The Holocaust Historiography Project
Auschwitz, by J.-C. Pressac
Document 22
[PMO file BW 30/34, page 100 and annex 5 to Volume II of the Hoess Trial (page 64)]
Document 22

Translation:
[Manuscript] SS Second Lieutenant (Specialist) Kirschnick!
Copy
29th January 1943
Correspondence register no. 22250/43/Bi/L
Subject: Krematorium II. State of construction
Reference: SS WVHA telegram 2648 of 28/1/43
Enclosure: 1 Inspection Report

Head of Amtsgruppen C
SS Lieutenant General and Waffen SS Major General
Dr Ing [Engineer] Kammler

Berlin Lichterfelde West
Unter den Eichen 126-135

Krematorium II has been completed but for minor details, thanks to employing all available forces, despite enormous difficulties and freezing weather, using day and night shifts. The furnaces have been lit in the presence of Herr Chief Engineer Prüfer of the firm responsible for their construction, Topf & Sons of Erfurt, and they function perfectly. Because of the frost, it has not yet been possible to remove the formwork from the ceiling of the corpse cellar. This is of no consequence, however, as the gassing cellar can be used to this end [i.e, as a morgue].

Because the wagons are blocked, Messrs Topf & Sons have not been able to deliver on time the ventilation and air extraction installations as requested by the Bauleitung. These will be fitted as soon as they arrive, so that it is probable that the installation will be entirety ready for service on 20th February 1943.

Please find enclosed a report by the inspecting engineer of Topf & Sons, Erfurt.
Head of the Auschwitz Waffen SS and Police
Central Construction Management

[signed] Bischoff
SS Captain
Distribution:
1 SS Second Lieutenants Janisch and Kirschneck
1 Registration F

or Archives
(signed) Pollok
SS Second Lieutenant (S)