recruitment of youths 15 to 20 years of age from the population of the Occupied Eastern Territories for war employment in the Reich. The settlement of political and labour questions, the compilation and instruction of the staff as well as the erection of procurementcamps, the preparation of clothing and equipment, the establishment of offices, the planning and procurement of the first propaganda-materials and the setting up of special field units were completed by 27 May 1944. The clearing up of political questions required the longest time, which led to constant differences between the subordinate offices of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, particularly in Riga and Kauen. The Office was able to commence practical work: (a) on 27 May 1944 in the middle sector of the Eastern front of that time; (b) on 4 June 1944 in the southern sector of the Eastern front; (c) on 15 June 1944 in Lithuania (d) on 15 June 1944 in Estonia (e) on 18 July 1944 in Lettland. From then on to 20 September 1944, i. e., in barely four months there were procured for employment 1. 18,917 youths 2. 2,500 girls Total: 21,417 Re. 1: The youths employed are classified as follows: (a) 1383 Russian SS Auxiliaries (b) 5953 Ukrainian SS Auxiliaries (c) 2354 White Ruthenian SS Auxiliaries (d) 1012 Lithuanian SS Auxiliaries (e) 3000 Estonian Air Force Auxiliaries (f) 3614 Latvian Air Force Auxiliaries All those in the (a) to (f) group are employed in the Air Corps, to wit: 1000 in Air Communications 1000 in motorised ARP 265 in dockyards the remainder in anti-aircraft artillery. (g) 302 Russian SS auxiliaries could not be brought back and were handed over to the Army High Command [AOK] 9 in BOBRUISK, employed in the troops and were mostly killed, in action. (h) 346 Estonian Air Force auxiliaries were transferred to the Navy as assistants. (i) 250 selected Ukrainian SS auxiliaries had 8 weeks train ing in a WE camp and were then transferred to the Galician Infantry Division as future noncommissioned officers. (k) 96 youths over 20 years of age were received by the SS Main Office to be exchanged against Germanic volunteers from the armaments industry. (1) 81 youths less than 1.40 m. in height went to the Air Force Signal Repairs Workship 8/III at HOHENFRIED, East Prussia, for apprentice-training. (m) 99 unfit youths were sent to the Construction Office of the HITLER youth Movement as builders of concentration camps. (n) 427 men over 45 years of age were sent to the Air Force. 41 youths fell so far in line of duty, 2 youths received the Iron Cross, Second Class. Re. 2.: 500 Ukrainian and Russian girls were transferred into the Air Corps as searchlight personnel. 200 girls are now employed in building of emplacements on the Baltic Sea, under guidance of BDM leaders, and will then go to the Air Force. All posts are satisfied with the youthful workers received. The youths are enthusiastic about their enrollment, on one hand and unassuming, on the other. With the right education, anything can be done with them. My office carries on the training in the Air Force, on basis of the given general plan. In addition to these workers, others had already been channeled into the German armaments industry, to wit: (1) 3500 youths and 500 girls to the Junkers Works; (2) 2000 youths and 700 girls to the Todt Organization [Labor Corps]. Total: 6700 From the Occupied Eastern Territories the following workers have thus been allotted by the office functioning under the Hitler youth Movement: 18917 youths to the Air Force 5500 youths to the armaments industry 1200 girls to the armaments industry Total: 28117 The process comprises: enlistment, transportation, here also decontamination examination clothing first preparatory service selection of personnel transportation to the Reich and to the main camp-preparatory education in languages until they completely possess a knowledge of the German military : 0 1 words of command on the march close order drill, up to moving in a column preparatory rifle course - physical exercises (basic) indoor duties conduct in service and off duty duct towards superiors. Educational and welfare care on the lines laid down. con The office conducts this preparatory work with its own staff, without having to follow up the first requisitions by later ones. The first youths (2000) were transferred to the troops on 8 July 1944. Ukrainian, Russian, White Ruthenian and Lithuanian SS auxiliaries were employed in the Reich, from the very beginning, while Estonian and Lettish Air Force auxiliaries were attached to German Air Force units in their own countries. The Estonian and Lettish Air Force auxiliaries have temporarily been withdrawn into the Reich, half of them being brought back by the troops themselves, whereas in the case of the other half the troop units had become completely dispersed. The greater part of the youths thus lost has in the meanwhile been again collected by special teams from my office and brought into the Reich; from the main camps there they will be re-distributed to the troops. The order to enroll girls also was only received by the office on 1 July 1944. The office carried out the command by the following organizational arrangement: In the Occupied Eastern Territories themselves there were corresponding to the three main army groups (a) the Northern HITLER Youth Operational Command. Over that stood the Berlin office as Unit Field Postal Number 14.298. Each one of the commands was headed by a Hitler Youth Leader. The office disposed over 16 concentration camps in the Occupied Eastern Territories, in addition to the four main camps at EGER, KREMS, PUETNITZ and LOBBE within the Reich. Furthermore: 68 armored vehicles, 14 trucks and arms and ammunition for all members of the Command. Arms consisted of pistols, carbines, light machine guns, heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. Personnel was composed of 1. Members of the Hitler Youth: 5 leaders; 3 BDM leaders; 71 German youth leaders as translators and assistant instructors. 2. Members of the SS: 26 SS leaders; 234 noncommissioned officers and troops; drivers, and translators. 3. Air Force personnel: 37 officers; 221 noncommissioned officers and privates, in particular specialist N.C.O.'s for clothing, administration, rations, and transportation units. 4. 5 office personnel. Of this staff there were released up to 1 October 1944 1. 12 SS leaders; 134 noncommissioned officers and troops. 2. 15 air force officers; 134 N.C.O.'s and troops. 3. 1 Hitler youth leader. The unit lost in action 5 killed and 7 wounded. 7 motor vehicles became useless or were lost. The entire equipment, with a few exceptions, as well as uniforms and items of equipment, could be brought back. Since in the beginning, the entire personnel has been considered as being to the Command (office) only, they are now considered as having been transferred assignment as of 1 October 1944 on. The Office now has its own Table of Organization. One staff officer from the Air Force and one SS Leader in the office each have full powers of a regimental commander. The largest number of staff is required for personnel affairs: 1. Procurement of personnel 2. Escorts for transports 3. Administration 4. Clothing 5. Supply and kitchens. On 1st August 1944 the office received the order to extend its activities to the emigrating Eastern population in the Reich and the Occupied Territories. The order came too late as regards the Occupied Territories. A report on this mass operation can be presented at a later date only. In addition, from that date on, the office has received orders of the most varied kinds and in numerous countries, which can only achieve partial results, or which come too late, especially in France, Belgium, Serbia and Greece. At the present time the office is functioning, after reforming the commands [units] and changing over of the whole work, in cooperation with: (a) the Netherland Hitler Youth Operational Command (b) the Adria Hitler Youth Operational Command (c) the Southern Hitler Youth Operational Command in Slovakia and Hungary; (d) the Lt. NAGEL special Command in refugee camps within the Reich (e) the field-offices in Vienna, Posen-Litzmannstadt, Prague and Berlin for emigration of the Eastern populace; (f) with disbanded Operational Commands for repatriation of German populace from the South-East. Comprised in this list is the Hitler Youth Operational Command in Poland, one Command in course of preparation for Northern Italy and the Protectorate. Particular efforts are required at the present time for stepping up political education and welfare of those who are attached to troops in the Reich. The main camps in the Reich are at present occupied by about 1600 youths and barely 1000 girls, who are constantly being released to the troops. The office has furthermore undertaken to supply 4000 laborers released for labor purposes to the Construction-office of the Reich Youth Leadership by the Plenipotentiary General for the German nationals released for recruitment. been taken here. Preparatory measures have Subject: Lecture of Ministerial Director Dr. Mansfeld, Deputy General for the Mobilization of Labor [Arbeitseinsatz] on general questions regarding the Mobilization of Labor Committment. Time: 19 Febr 42, 10.00 hours Reich Chamber of Economy [Reichswirtschaftskammer] Present: From Wi Rue Amt KVR Dr. Grotius The present difficulties in the Mobilization of Labor [Arbeitseinsatz] would not have arisen, if one had decided in time on a 744400-47-25 |