Concentration Camp Dachau – A Detailed Report on the Prisoner Classes in the Camp – California, 1970

Concentration Camp Dachau – A Detailed Report on the Prisoner Classes in the Camp – California, 1970

Dachau Concentration camp - O.S.Section U.S. Seventh Army California, 1970 – A Detailed Report on the Power Relations Between Prisoners and SS Commanders in the Camp, and Among the Prisoners Themselves - compiled from countless sources gathered over the years into a clear picture of the impossible reality in hell on earth. Rare – printed in only a few copies.

"There are no words or images that can fully convey the impact of these unbelievable scenes, but this report presents some of the most striking facts and images to highlight the kind of crime that SS perpetrators committed thousands of times each day, to remind us of the horrific capabilities of certain groups of human beings, and to strengthen our resolve that they and their deeds will vanish from the earth." (From the introduction).

A detailed report on the lives of prisoners in Dachau, based on an investigation into daily conditions in the camp. This report focuses on the internal organization of the camp,  "Many reports are currently being written, which, once completed, will provide a full picture of Dachau concentration camp. This report primarily deals with one aspect of life in Dachau: the camp’s internal organization, testimonies of self-governance among prisoners, and the emergence of special controlling and oppressive groups, as well as the position of various social, political, and national groups within this structure." The report analyzes the categorization of prisoners according to their origin and the varying treatment they received based on their Nazi-defined "status" (e.g., "Red" political prisoners, "Green" criminal prisoners, etc.). It also explains the control mechanisms imposed on prisoners, both by high-ranking SS officers and by prisoners appointed to various roles, as well as the methods of punishment carried out within the camp.

The report was written in 1970 after an extensive collection of testimonies regarding the functioning of the Arbeitseinsatz—the labor allocation office. This office was effectively responsible for assigning work duties, thereby determining the fates of prisoners. For example, a prisoner assigned to agricultural labor received better food rations and could occasionally smuggle food into the camp, unlike forced laborers inside the camp, who had almost no opportunity to acquire extra food due to strict SS surveillance. 

One of the most revealing facts uncovered in the report is that when American troops entered Dachau on the evening of April 30, they found an "International Prisoners’ Committee" (IPC) operating in the camp. This committee held complete control over the prisoners’ fate and was the highest prisoner authority within the camp. Most of its members fled during the Allied liberation battles, along with prisoner collaborators who had cooperated with the SS and were themselves guilty of abuse and murder. The report details the workings of this committee, showing how in an instant, it could decide a prisoner’s fate—life or death.

Additionally, the report uncovers the transport methods of those executed to the crematoria, and how the Nazis attempted to erase traces of their crimes in the process. It also investigates the connection between local residents and the camp, questioning how much they knew about what was happening inside. After the war, the commission interrogated countless residents living near the camp, and the grim reality that emerged was that they knew exactly what was happening—they even smelled the stench of burning bodies daily—but, out of fear of SS threats, they took no action and kept silent.

The second part of the report focuses on the camp’s operations during its liberation by the Allies, an analysis of the facilities that came into view upon liberation, and additional insights into the camp’s functions.

The report is accompanied by harsh photographs of prisoners who perished, as well as emaciated survivors as they appeared on the day of Dachau’s liberation.

67 pages. Very good condition.