Why in Dec 1942 did Himmler order the "death rate absolutely must be reduced" at Auschwitz?

[byron92]

??From the Nuremberg Trial records??

Copy of a letter from the SS Main Camp Office of Economic Administration to all concentration camps.

SS Main Office of Economic Administration
Service Group D Concentration Camp
D III/Az.: 14 n (KL) 12.42 Lg/Wy

Oranienburg
28 December 1942

Regarding: Medical Activities in the Concentration Camps
Refence:... without
Enclosure: 1

SECRET

TO the 1. Camp Doctors of the Concentration Camps Da., Sh.
Bu., Neu., Au., Rav., Flo., Lu., Stu., Gr-Ro., Nied., Natz., Hinz.,
Mor., Herzog., Mau.,

Copy to Camp Commandants

In the inclosed a compilation of the current arrivals and departures in all the concentration camps is sent to you for your information. It discloses that out of the 136,000 arrivals about 70,000 died. With such a high rate of death the number of the prisoners can never be brought up to the figure as has been ordered by the Reichsfuehrer of the SS. The 1. camp doctors must use all means at their disposal to reduce essentially this death rate in the various camps. The best doctor in a concentration camp is not the one, who believes that he must stand out for uncalled severity , but the one who by his supervision and exchange keeps the working capacity at the various labor commands at the highest possible level. The camp doctors must supervise more often than in the past the food of the prisoners and, with approval of the administration, submit improvement proposals to the camp commandants. These, however, must not only appear on paper, but must be controlled regularly by the camp doctors. Furthermore, the camp doctors are to see to it that the working conditions at the the various labor places are improved as much as possible. To this purpose it will be necessary that the camp doctors inspect the labor places on the ground and convince themselves about the conditions of work.

The SS Reichsfuehrer has ordered that the death rate absolutely must be reduced. For this reason the aforementioned has been ordered and a monthly report on this matter is to be submitted to the Chief of the Department D III. The first report to be submitted on 1 February 1943.

[Signature illegible]

Klueder [?]

SS Brigadefuehrer and Major General of the Arms

(Nuremberg Trial Document PS-2171, Annex 2. NC&A Red Series, Vol. 4, pp. 833-834.)
http://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/pdf/NT_Nazi_Vol-IV.pdf

[jamilah38]

"but the one who by his supervision and exchange keeps the working capacity at the various labor commands at the highest possible level."

That's a puzzler, alright.

[demarco]

Because the prisoners were expected to provide slave labour prior to being exterminated. Auschwitz III, for instance, was associated with the production of vital synthetic rubbers and fuels. But, they still didn't hesitate to execute prisoners who were no longer useful as slaves.

[jerrick]

Because the prisoners were expected to provide slave labour prior to being exterminated. Auschwitz III, for instance, was associated with the production of vital synthetic rubbers and fuels. But, they still didn't hesitate to execute prisoners who were no longer useful as slaves.

Read your own source if you are capable, you'll see that the answer is, to "keep the working capacity at the various labor commands at the highest possible level".

[armin]

which of the Auschwitz camps does this refer to as there were 3 main camps and dozens of sub camps ?

This is also dated before the worst period in Auschwitz history which was the deportation of the Hungarian Jews in June 1944

[oakley]

Damn, I thought you'd gone for good.

I doubt it was for any compassionate reason. They probably needed more labourers to help supply the war they were losing. It kinda says that in the report you,ve quoted.

[garbhach65]

Albert Speer told him they needed as many abled bodied Jews as possible for Industry. A major portion of the male population of Germany between 19 and 40 was in Russia freezing to death.

[shen86]

He was a real humanitarian. He truly cared.

[fenwick]

Propaganda.

[maddox]

Doctors have to take the hippocritic oath.