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Instructions to concentration camp commandants, stating that only mentally ill prisoners should be euthanized (14f13), while bed-ridden patients are to be assigned work

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Authors

Richard Gluecks (Inspector of concentration camps; Chief of Amtsgruppe D in WVHA, SS; SS Gruppenf.)

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Richard Gluecks

German general (1889-1945); SS-Gruppenführer, head of the inspection of the concentration camps

Image of Richard Gluecks
  • Born: 1889-04-22 (Mönchengladbach)
  • Died: 1945-05-10 (Flensburg)
  • Country of citizenship: Germany
  • Occupation: politician; torturer
  • Member of political party: Nazi Party
  • Member of: Schutzstaffel
  • Military rank: Gruppenführer
  • Military branch: Schutzstaffel

SS Economic and Administrative Main Office (WVHA, 1942-45) (or predecessor office)

Date: 27 April 1943

Literal Title: Subject: Action 14 f 13 in the concentration camps.

Total Pages: 1

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-1933

Citation: IMT (page 1844)

HLSL Item No.: 451452

Notes:The author's name is not on the document; it is provided in the Ble Set, vol. 29, p. 174. The instructions originated from Himmler.

Trial Issues

Criminal organizations (Gestapo, Leadership Corps, Cabinet, SS, SD, OKW) (… Concentration camp system (administration, forced labor, abuse of inmates)… Euthanasia program (Action 14 f 13) (IMT, NMT 1, 3, 4)

Document Summary

Staff Evidence Analyses

PS-1933: Circular to the Commanders of Concentration Camps on prisoners for the '14f13' operation

Red Series Doc Descriptions

PS-1933: Top-secret letter of the Ss economic-administrative main office to the commandants of 15 concentration camps, 27 April 1943, on the selection of insane inmates for special treatment (action 14 F 13)

Main Bureau for SS Economic Administration Bureau Group Chief D—Concentration Camp—
DI/l/Az: 14 f 13/L/S Secret order of the day—No. 612/43 Subject: Action 14 f 13 in the concentration camps.
Reference: Local directive DI/l/Az: 14 f 13/OT/S—Secret order of the day No. 34/43 of S.1.43
STATE SECRET
To the Camp Commanders of the Concentration Camps
Da; Sah., Bn., Man., Flo., Neu., Au., Gr.-Ro., Natz., Stu., Rav., Ri., Herz., Lubl., and Bergen-Berlsen.
Copy to: Chief of Bureau D II, III in the house
The Reich Fuehrer-SS and Chief of German Police has decided, alter consultation, that in the future only mentally sick [geisteskranke] prisoners may be selected for action 14 F 13 by the medical commissions appointed for this purpose.
All other prisoners incapable of working (tubercular cases, bedridden cripples, etc.) are to be basically excepted from this action. Bed-ridden prisoners are to be drafted for suitable work which they can perform in bed.
The order of the Reich Fuehrer SS is to be obeyed strictly in the future.
Requests for fuel for this purpose therefore do not take place.
[signature illegible]
SS-Brigadefuehrer and Major General of the Waffen-SS

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