Memorandum of a discussion of the use of foreign workers and Russian prisoners of war

TOP SECRET Draft
Rue (IV)
Berlin, November 11 1941 6 Copies, 6th Copy
NOTES
on outlines layed down by the Reichsmarschall in the meeting of 7 November 1941 in the Reich Ministry for Air (RLM)
SUBJECT: Employment of laborers in war industries.
The Fuehrer's point of view as to employment of prisoners of war in war industries has changed basically. So far a total of 5 million prisoners of war—employed so far 2 million.
Directives for employment:
Frenchmen: Individual employment, transposition into armament industry [Rue-wirtschaft]
Serbs: Preferably agriculture
Poles: If feasible no individual employment achievement of Russian armament industry surpasses the German one. Assembly line-work, a great many mechanical devices with relatively few skilled workers.
Readiness of Russians in the operational area to work is strong. In the Ukraine and other areas discharged' prisoners of war already work as free labor. In Krivoy Rog, large numbers of workers are available due to the destruction of the factories.
EMPLOYMENT OF RUSSIAN PWs
As a rule, employment in groups [geschlossener Arbeitseinsatz] no individual employment, not even in agriculture. Guard personnel, not only soldiers but also foremen, at least during the working time proper. As a rule soldiers in the camp.
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Employment in:
1. Operational area
2. Reich Commissariats (occupied territories in the east)
3. General Government
4. Interior and Protectorate is to be differentiated.
For 1 : In the operational area take preferable into consideration :
a. Railroads.
b. Highway construction.
Very important that in the Ukraine some roads be built with increased speed, not by German skilled labor but by Russian PWs.
c. Clearing work.
d. Agriculture.
The Ukraine being conquered, we now finally have to secure the feeding of the German people. If feasible, also Frenchmen and Belgians are to be used for directing the Russian farmworkers in the eastern area. If farm machinery is lacking, employ masses of workers. Transplantation of German farmers only where actual success can be expected.
e. Railroad-repair-factories, etc.
Best supervision: "Field kitchen." Quick evacuation from operational area are necessary. Losses during transport very heavy (escaping and joining with partisan and robber bands).
Barbed wire hard to get. (Discarding of barbed wire fences in East Prussia desirable)
Leave Asiatic people in operational area if possible.
From construction battalions 69,000 workers have been transferred to the armament industry: replacement by prisoner of war battalions.
Again and again skilled workers are being found in the construction battalions (fraisiers etc). Investigation by army desirable. Express will of the Fuehrer, that every skilled worker is used in the proper place. If necessary, repeated checking should be instituted.
For 2 : The same applies to employment in Reich Commissariats.
For 3 : The above is also applicable to the Government General.
Attention is to be paid to avoiding of unnecessary transport of machinery, as thereby often the available manpower in the Gouvernement is not fully utilized, and, on the other hand, the machinery cannot be made use of for a long time in other places.
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For 4: In the Interior and the Protectorate. It would be ideal if entire factories could be manned by Russian PWs except the employees necessary for direction. For employment in the Interior and the Protectorate the following are to have priority:
a. At the top coal mining industry.
Order by the Fuehrer to investigate all mines as to suitability for employment of Russians. At times manning the entire plant with Russian laborers.
b. Transportation (construction of locomotives and cars,
repair-shops)
Railroad-repair and industry workers are to be sought out from the PWs. Railroad is most imporant means of transportation in the East.
c. Armament industries.
Preferably factories of armor and guns. Possibly also construction of parts for airplane engines. Suitable complete sections of factories to be manned exclusively by Russians. For the remainder employment in columns. Use in factories of tool machinery, production of farm tractors, generators, etc.
In emergency, erect in individual places barracks for occasional workers which are used as unloading details and similar purposes. (Reich Minister of the Interior through communal authorities).
OKW/AWA is competent for transporting Russian PWs, employment through "Planning Board for Employment of all PWs." If necessary, offices of Reich Commissariats.
No employment where danger to men or their supply exists, i.e. factories exposed to explosives, waterworks, powerworks, etc. No contact with German population, especially no "solidarity." German worker as a rule is foreman of Russians.
Food is a matter of Four Years' Plan. Supply their own food (cats, horses, etc.)
Clothes, billeting, messing somewhat better than at home where part of the people live in caverns.
Supply of shoes for Russians as a rule wooden shoes, if necessary Russian shoe repair shops.
Examination of physical fitness, in order to avoid importation of diseases.
Clearing of mines as a rule by Russians if possible by selected Russian engineers.
Employment offices for civilian workers to be kept separate from those for PWs. In this respect the wage-problem is to be considered. Furthermore families in Russia have to share the
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support. As a rule employment in closed groups [geschlossener Einsatz],
Some points as to general Arbeitseinsatz
Rather employ PWs than unsuitable foreign workers. Seize Poles, Dutchmen, etc., if necessary as PWs and employ them as such, if work through free contract cannot be obtained. Strong action.
General employment of all German women repudiated by the Fuehrer.
Where Russians can be employed, labor service is not to be used. Labor service to be used where greatest effect is produced, even if the principle of education through labor service is curtailed thereby. War situation to be taken into consideration.
As a matter of principle central interests precede local interests, therefore no resistance from Reich commissaries and other local authorities against Arbeitseinsatz in the homeland.
Savings in wages are to be made up by compensatory contributions of the business.
Express order by the Fuehrer. Under no circumstances may the wage level in the East be raised or assimulated to the wages in western Germany. Strong action is imperative against solicitors who offer high wages.
It is intended to issue a basically new regulation of wages for foreign workers.
Foreigners not to be treated like German workers, on the other hand do not provoke inferiority complex in foreigners by posters.
The welfare installations of the Labor Front [DAF] are under no circumstance to be used for PWs or Eastern workers.
All agencies are to promote maximum uiilization of Russian manpower.
Employment of Russians not to be improvised, but first to be thoroughly organized in the operational area. Speed is necessary, as the mass of manpower is decreasing daily by losses (lack of food and billets).
Make provisions to decrease the excessive number of escaping prisoners. Especially in and around Berlin strictest guard necessary.
[illegible initials]
Distribution:
Chief Rue—1st Copy Sect. Ro—2nd Copy Rue II—3rd Copy Rue Ilia—4th Copy Rue Vl-IIIa—5th Copy Draft (Rue IVd)—6th Copy
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