The Holocaust Historiography Project

Copy of document 3722-PS

                          EXCERPTS

     Testimony of Fritz Sauckel, taken at Nurnberg,
     Germany, 5 October 1945, by Major John J. Monigan,
     Jr., CAC, OUSCC. Also present: Siegfried Ramler,
     Interpreter and S/Sgt. William A. Weigel, Court
     Reporter.

[Page 10]

Q. For a moment, I want to turn our attention to Holland. It
is my understanding that the quotas for the workers from
Holland were agreed upon, and then the numbers given to the
Reichskommissar Seyss-Inquart to fulfill, is that correct?

A. Yes, that is correct.

[Page 11]

Q. After the quota was given to Seyss-Inquart, it was his
mission to fulfill it with the aid of your representatives,
was it not?

A. Yes. This was the only possible thing for me to do, and
the same applied to other countries.

[Page 12]

Q. Was the same procedure substantially followed of
allocating quotas in the General Government Poland?

A. Yes. I have to basically state again that the only
possibility I had in carrying through these matters was to
get in touch with the highest German military authority in
the respective country and to transfer to them the orders of
the Fuehrer and ask them very urgently, as I have always
done, to fulfill these orders.

Q. Such discussions in Poland, of course, were with the
General Governor Frank?

A. Yes. I spent a morning and afternoon in Cracov twice or
three times, and I personally spoke to General Governor
Frank. Naturally, there was also present Secretary Dr.
Goebbel.

[Page 14]

Q. Was the procedure the same regarding discussions and
allocations of quotas for the territory of the East with
Rosenberg?

A. As far as it concerns the Eastern territory, that was
ordered through Reichminister Rosenberg; yes. My
representative was Staatsrat Peukert. Staatsrat Peukert had
a  very close connection with Rosenberg in this Department
of Labor, and at the same time he was working for the
Reichskommissar in the Ukraine, and he was also working in
the Labor Staff East for General Stapf. This was an economic
institution of the Four Year Plan, for the operational
functions in the East which have

                                                  [Page 460]

been subordinate to the Army chiefs. In those three
instances Staatsrat Peukert was my representative, as leader
for the Department of Labor.

[Page 15]

Q. Was it necessary in order to accomplish the completion of
the quotas given to have liaison with the OKW?

A. I remember that the Fuehrer had given directives to
Marshal Keitel, telling him that my task was a very
important one, and I, too, have often conferred with Keitel
after such discussions with the Fuehrer, when I asked him
for his support.

Q. It was his task to supervise the proper performance of
the military commanders in the occupied countries in
carrying out their assigned mission, was it not?

A. Yes. The Fuehrer had told me that he would inform the
chief of the OKW, and the Chief of the Reichschancellery, as
to these matters. The same applies to the Foreign Minister.

Q. The methods by which the quotas were filled in the
occupied countries was the task of the civilian or military
commander concerned, as we have just discussed before, was
it not?

A. Yes, naturally. Yes, the executive rights naturally
rested with him. However, he received advice and technical
expert advice from the representative of the labor
administration.