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Photo 29
Interior and … |
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Photo 30:
… exterior of PMO II-5-64/1 produced by the Auschwitz DAW workshops in accordance with the Bauleitung order of 13th February 1943 for 12 gas-tight “doors” 30 by 40 cm, these being the dimensions of the shutter itself, not frame. In order to open the “door”, TWO operations are necessary: after unscrewing the wing nut and pivoting the bolt to the right the metal locking bar has to be swung to the left, THEN the “door” can be opened. |
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Photo 32
Interior and … |
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Photo 33:
exterior of PMO II-5-64/3 of a pattern different from the first, with a larger “door” of 43 by 52 cm. This new “improved”. model could be opened or closed in a single movement, the door being fixed to the locking bar. It must be recalled that the SS man who introduced the Zyklon-B into the gas chambers of Krematorien IV and V had to balance on a short ladder in order to reach the opening, with a can of Zyklon-B in one hand and thus having only one hand free. This is why the manoeuvring of the “doors” was simplified. PMO II-5-64/3 is in very poor condition On the right is he locking bolt and wingnut in the open position, the bar free to move. The heads of the bolts on Photo 32 are smooth and on the inside, while the nuts are on the outside, a significant fact when the purpose of these shutters is known. |
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