General remarks
To a greater extent than the Auschwitz transports of autumn 1942, the spring transports of 1943 had the character of extermination transports, accentuated above all by the fact that they were composed for the most part of older and less able-bodied persons, who were not eligible for employment , and were therefore destined to be gassed immediately upon arrival at Auschwitz.
Whether or not related to the composition and size of these transports, it is in any case worth mentioning a secret order (the only one of this nature known) from the head of the "Reichs Sicherheits-Hauptamt", ordering the deportation of 45,000 persons of Jewish blood, of which 3000 from the Netherlands, in the period from 11 to 31 January 1943. This order was complied with by the "Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei" in the Netherlands by removing 5 transports, respectively. on 11, 18, 23 and 29 January 1943 from Westerbork and on 22 January 1943 from Apeldoorn ("Apeldoornsche Bosch transport"), a total of 3594 persons. Afterwards, 4 more transports departed from Westerbork during this period. on 2, 9, 16 and 23 February 1943, together comprising 4283 persons.
Composition of the transport of 11 January 1943
Number of deportees ……………………………..……….. 750 (M: 346 and F: 404)
Persons over 50 years ……………………………………... 391 (M: 161 and F: 230)
Children under 16 years ……………..……………..……… 71 (M: 71 and F: 29)
Persons employed 16-50 years ……………….…..….. 288 (M: 143 and F: 145)
Number of survivors……………………………….…....….… 8 (M: 4 and F: 4)
According to statements by survivors, the men and women were separated immediately after the arrival of this transport at Auschwitz, and the usual selections then took place, with a number of people from both groups deemed "fit for work" being selected for employment. The remainder were loaded onto trucks and shipped to Auschwitz. taken to the gas chambers.
Men.
The number of men employed must have been slightly more than 80, but could have been as high as 90 at most. From the lists of letters received here in this country and from the administrative data of the "Krankenbau" (hospital) of Auschwitz and Monowitz, the names of 68 employees are known (including 3 survivors; a fourth died during the transport to Auschwitz before reaching the German fled the border). Their ages range from 17 to 51 years. However, the number of men aged 16 to 50 is 143, so without the above-mentioned refugee 142, i.e. 52 more than the above-mentioned number of 90 men who can be designated for employment and 74 more than the number of 68 employed persons who is known by name. The dates of death of a total of 16 matriculated persons are known, of which in January 1943: 1; February: 7; March: 5; April: 1; May: 1 and in June 1943: 1.
Taking into account these data and the maximum lifespan of the male camp inmates of Auschwitz in 1942 and 1943, which can be set at 3 to 4 months, it is possible for the men who were among those employed, insofar as nothing further is known about them. the final date of death is set as 30 April 1943.
Women.
According to the unanimous statement of 3 surviving women (a total of 4 have returned), 40 young women were selected for employment during the selection on arrival. Of the known employees, the youngest was 19, the oldest 34 years old. Since one of the surviving women further states with certainty that there were no young girls aged 16 and 17 among those employed, nor any women over 35 years of age, it is assumed that the age limits observed during the selection were 18 to 35 years.
The total number of women in this age group was 65, which figure, considering that women who had young children with them, and some weak or sick-looking women, one of whom is known by name, were immediately sent to the gas chamber, the stated number of 40 employees is fairly consistent. From these employees, 4 were selected for the experimental block, of whom 3 returned and 1 died of typhoid in the experimental block (date of death known). The remaining 36 women, only 1 of whom has returned, are employed in Birkenau.
Dates of death are not known with certainty. However, it appears from the statements of one of the survivors that this group of women lived under very poor conditions and quickly became extinct. In this context, taking into account the statistically determined maximum lifespan of those employed in general, these women have also been assumed to have died no later than 30 April 1943, unless it appears otherwise individually.
Summary: conclusion about the “spring transport” of 11 January 1943:
Men
The men, who had reached the age of 16 on the day of arrival at Auschwitz (i.e. on January 14, 1943), but were not yet 51 years old, are considered to have died in the Auschwitz-complex, unless individually known otherwise, no earlier than 14 January 1943 and no later than 30 April 1943. All other men belonging to this transport are, unless individually known otherwise, considered to have died on or about 14 January 1943 in Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Women
The women, who had reached the age of 18 on the day of arrival at Auschwitz (i.e. on January 14, 1943), but were not yet 36 years old, are, unless individually known otherwise, considered to have died there no sooner than 14 January 1943 and no later than 30 April 1943. All other women belonging tot his transport, as well as children, are, unless individually known otherwise, considered to have died on or about 14 January 1943 in Auschwitz-Birkenau
Source: the Archives of the Dutch Red Cross, Publication "Auschwitz IV", deportation transports in 1943, published October 1953, page 21 Chapter 2 sub 1 General comments; page 22 sub 2 and page 23 overview of transport composition; page 24 paragraph 3 separate transports sub a the transport of 11 January 1943; page 63 Appendix I, summary of the conclusions of the spring transport of 11 January 1943.