GENERAL CONCLUSION regarding the death of men, who were sent from Auschwitz to Warsaw.
A general conclusion, which can be drawn in advance, concerns the men who were transferred from Auschwitz to the destroyed ghetto in Warsaw in 1943 to carry out rubble clearance work. It can be further stated the men in question, who belonged to various Westerbork-Auschwitz transports of 1943 (very few from 1942), but for the most part to the transports of 31 August, 7 September and 19 October 1943, together with many foreigners, left Auschwitz in four contingents, (on 7 and 8 October and 26 November 1943, and a last group in December 1943), but that all and the first two groups were immediately transported directly to Warsaw (arrival 9 and 10 October respectively).
SOME MORE PARTICULARS
The transports of 31 August and 7 September 1943 (Westerbork-Auschwitz), of which, after selection on arrival, most of the men considered fit for work to carry out rubble clearance work, were transferred to the ghetto in Warsaw; a number of women however were put to work at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
The transport each numbered around 1000 persons and, with the exception of the Vught transport of 15 November 1943, also show relatively little difference in terms of their overall composition, as can be seen from the table below, which also lists the numbers of survivors for the sake of orientation:
Depart Wbk Ch:<15y M:16-50y W:16-50y M+W>50y Total Survived M W
31-08-1943 160 268 381 195 1004 5 0
07-09-1943 170 264 338 215 987 5 3
The general rule also applies to transport during this period that young children, (up to 15 years), mothers with children, pregnant women, as well as weak, sick and elderly persons, (usually above years), either immediately upon arrival, or after being in so-called “quarantine” for several weeks, were murdered by gassing.
MEN: For the treatment of this transport, reference will suffice to the Warsaw conclusions (Chapter I, paragraph 3 – sub II) – (see top of page).
WOMEN: According to the statements of the three survivors, a number of the women were selected for employment. The estimates range from 100 to 150, while the selection limit is indicated: 16 to 40 years. In view of the foregoing, it can be assumed that women aged 16 to 40 who did not have children aged 15 or younger with them survived the selection.
About 30 nurses and a "doctoress" were selected for the "Krankenrevier". These groups had a relatively good chance of survival. Insofar as they have survived for a considerably longer period of time after their selection, it must be assumed that their existence is evidenced by statements made by survivors and that their deaths can be determined individually .
If this does not appear, it must be assumed that they have suffered the fate of the other women selected for work who are employed in Birkenau . According to what is known about this from statements by women from other transports, their work was very hard, in connection with which the maximum life span of these women is estimated to be little more than 2 months. On the basis of this it can be assumed that they, barring exceptions, had died no later than 30 November 1943.
All other women, including the children, must be deemed to have died on or about the day after their arrival at Auschwitz, i.e. on or about 10 September 1943. The three returned women had a privileged position: one as a nurse, one as a writer in a camp office, and the third as a musician in the camp orchestra.
SUMMARY of the conclusions of the transports of 31 August and of 7 September 1943.
Men 1e): All men who belonged to the two transports mentioned next, who had reached the age of 16 on the day after their arrival at Auschwitz (i.e. on 2 and 10 September 1943 respectively), but were not yet 51 years old, are, unless individually known otherwise, presumed to have died in Warsaw not later than 31 March 1944.
2e): All other men who belonged to the transports mentioned in the second paragraph, unless otherwise known individually, are presumed to have died in Birkenau on or about 3 September 1943 (the transport of 31 August 1943) and on 10 September 1943 (the transport of 7 September 1943).
Women 1e): All women who belonged to the transport of 7 September 1943, who had reached the age of 16 on the day after arrival at Auschwitz (i.e. on 10 September 1943), but were not yet 41 years old, and had no children with them, are, unless individually known otherwise, presumed to have died in or in the vicinity of Auschwitz-Birkenau, no earlier than 10 September 1943 and no later than 30 November 1943.
2e): All other women, as well as the children, who have belonged to the transports mentioned below, are, unless individually known otherwise, presumed to have died in Birkenau, respectively on or about 3 September 1943 (the transport of 31 August 1943) and on 10 September 1943 (the transport of 7 September 1943).
Source: Parts of the publication by the Dutch Red Cross of October 1953, Auschwitz volume IV; among others from Chapter I, paragraph 3, sub II, pages 11 and 12; Chapter III – autumn transports between 24 August and 16 November 1943, paragraph II, pages 43, 44 and page 45 sub 3; pages 54 and 55 and the summery on page 67.