Transfer of Factories from the Warsaw Ghetto

Georg Michalsen Testimony

Georg Michalsen, a member of Globocnik’s Aktion Reinhardt, was questioned about his activities in the Warsaw Ghetto, where he was responsible for overseeing the transfer of firms from Warsaw to the Lublin area:

“I can make the following statements regarding the prior history of the Stroop mission and the intention to transfer the enterprises to the camps in the district of Lublin: with the ending of the actions of the summer of 1942, my relations to Warsaw had been discontinued.

I was most delighted that this matter came to an end for me, and after my return to Lublin, I contacted SS- Hauptsturmfuhrer von Mohrenschildt to get away from Commando Hofle.

And it did occur that I got to the administrative office of the Reichskommissar. Despite all that, I received the order from Globocnik to take care of the transfer of the Warsaw enterprises to the district of Lublin. Globocnik had a great personal interest in taking over these enterprises in his district because he had great economic interests.

I cannot tell with certainty whether this was around October of 1942 but I believe that was the right time. In any case as far as I remember, it was still in 1942, namely towards the end of the year. Globocnik ordered me to find suitable quarters. I cannot remember today if I got this order personally.

In any case, I was present when the camp at Poniatowa was selected, it is possible that Globocnik himself came along, but I do not remember this. When we were there to inspect the camp at Poniatowa, it was completely empty and only one team of guards was present which protected the camp.

This camp belonged to the Wehrmacht.”

Michalsen recalled his time in Warsaw during the ghetto revolt:

“On the following day, which was the second day of the Action, Stroop commanded that I should refrain from any involvement because it was only a disturbance because of the “stupid firms.

On the following day the wire came from Krakow and I was ordered back to Lublin. Stroop initiated this recall. As early as on the second day of the action I telephoned Globocnik and told him that I practically was de-commissioned here, and whether I should come back. Globocnik gave me the order to stay in Warsaw.

On the next morning which was the third day of the Action, he (Globocnik) came to Warsaw by car and negotiated with Stroop.

I was not present during this conference and therefore, do not know what was discussed during that between Stroop and Globocnik. After that I went back to Lublin with Globocnik, but not in the same car, it was the same day, meaning the third day of the Action.

It is correct that at the beginning of the Stroop Action I still took care of a transfer of Toebbens Jews to Poniatowa, which means that one more transfer of the firm of Toebbens to Poniatowa left Warsaw.

As far as I remember, this was on the second day of the Action, meaning on April 20. If H. states that this transfer to Poniatowa only left on 21 April, this is also possible. It must have been during the morning because in the afternoon of that day I had already driven back to Lublin.

 
Read the full article here:
http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/economics/warsawtransfer.html

The Holocaust Education & Archive Research Team

www.HolocaustResearchProject.org


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