The Plenipotentiary General for the War Economy
Berlin, W.8. Behre]
Behrenstrasse 63. 28 January 1939
GBW 7/437/39 g Replies to be addressed to:
The Leading Staff GBW
Attention Ministerial Director Sarnow,
or Deputy in the Office.
Express Letter SECRET
To the High Command of the Armed Forces Department of the Interior Attention: Major Breyer
or Deputy in the Office. Berlin
Re: Employment of Prisoners of War.
With reference to the meeting of our mutual special workers in the case, I would like to inform you of the following:
According to the Reich Defense Law of 4 September 1938, I have the direction for the economic preparations for the Reich Defense (except the armament industry). The Offices under my jurisdiction (Reich Ministry for Economic Affairs, Reich Ministry for Nutrition and Agriculture, Reich Labor Ministry, Reich Forest Master and Reich Commissioner for Price Control) are bound to follow my directives.
For the preparations concerning the utilization of labor during the war, the measures planned by you for the housing and the utilization of prisoners of war are of great importance. In the case of mobilization there would be an important deficit of laborers which might be catastrophic in some parts of the economy. I can refer to the statements of Col. General Keitel, Secretary of State Dr. Posse, and Secretary of State Dr. Syrup in the meeting of the sub-committee (R.V.) on 17 January 1939, concerning balance sheets for figures [Zahlenbilanz]. The deficit in labor has to be made up by the employment of eventual prisoners of war as far as possible and practical. The preparations, therefore, have to be made in close cooperation of OKW and GBW. The offices under my jurisdiction will be informed.
I therefore beg you to inform me of the preliminary studies prepared so far and to have negotiations of a principal nature infuture with myself. I would be grateful for a copy of the drafts so far prepared.
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II
In the drafting of the directives I want to emphasize the following principles:
1) Location of Camps:
For the choice of transit camps only military and technical transport exigencies will be prevailing.
As far as the permanent camps are concerned the exigencies of labor utilization will have to be taken into consideration. It will be expedient to locate them in districts which presumably will have the greatest and most urgent need for workers. The preliminary studies of the President of the Reich Institution for employment and unemployment insurance concerning employment during war in the agriculture could serve as a basis.
I therefore beg you before the final decision about the location of the six contemplated permanent camps to give me an opportunity to offer my advice. This could be done within a very short time.
2) Dimension of the Camps:
According to present directives, the permanent camps shall take in 10,000 men and the working commands should return daily to the camp even if longer distances are involved. This regulation renders more difficult a practical employment. Therefore, a more flexible arrangement of the camps should be sought, as far as military reasons do not interfere and self-contained working commands should be provided.
3) Execution of the Utilization of Labor:
a) The utilization of the prisoners of war will take place only in the permanent camps; in the transit camps a separation of working commands will not take place. If the High Command of the Armed Forces should think a different regulation necessary, then a participation of the district labor offices for the transit camps would have to be ordered, which, so far, is only contemplated for the permanent camps.
b) The utilization of the prisoners of war must be accomplished in close cooperation with the authorities for labor utilization, because only they have knowledge about the most urgent demands for labor. The Reich Labor Minister will declare competent one district labor office (respective labor office) for each permanent camp, which takes care of the practical utilization of the prisoners and which will advise the Commandant of the camp on all labor questions.
c) All requests for working commands will have to be directed to the District Labor Office. Insofar as the utilization of prison-
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ers of war is riot regulated centrally by OKW, GBW and RAM, the District Labor Office will advise about the urgency of the request. The utilization itself will take place in close cooperation between the District Labor Office and the permanent camps.
4) The Reich Ministry for Economic Affairs will make suggestions about the regulations for labor conditions, etc.
Ill
* * * * * * *
[Unsigned]
Berlin, 28 January 1939
To the High Command of the Armed Forces Attention: a) Col. Warlimont (Department L) or Deputy in the Office.
b) Major General Thomas (War Economy Staff) or Deputy in the Office.
Berlin.
I am forwarding herewith the foregoing copy for your information, with a request to keep my office informed of all negotiations.
By order,
[Stamp] Certified: ' [sgd] SARNOW
[Signature illegible]
Letter to the OKW, stating that mobilization for will cause a serious shortage of workers, which will have to be made up for with prisoners of war, and requesting joint planning for six labor camps
Authors
Walther Funk (Reich Minister of Economics; Reichsbank; Central Planning Board)
Walter Funk
German economist, Nazi politician and convicted war criminal (1890-1960)
- Born: 1890-08-18 (Yasnaya Polyana)
- Died: 1960-05-31 (Düsseldorf)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: banker; economist; journalist; politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Participant in: International Military Tribunal (role: defendant)
- Position held: director (of: Bank for International Settlements, Reichsbank); member of the Reichstag of the Weimar Republic
- Employer: Bank for International Settlements; Reichsbank
Date: 28 January 1939
Literal Title: Re: Employment of Prisoners of War.
Defendant: Walther Funk
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: EC-488
Citation: IMT (page 9088)
HLSL Item No.: 452843
Notes:The letter was sent from Funk's office; this copy is not signed.