Statement
of
SS-Oberfuehrer Josef Spacil
I, Josef Spacil, make under oath and after being first duly sworn the following additions to complete my declaration of 30 Sep 45.
In my and in the presence of the persons mentioned below, Ober-gruppenfuehrer (at that time Gruppenfuehrer) Pruetzmann in the first days of August 1941 at his office at Riga (Ritterhaus) mentioned in the course, of a conversation that an order or a directive of the RFSS had arrived, according to which criminal elements were to be resettled. Upon counterquestions of the men, where the RFSS expects the resettlement, Pruetzmann answered approx, the following: "Not how you think, they are to be expedited to the next world." According to my memory, the following were present:
Stubaf Sievers Staf Fromm
Mr Preuss (probably from Koenigsberg)
3-4 men from the ORPO, Berlin
The word was mentioned in my presence from Pruetzmann for a second time at ROWNO in May or June 1942. He said approx.: "The Higher SS and Police Leaders are ordered to RFSS, who is passing through. (Through ROWNO.) The resettlement has caused sensation abroad." Present according to my memory were: General Oelhafen Oberf Hoffmeier
Some men of the construction HQ of highway IV, names unknown Lt. Col. Gericke And myself
In regard to "special treatment," I have the following knowledge: On occasion of the meetings of the section heads, Gruppenfuehrer Mueller frequently remarked to Kaltenbrunner, if the one or the other case should receive "special treatment" or if "special treatment" was to be considered. The expressions were the following for example:
Mueller: Obergruppenfuehrer, please case B special treatment or not?
.Kaltenbrunner: Yes, or to be presented to RFSS for decision.
or
Mueller: Obergruppenfuehrer, no answer has arrived from the RFSS in regard to special treatment of case A.
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Kaltenbrunner: To be traced.
or
Mueller handed a paper to Kaltenbrunner and requested instructions as described before.
If such a conversation between Mueller and Kaltenbrunner took place, only the initials were mentioned, so that the persons present at the table never knew, who was involved.
I asked Mueller once, what the true meaning of "special treatment" was. He replied that these people came to a special camp. He spoke of:
Walzertraum at Walsertal
. or
Winzerstube, Godesberg
Exact information besides Kaltenbrunner might also be furnished by the Adj. of the section head IV, Hstuf Tuchstein.
As far as I recall it, Mueller spoke to Kaltenbrunner mainly on questions of the 20 July 1944.
Mueller as well as Kaltenbrunner have proposed special treatment resp. presentation to RFSS for approval of special treatment in my presence for special cases, which I cannot identify. I estimate that in approx. 50% of the cases, special treatment was approved. .
That the facts stated above are true; that this declaration is made by me voluntarily and without compulsion; .that after reading over the statement I have signed and executed the same at Oberursel/Germany this 8th day of November 1945. .
[signed] Josef SPACIL SS-Oberfuehrer
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Oberursel/Germany this 9th day of November 1945.
[signed] Rudolf Urbach
RUDOLF URBACH, Captain, AUS
Affidavit concerning Himmler's instruction that criminals were to be "resettled" to "the next world," and Kaltenbrunner's decisions about "special treatment" in specific cases
Authors
Josef Spacil (SS Economic Administrator in Russia, 1942-43)
Josef Spacil
SS officer
- Born: 1907-01-03 (Munich)
- Died: 1967-02-13 (Hamburg)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: military personnel
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Member of: Schutzstaffel
- Participant in: Pohl Trial (date: 1947-05-12; role: affiant)
- Military rank: Standartenführer
Date: 09 November 1945
Literal Title: Statement of SS-Oberfuehrer Josef Spacil
Defendant: Ernst Kaltenbrunner
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-3839
HLSL Item No.: 451763
Notes:Spacil dated his statement 8 November, and it was sworn on 9 November 1945.
Document Summary
PS-3839: Swown statement of SS Brig. General (Oberfueher) Josef Spacil in addition to a former declaration re: 'resettlement' of criminal elements and cases of 'special treatment'
PS-3839: Affidavit by Ss-oberfuhrer Josef Spacil, 9 November 1945, on the terms, "resettlement" and "special treatment" as used for execution orders given by Himmler and Kaltenbrunner