The Use of Forced Laborers in German Factories During WWII

During World War II, the German factories in Europe relied heavily on forced labor to sustain their wartime industries. This practice extended beyond prison and concentration camp inmates, mainly targeting individuals from German-occupied countries, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Ukraine. The exploitation of human labor was widespread, driven by the severe shortage of skilled and unskilled workers.

Widespread Forced Labor Practices

The use of forced laborers was extensive, primarily targeting concentrated camp inmates, Jews, political prisoners, and Poles and Czechoslovakians. Speer, the German Minister of Armaments and War Production, was well aware of the labor shortage and voiced his concerns over the extermination of Jews, a move he believed would significantly limit his workforce.

The estimated cost of the German V-weapons, V-1 and V-2, was approximately 40 billion US dollars in 2015, more than the Manhattan Project that produced the atomic bomb. The production of V-2 rockets alone required the construction of 3225 rockets, each costing about 100,000 Reichsmarks or around GB￡237,000 in 2011.

Contribution to War Efforts

The V-1 and V-2 rockets demanded an immense labor force to build and launch. This labor came from various sources, including concentration camp prisoners who had a reputation for brutality. General Hans Kammler, an engineer who constructed concentration camps like Auschwitz, was particularly known for his harsh tactics and initiated the use of concentration camp prisoners as slave laborers in the V-2 program. The labor force was crucial in manufacturing the V-2 rockets, and many more died in this process than in the deployment of the rockets themselves.

Concentration Camp Workers and Underground Factories

The workers in concentration camps were a vital part of the war effort, especially for the production of V-2 rockets and the construction of hidden factories. For example, in Ukraine, women and even young girls as young as ten were sent to work in German factories. The huge bunker at the Sophie-Scholl-Schule in Berlin was built entirely by female labor from Ukraine, highlighting the extent of their exploitation.

Despite the presence of over 11 million individuals in concentration camps, the Nazi regime did not fully utilize this workforce for maximum industrial benefit. Women, for instance, were not introduced into the workforce to the same extent as in other countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States. Even in concentration camps, the use of labor was piecemeal and inefficient.

Conclusion

The use of forced laborers in German factories during World War II was a dark chapter of history. It underscores the severity of the labor shortage and the lengths to which the Germans went to sustain their war efforts. The exploitation of human labor, particularly from concentration camp inmates and occupied territories, played a crucial role in the production of weapons and other essential war supplies. This practice highlights the unethical and inhumane methods employed during this period of global conflict.