Nazi concentration camp work assignments for priests

[David Thompson]

Document NO-1284, in Trials of War Criminals Before the Nuernberg Military Tribunals Under Control Council Law No. 10. Vol. 5: United States v. Oswald Pohl, et. al. (Case 4: 'Pohl Case'). US Government Printing Office, District of Columbia: 1950. pp. 365-366.

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NO-1284

PROSECUTION EXHIBIT 114

CIRCULAR OF OFFICE D 1/1 OF WVHA, 21 APRIL 1942, CONCERNING, WORK ASSIGNMENTS FOR CLERGYMEN IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS

SS Economic & Administrative Main Office
Chief of Division D
Concentration Camps
D I/1 /file No.: 14c 9 /Ot. /U.
Secret Diary
No. 243/42
Oranienburg, 21 April 1942

To the Camp Commanders of the Concentration Camps
Da., Sah., Bu., Mau., Flo., Neu., Au., Gr.-Ro., Natz., Nie., Stu., Arb., Rav., Pw camp Lublin
Copy to Chief of Office D II in the building

Subject: Labor assignment of clergymen.
Reference: SS Economic Administrative Main Office Ch. Po/IIa. of 18 April 1942
Enclosures: None

[Stamp]
Secret

The Reich Leader SS and Chief of the German Police gave the order that the Polish and Lithuanian Pfaffen [The derogatory German term "Pfaffen" is used for priests. It originated from Greek "papas" (father). "Pfaffen" originally was an honorary name for all clergymen: here used in a derogatory sense.] [priests] are to do real work, that means they may be assigned to any labor. But German, Dutch, and Norwegian clergymen are to be put to work, now as before, in the gardens for medical herbs. The execution of this order is to be reported here.

ACTING:
[signature] LIEBEHENSCHEL
SS Obersturmbannfuehrer