision to create an “Auskleideraum” in the crematorium was
taken neither by the Kommandantur (the camp commander, i.e.
Höss) nor by ZBL (Bischoff) but by the SS garrison surgeon.
2. The garrison surgeon did not specify anything in particular in his request,
presenting it as a mere afterthought to the sanitary and hygienic
requirements set out for the autopsy room.
3. In hygienic and sanitary matters, as well as in matters relating to forensic
medicine, the crematorium was attached to the garrison surgeon
who knew the corresponding projects very well and occasionally
intervened – as in this case – with ZBL asking for modifications.
4. The letter cited demonstrates that the SS garrison surgeon was completely
unaware of the alleged plan to change “Leichenkeller 2” into
an undressing room for the victims to be gassed: he requested for an
“Auskleideraum” to be provided, in a very general way, “in den Kellerräumen”
(in the cellar rooms) without specifically mentioning
“Leichenkeller 2” or excluding “Leichenkeller 1” for this purpose.
However, in view of his position, the SS garrison surgeon could not
have been unaware of a decision, allegedly taken three months earlier,
to create an “Auskleideraum” in “Leichenkeller 2,” because otherwise,
considering his position in the camp hierarchy, such a decision
could not actually have been arrived at. Yet as results from the
above document, the idea of an “Auskleideraum” was conceived by