The programme of annihilation implemented by the Third Reich not only included the Jews and nations of the East, but also Gypsies, who ‘should be removed from Europe as a worthless race’. In February 1943, the commandant of Auschwitz received a teletype from Reich Security Main Office Department V, called the Reich Criminal Police Office. The text announced the imminent arrival of many thousands of Gypsies. It stressed that these Gypsies ‘should for the time being not be treated like the Jews’.

… They were accommodated in a Birkenau sector called the Gypsy camp. Detailed instructions arrived later, in March, in the form of letters, sent by express post in red-bordered envelopes. According to these letters, the Reichsführer ordered all Gypsies, ’regardless of the extent to which they were of mixed race’ to be sent to work in concentration camps. The only exceptions stated Gypsies and Gypsy half-breeds with permanent places of residence, socially adapted and regularly employed. But this clause only existed on paper and was never applied in practice. Such Gypsies were the easiest to arrest and therefore made up the largest percentage of Gypsies held in the concentration camps. Girls working as stenographers in Wehrmacht units, OT employees, music conservatory students or others with regular employment and worked honestly for years suddenly found themselves in a concentration camp with shaven hair, tattooed prisoner numbers and wearing blue and white striped garments. But that was not enough, the madness went further. Hundreds of soldiers were withdrawn from the front, quite unaware of their mixed racial background, ordered to take their uniforms off and sent to the concentration camp, only because they had just 12 percent or even less Gypsy blood in them. One day they were awarded the Iron Cross and other distinctions for valour, the next they were called ‘asocial’ and imprisoned behind the barbed wire of Auschwitz. This would not have happened if the secret orders had been carried out. Gypsy half-breeds serving with distinction as soldiers should have been spared and not sent to the camps if they agreed to be sterilized. But most were not even asked and simply arrested. They were all told they were going to be sent to a Gypsy village. Letters concerning this matter sent from the Reich Criminal Police Office and the Reich Central Office for combating ‘the Gypsy scourge’ were signed by criminal counsellor Otto, Dr Ritter and Bohlhoff.

Some 16,000 Gypsies were transported to Auschwitz. After several months, already more than a third of them were victims of a typhus epidemic. The intention was to destroy the Gypsies, but in all probability, Berlin was frightened by the boldness of its own plan and for a long time postponed the final solution. The ultimate decision was made in July 1944. Himmler ordered all those considered to be fit for work to remain in the camps and for the rest to be gassed. Families were divided. Those of mixed race and sent to work never again saw or heard of their parents and children. This action against the Gypsies was even too much for some of the SS personnel in Auschwitz. They would meet people they knew from their hometowns and could not understand why excellent, proven soldiers, through no fault of their own, only because of a certain property, had to be imprisoned in a camp without any hope of being released. In specific, especially drastic cases applications were sent to the Reich Central Office for the release of given individuals, and in very general terms they pointed to discrepancies between the order and its implantation. But reluctance to admit that orders were not followed, made the criminal police reject these applications.

In particular cases regarding highly decorated individuals, permission to be released was granted on condition these individuals were subjected to sterilisation. But virtually no one could be persuaded to agree to this since the Institute of Hygiene sterilisation methods were known all too well, and stories circulated about multiple fatalities among those subjected to experiments. Others refused to be released because they wanted to be with their wives and children remaining in the camp, or because, their families were brought into the camp shortly after they were granted the right to be released.

I am unable to say how many Gypsies or people of mixed race were held in Auschwitz. I only know they filled a camp sector intended for 10,000 inmates completely. Generally, conditions in Birkenau were not suitable for the setting up of a family camp. There were no suitable conditions for holding the Gypsies, even if only until the end of the war. It was not possible to provide the children with appropriate nutrition, even though, by referring to an order of the Reichsführer SS, I was able to deceive the Reich food offices and acquire nutrients for the infants. This soon ended when the Ministry of Food forbade the allocation of any food for children in concentration camps. …

In August 1944, some 4,000 Gypsies destined for the gas chambers still remained in Auschwitz. Right up to the last moment they did not know what awaited them. They only became aware as they were made to march in groups towards crematorium I. It was not easy to make them enter the gas chamber. I did not see it myself, but Schwarzhuber told me that any liquidation of the Jews was not so difficult as the liquidation of those Gypsies. Especially because he knew each of them so well, was on good terms with them, and they were trustful like children.

Despite the difficult conditions, as far as I could tell, most of the Gypsies did not suffer psychologically from their imprisonment, if we ignore the fact that they were restrained from their natural compulsion to roam. They were accustomed to cramped spaces, poor hygiene and partly also malnourishment due to their previously primitive lifestyle. Nor did they take seriously the diseases and high mortality. As a matter of fact, they were still like children, carefree in all their actions and thoughts, always willing to play also during work, as they did not treat it too seriously. Even in the worst situations they tried to see the bright side and be optimistic.

I never noticed a Gypsy who looked gloomy or hateful. When you came to the camp, they would immediately come out of their barracks, play instruments, tell their children to dance and play their usual tricks. There was this small square where the children were free to play with all the toys. When you spoke to them, they replied freely and trustfully, they expressed their various wishes. I had the impression they were not fully aware of their imprisonment.

In relations with each other they were quite belligerent. This results from differences between families and tribes, as well as hot Gypsy blood, always prone to arguing. Within individual clans they were remarkably close. When clan members were selected as being fit enough to work, there followed touching scenes of tears and suffering as families were divided. But they could be calmed a little by being told they would all later be together again.

For a time, Gypsies fit for work were held in the Auschwitz main camp. They did everything so that from time to time they could see their families, at least from afar. During roll call we often had to search for younger Gypsies who, missing their families so much, secretly slipped over to the Gypsy camp.

… It would have been interesting to observe the way they lived and behaved if I had not seen the terrible order of destruction about which from mid-1944 only I and the doctors knew. …