Waffen-SS and Police, Central Construction Office in Auschwitz Zentralbauleitung der Waffen-SS und Polizei Auschwitz (Fond 502)

Identifier
irn599258
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1993.A.0085.1.4
  • RG-11.001M.03
Dates
1 Jan 1939 - 31 Dec 1944
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Web Source

https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn599258

Extent and Medium

54 microfilm reels (partial), 16 mm

121,673 digital images, JPEG

Creator(s)

  • Waffen-SS and Polizei. Zentralbauleitung in Auchwitz

Biographical History

The Construction office of the waffen-SS and Police at Auschwitz subsequently renamed the Central Construction Office of the Waffen SS and Police was created in 1940 with the commencement of construction of the concentration camp. In 1941 began construction of the prisoner of war camp. In 1943 the Auschwitz concentration camp was divided into three independent camps: Auschwitz I (the main camp), Auschwitz II (Birkenau), and Auschwitz II, subsequently renamed to Monowitz concentration camp. The central Construction Office of the Waffen-SS and Police at Auschwitz was in charge of constructing installations within the concentration camp and around it. The significant portion of installations was constructed under contracts with other firms. All involved firms used the labor of internees and prisoner of war, as well as persons captured in the occupied territories of the Soviet Union and other countries of Europe, to produce armaments, ammunition, and equipment for the Wehrmacht.

Archival History

Rossiĭskiĭ gosudarstvennyĭ voennyĭ arkhiv

Acquisition

Forms part of the Claims Conference International Holocaust Documentation Archive at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This archive consists of documentation whose reproduction and/or acquisition was made possible with funding from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Source of acquisition is the Russian State Military Archive (Rossiĭskiĭ gosudarstvennyĭ voennyĭ arkhiv), Osobyi Archive, Fond 502. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives received the filmed collection via the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum International Archival Programs Division in 1993.

Scope and Content

Orders, reports, correspondence, memoranda, plans, explanatory notes, estimates, blueprints, computations, drafts, diagrams, photographs of installations, bookkeeping records, staff inventories, list of employees, personal files of security guards, index cards of prisoners and workers, death notices, and list of prisoners. The records relate to the complete history of the construction and maintenance of the Auschwitz camps complex. Includes correspondence with the camp commandant’s office, the Silesia Construction Inspectorate and the main office regarding daily operations of camp and crematoria, and on “special” measures entitled “Holland”, “Heinrich”, “Hungary” and “Jewish action”, as well includes a large number of the death notices, index cards, and work records of Jews. Note: The Museum filmed the complete collection including oversized construction drawings and plans. Note: USHMM Archives holds only selected records.

System of Arrangement

Fond 502 (1933-1944). Opis 1-3, 5; Dela 7339. Selected records arranged in 10 series: 1. Various Gestapo reports on Jews and lists of Jewish emigrants; 2. Press clippings on various Jewish issues, and anti-German materials; 3. Various directives, circulars, reports and orders of the Main SS Administrative Directorate and other leading bodies regarding construction of concentration camps and internal organization of the SS, 1940 1944; 4. Reports on construction work in progress for Auschwitz buildings; 5. Financial records; 6. Various correspondence regarding prisoners and their transportation; 7. Alphabetical listings of firms working through the SS Central Construction office on projects and tasks in Auschwitz, 1942-1944; 8. Questionnaires and forms of the SS man serving in Auschwitz and their families’ financial situation; 9.Drawings, plans and photo negatives of construction projects, 1942-1944; 10.Gestapo investigation of Jehovah's Witnesses activities, 1934. Note: The construction plans were film in pieces, because 16 mm cameras were used. Location of digital images; Microfilm Reels 18-71 (some are partial): Reels 19-25; 27-70: Reel start-Reel end; Reel 18: Image #1412-Reel end Reel 26: Image #1766-Reel end Reel 71: Reel start-Image #1697.

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Copyright Holder: Rossiĭskiĭ gosudarstvennyĭ voennyĭ arkhiv

People

  • Waffen-SS and Polizei. Zentralbauleitung in Auchwitz

Corporate Bodies

Subjects

  • Construction industry--Poland--Oświęcim--History--20th century.
  • Polish people--Persecution--Poland--Oświęcim--History--20th century.
  • Germans--Poland--Oświęcim--History--20th century.
  • Jews--Persecution--Poland--Oświęcim--History--20th century.
  • Police administration--Poland--History--20th century.
  • Prisoners--Poland--Oświęcim--History--20th century.
  • Prisoners and prisons--Poland--Oświęcim--History--20th century.
  • World War, 1939-1945--Engineering and construction--Poland.
  • World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities--Poland.
  • Poland--History--Occupation, 1939-1945 .
  • Oświęcim (Poland)--Buildings, structures, etc.
  • Oświęcim (Poland)--History--20th century.
  • Holocaust Jewish (1939-1945)--Poland--History.

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.

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