TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT I20I-PS

Copy. '
[in red pencil] 54 1/ Berlin, den 20.2.42
Rue III Z St
Az. i k 32/510 Wi Rue Amt/Rue III Z St
[in red pencil] Secret! Notation for the Files
Subject: Lecture of Ministerial Director Dr. Mansfeld, Deputy General for the Mobilization of Labor [Arbeitseinsatz] on general questions regarding the Mobilization of Labor Committment.
Time:
19 Febr 42, 10.00 hours Place:
Reich Chamber of Economy Present:
[Reichswirtschaftskammer]
From Wi Rue Amt KVR Dr. Grotius
The present difficulties in the Mobilization of Labor [Arbeitseinsatz] would not have arisen, if one had decided in time on a
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generous employment [Einsatz] of Russian prisoners of war. There were 3.9 million Russians available of whom there are only 1,1 million left. 500,000 Russians died between Nov. 41 and Jan. 42 alone. The number of Russian prisoners of war employed at present (400,000) can hardly be increased. Whenever the typhus-cases decrease, there may be a possibility to bring 100,000 to
150,000 more Russians into the economy.
Compared to that, the employment of Russian civilians is gaining over greater importance. There are all together 600,000 to 650,000 Russian civilians available, 300,000 of whom are skilled industrial workers, and 300,000 to 350,000 for agriculture. The employment of these Russians is exclusively a question of transportation. It is insane, to transport these laborers in open or closed unheated box cars, merely to unload corpses at the destination. '
8 to 10,000 Russian civilians who are very excellent workers come to Germany every week. They command good practical knowledge, work with precision and at a. speed which can not always be kept up by german laborers.
The nutrition-question presents special difficulties. The Russians are fed and clothed well when they arrive and have to be kept physically in a condition which enables them to work. Therefore after a conference with the Secretary of the State BACKE, the rations of the Russians are to be improved.
[pencilled notation]
BDc Gotha
matters concerning Russian prisoners of war.