German SS and Police Radio Messages - No Mass Executions or Gassings at Camps

German SS and

Police Unit Radio

Messaqes in British

Archives

IN THE Public Record Office in London (PRO) are now housed the
records of the former Police section at Bletchley Park, where British
codebreakers had begun reading the German SS and police messages
even before WWII.

The police section amassed thousands of intercepts of police units on
the eastern front, police headquarters in Germany, and concentration
camp commandants reporting to Berlin. It is worth noting, as the late
Professor Sir Frank Hinsley the official historian points out, that nowhere
in these myriads of (top secret, enciphered) messages is there any
reference to gas chambers or gassings. The returns from Auschwitz,
the largest of the camps with 20,000 prisoners, mentioned illness as
the main cause of death, but included references to shootings and
hanqinqs. There were no references in the decrypts to qassinq.'

Professor Sir Frank H Hinsley et al., British Intelligence in the Second
World War: Its Influence on Strategy and Operations, Cambridge, 1979 -
84, 3 vols., vol. ii, appendix, page 673.]

Notes extracted from
the Newly Released
files of German SS
and Police Intercepts
deciphered by British
codebreakers.

(Notes made by David Irving
during research for the
second volume of his
Churchill's War.)

w.

HAT IS surprising is that although every minute detail of SS and concentration camp
operations is mirrored in these thousands of messages, preserved either in the original German,
or in English translation (and sometimes in both)

• there is no reference whatever to mass killing operations by gas or any other method in
the camps.

• Every other conceivable detail is however reflected in the signals, including a signal to
Auschwitz commandant S.S. Sturmbannfilhrer Rudolf Hoss in September 1942 regretting that
rubber truncheons are 'unobtainable in Breslau.'

[GC&CS German Police report No. 41, 1942, Oct 5, 1942 (PRO file HW. 16/6, part ii).]

Bletchley Park historians recalled the German code weaknesses and security lapses, always the

Main' which 'made the cryptographer's life a happy one.' Indications of internal disintegration in
Germany were disappointingly few. Interception of low-frequency traffic was much easier in
France. On the evening of May 9, 1940 there was decoded the urgent German summons to
prevent a high official from crossing into Holland; this was the only hint of GELB from this
source. Work did not then resume until August 1940 at BP. Berlin began to jump on security
breaches, like messages exceeding the maximum permitted 180 letters and easy standard cribs,
like a daily report on the rise and fall of the Elbe. For the BARBAROSSA traffic a separate key
and new frequencies were instituted; in August 1941 two sets of keys in the East were introduced
for each day. Even so they got 30 to 100 decodes a day, with forty staff working on the task.

On September 13, 1941 Kurt Daluege, Chef der Ordnungspolizei, sent the following message to
the HSSuPf of the forces in Russia,

'The danger of decipherment by the enemy of wireless messages is great. For this
reason only such matters are to be transmitted by wireless as can be considered
open [groups missed]. Confidential or Secret, but not information which is
containing State secrets, calls for especially secret treatment. Into this category
fall exact figures of executions (these are to be sent by Courier) '

The scale of these executions was 'a clear indication of the utter ruthlessness of the Germans in
Russia.' The GC&CS report adds,

'The anxiety may have been increased by a speech by the Prime Minister drawing
the attention of the world to this carnage. In any case the German authorities
evidently demanded more drastic steps still, and these culminated in a complete
change of cypher in mid-September. Double transposition [a straightforward
system, and relatively simple to break] was dropped (never to appear to again)
and Double Playfair took its place.'

The result was the reverse of what the Germans had intended, because if they had retained
Double Transposition with still further splitting up of keys it would soon have put BP out of
business, Double Playfair quickly proved to be a most breakable cypher, and it became the
exception to fail to break a day. From the spring of 1942 the Russians began providing high
quality raw intercepts; in return BP provided decrypts and daily keys until December — they say
~ when liaison unfortunately broke down and nothing more was received. Throughout the winter
of 1942 German police traffic was one of the few sources providing information from the eastern
front, but in November the German police, nervous again about security, introduced their next
major cypher alteration. By February 1943 however the section was again up to four to five
hundred decodes a week. BP now had five hundred people, including those at the 'Y' stations
dedicated to this task, working on the Police codes. Things got easy in July 1944 when the Police
Flying Squadron in Poland sent in a standard daily report. But on September 1, 1944, the
Germans introduced the new raster cypher, the best hand-cypher they had ever devised; the time-

naturally, of increasing interest and provides as a whole a singular picture of the last days of the
Nazi reigime and of its individual leaders. For this reason cryptographic work was continued
long after VE-day (no police-keys were ever captured) ' [GC&CS, 'History of the German Police
Section, 1939-45' in PRO file HW.3/155.]

On September 2, 1941 Churchill is shown a brief report from Nigel de Grey on 'German Police,'
a report to Himmler dated August 26, 1941 :

'A report from the Berditschew Korosten area mentions that the Russians are still
retiring and burning the villages. Prisoners taken number 47, Jews shot 1246,
losses nil.'

Churchill rings the '1,246' in red ink. [PRO file HW.1/40]

On October 13, 1941 Churchill read a summary which included German police messages
analysed by Nigel de Grey two days earlier:

'On 26/9 arrangements were being made for a 3 or 4 day visit by Himmler to the
Southern Area of the Russian front. Places to be visited were Shitomir,
Berditschew (where the dwellings etc. of the German colonies were the attraction.
Dept Note .: It will be remembered that the Russians were reported to have
removed the German population to Siberia.) Thence to Kiew, if possible to Uman,
then Krivoi-Rog, Nikolaiew and possibly Cherson. He was accompanied by his
fleet of cars including his wireless car. 'On 13/9 the 3 officers commanding on the
North, Centre and South Russian Front were reminded that the danger of their
messages being decoded was great. Among other secret matters that should not be
sent by wireless was the number of executions carried out.'

signed, de G/ll. 10.41. [[Nigel] de G[rey], 'German Police,' Oct 11, 1941, in PRO file
HW. 1/135.] Churchill lined both the latter sentences in red ink.

De Grey reported on October 17, 1941 , - Churchill ticked this para in margin on Oct 18 —

A touch of somewhat macabre humour emerges from the warning recently issued
to Senior Officers that executions were not to be reported by W/T. The order has
been variously interpreted — some report "Action according to the usages or war",
while others report that so many partisans are "dead" — as distinct from "shot".'

He later added that 'There has been noted a pretty consistent demand for Anti-typhoid lymph in
the eastern areas for the inoculation of Police units. It is difficult to know whether these demands
in any way exceed the normal, given the conditions occasioned by war.' [GC&CS German Police
Section, [Nigel] de G[rey], 'German Police, Oct 17, 1941 (PRO file HW.1/148).]

CX/MSS/1071/T6. On June 9, 1942 'Most Secret, Chefsache, Nur durch Offizier' this order was
sent by OKW WFSt Qu Abt. K to Pz Armee Afrika ):

According to reports to hand there are said to be numerous German political
refugees with the Free French units in Africa. The Fiihrer has ordered that the
severest measures are to be taken against those concerned. They are therefore to
be mercilessly wiped out in battle, and in cases where they escape being killed in
battle, a military sentence is to be pronounced immediately by the nearest German
officer and they are to be shot out of hand, unless they have to be temporarily
retained for Intelligence purposes. This order must not be forwarded in writing.
Commanding officers are to be told verbally.

This was passed to General Auchinleck at 5:1 1 p.m., June 12, as MK/6635. Churchill noted next
to the final para, 'C keep for record. WSC 13.vi.' (OKW WFSt QM dept Kalif (Pz Armee Afrika
), Jun 9, 1942, intercept CX/MSS/1071/T6, dated Jun 12, 1942 (PRO file HW.1/643); original
signal is OKW/WFSt/Qu. (Verw.) an PzArmee Afrika iiber Dt General b Obdko d Ital.
Wehramcht, 9.6.1942, FRR Fernschreiben, gKdos, Chefs, NA T3 13/476/4572.]

On October 26, 1942 the codebreakers found Berlin warning Auschwitz to stand by to receive
two visitors from the Fuhrer's Chancellery in Berlin - the agency supervising euthanasia and
various other killing schemes - for a lengthy stay at the camp: they would be setting up an X-ray
sterilisation operation, the radio signal said (this being the method chosen by the S.S. to keep the
Jews from breeding). [EDITOR: Similar techniques had been in use in the U.S.A. for some
time.] (GC&CS German Police Section intercept: Lolling, Amt D III, to Auschwitz, Oct 26, 1942
(PRO file HW. 16/11).]

On October 27, 1942 Sachsenhausen reported that it was shipping to Auschwitz two hundred
Soviet prisoners of war found to have contracted tuberculosis. (GC&CS German Police Section
intercept: KL Sachsenhausen (gez. Liebehenschel) an Amt D III, Oct 27, 1942 (PRO file
HW.16/11).]

After Berlin ordered that all camp fatalities were to be reported, on December 1, 1942
Buchenwald dutifully reported, in their secret code, a total of 134 deaths from natural
causes during November including four Jews . (GC&CS German Police Section intercept: KL
Buchenwald (gez. Hoven) an Amt D III, betr Meldung der Todesf alien von Hdftlingen, Dec 1 ,
1942 (PRO file HW.16/11).]

On December 8, 1942 Dr Wirths reported twenty-seven male and thirty-six female typhus
deaths in Auschwitz during the previous week. (GC&CS German Police Section intercept: KL
Auschwitz, signed Dr Wirths, an Amt D III, btr Stand der Fleckfiebererkrankungen , Dec 8,

During early 1943 the intercepts were found to contain with greater frequency the word
Sonderbehandlung, special treatment, which was evidently a thinly veiled reference [in theory]
to the termination of Germany's enemies. [Re Sonderbehandlung. l In one such message on
January 17, 1943 the chief of police in Kiev reported laconically, 'So far 853 screened and 614
special-treated.' (GC&CS German Police Section intercept GPD1238I/2/4 Jan 18, 1943: BdS
Kiew und Befehlststelle Sipo undSD, Owritsch, to Berlin, Jan 17, 1943 (PRO file HW.16/11).] A
month later a report to the same police chief in Kiev after completion of the anti-partisan sweep
HORNUNG listed the body count as

'(a) enemy dead eighty-two, (b) suspects and special-treated 1,124.'

(GC&CS German Police Section intercept: Bericht an HSSuPfKiew, Gesamtergebnis
Unternehmen Hornung , 1943 (PRO file HW.16/11).]

'German Police, 34/42' signed ACT, July 19, 1942 :

'Eighty British prisoners (Hdftlinge) suitable for employment as 'Capos' are
required for the concentration camp at Auschwitz (Schlesien).'

ACT commented that 'Capos' appear to be overseers or foremen selected from among the
prisoners themselves. (A signal timed June 23, 1942]. (PRO file HW.1/761]

The same report states ('German Police, 34/42' signed ACT, July 19, 1942:], A message from
Himmler to SS Gruppenfuhrer Jedicke, Riga, seems to refer to the abiding quarrel between the
SS and the Army.

"Tell the gentlemen," says Himmler, "that I shall not stand for any special
pleading or explanations of exceptional cases and the like. Moreover, not another
soldier shall enter Weissruthenien; mastery of the situation will be gained there
too. Do everything to carry things through vigorously with the forces at your
disposal."

( July 7, 1942 ). (PRO file HW.1/761).

SS Gruf. Muller to Auschwitz September 10, 1942 , betr Vollzug von Standgerichturteilen. 'Das
von Standgericht Emburg ausgesprochene Todesurteil gegen Walzendreher Eugen Biren,
geboren 6.4.14, ist durch Erschiessen zu vollziehen.'

von der Kanzlei des Fuhrers am Donnerstag den 29.10.1942, 0940 Uhr, vom Bahnhof Mylowitz
abzuholen, undfiir langere Zeit im Lager unterzubringen. Es handelt sich um die
Rontgensterilisation, die nunmehr anlaufen soil. Gleichzeitig wird der Scharfiihrer OLTM als
erster SDG im KL.AU bestatigt. '

Auschwitz, November 9, 1942 , signed Dr Wirths, to Amt D III, btr Stand der
Fleckfiebererkrankungen am 9.11.1942 ; four SS men with Fleckfieber, seit 2.11.92 in der Res
Laz.,Kattowitz eingewiesen; im Manner KZ 37 Fleckfieberverdachtsfdlle, im Frauen KZ 51
Verdachtsfalle . Very few deaths, one man, eight women Abgange durch Tod.

(In a PRO file HW16/9, 'German police reports, unnumbered' are the following:] Report dated
November 24, 1942 , on Police Battalions, their movements, by number, 1 through 325. Report
on Police Regiments Interrogation of SS Hauptscharfiihrer Robert Barth, Austrian. Was member
of Einsatzgruppe D in Russia from June 1941.

[Another report from Auschwitz, November 9, 1942, to Amt D III, btr Fleckfiebererkrankungen
] December 8, 1942 : seit 1.12.42 27 Tote im Mannerlager, 36 im Frauenlager.

On October 27, 1942 KL Sachsenhausen reported Uberstellung von 200 am Tbc erkrankten
sowjetischen Kriegsgefangenen dem KL Auschwitz, gez Liebehenschel.

The PRO file HW.16/11, Extracts from Decodes, German Police Section contains flimsy
original typed copies in German of intercepted signals from ten concentration camps to Amt D
III (Glucks) and from eastern front police units e.g. Sonde rkommando Bragin, engaged in
Bandenbekdmpfung, with typical entries relating to such operations, weapons found, Banditen,
Cetniks, hostages shot, etc., executions of '83 aus politischem Sektor' ; a series of reports of
prisoners including individually named Jews (e.g. Hermann Israel Dingfelder) being shot August
- September 1942 bei Fluchtversuch aus dem Lager Flossenbiirg. Also a report dated December
1, 1942 from Buchenwald to Amt D III, betr Meldung der Todesfallen von Haftlingen, im
November 1942, listing those of naturliche Todesursache , 134 altogether, including 4 Jews (gez.
Hoven).

Fahrgenehmigung signed by Liebehenschel for Lkw for Exekution von 3 polnischen
Zivilarbeitern in Flossenbiirg.

January 18, 1943 GPD1238I/2/4: DRE9 Nr.6 1630 172 SQO ES 2

Ab BdS KIEW und Befehlststelle Sipo und SD, OWRUTSCH

17.1.43, 45 Sonderbehandlung. Bisher 853 uberpruft und 614 sonderbehandelt . ( . . . remainder

corrupt . . .] Von SD BRAGIN (Bragin was a location behind the eastern front].

There is a report on February 19, 1943 to HSSuPf Fuhrungsstab Kiew on Operation
HORNUNG, which includes Gesamtergebnis: A) Feindtote 82, B) Verdachtige und

Grosslager aus iiber 100 kleineren Lagern mit Kampfstdnden und Bunkern.

March 23, 1943 References to Vollstreckung von Todesurteilen gegen Iwan Malomanow, etc,
angeordnet von S.S Obergruppenfiihrer Priitzmann.

MI14(d)/0/161 a 'most secret source' reports on June 3, 1943 on a disappointing lack of chaos
caused by the attacks on German dams in early hours of May 17, 1943 . The Germans, it
seemed, had moved with usual efficiency to repair the damage. By 0950 operational police HQ
Mohne had been set up. Nothing in the intercepts indicated any public disturbance or rioting had
resulted, units were withdrawing on May 21, the few Ruhr bridges which had been closed were
reopened to traffic on May 23 and 24. 'It is perhaps also of interest to note that up to and
including 23 May no message about the dams was reported by the ordinary most secret police
source, although most air raids have been reflected in requests from German policemen on active
service to come home on compassionate leave or, if at home, to have leave extended.' (PRO file,
'German police reports, unnumbered,' file HW16/9).

Hut 3 sent to CSS personal, etc, Inglis, et al in Whitehall, Apr 19, 1945 , intercept
CX/MSS/C.476 (marked and sidelined in green ink: 'Boniface') a signal from SS WVHA,
Amtsgruppe D, Oranienburg, signed Gliicks, SS Grufund GenLtn d Waff en SS Funkspruch dated
April 16, 1945, to HSSuPf Main, SS OGruf und Gen d Pol Dr (Benno] Martin:

'Subject: Flossenbiirg concentration camp. Flossenbiirg has fallen into the enemy's
hands. In other cases the enemy has turned part of the prisoners (many of
them armed) loose on the civilian population.

'Please take the necessary measures from your end and on your responsibility.
The Jewish prisoners must at all costs be transferred to Concentration Camp
Dachau.' [IV. NOT executed? At all costs?]

(Gliicks to Martin, Apr 16; intercept CX/MSS/C.476 sent by Hut 3 to CSS, Inglis, et al., Apr 19,
1945 (PRO file HW.1/3713).]

General Gustave Bertrand's 1973 book Enigma also mentions on pages 117-8 the SS messages
dealing with the executions of Jews. Cooper thinks they were sent in Enigma ORANGE - a
steckered Enigma key, but one often broken by hand methods in Hut Six at this time. 'See
History of Hut ix, vol. ii, page 2.'

Miscellaneous.

referring to Auschwitz in file WO.208/4296.

Interrogations of

• a Polish timber merchant, born 28.2.12, at Birkenau 1.8.43-30.1.44: routine references to
gas chambers but not himself a witness.

• Polish bricklayer, born 20.1.23, at Auschwitz, references to gassings, not a witness

• French student, born 15.1.19, at Auschwitz 4.44 - 27.1.45;

and other such items, all very indeterminate about actual goings-on (as only hearsay).

T