POLES AT AUSCHWITZ

In the early stages of the Auschwitz camp's operation, the functions of Kapos in Kommandos (work details) and Blockälteste were performed almost exclusively by German criminals. Soon it turned out that there were too few of them (by the end of 1940, only 130 German criminals were brought to the camp), especially to fulfill less important positions: foremen (Vorarbeiter), scribes (Schreiber), room orderlies (Stubendienst), nurses (Pfleger) in the hospital, bath attendants (Bademeister), gatekeepers (Pförtner), and night watchmen (Nachtwache). These positions were filled by those Poles who understood a little German and were dedicated to performing their duties, i.e. beating and abusing their fellow inmates. Later, since there were still not enough German prisoners, some Poles began to take over the more important functions of Blockälteste and Kapos. This usually took place by way of a promotion—each time obviously approved by an SS-man. The outstanding Vorarbeiters were promoted to Kapos, and the previous Stubendiensts to Blockalteste. From 1942, initially in the women's camp, some important functions were also fulfilled by Jewish prisoners.

The assessment of the conduct of Polish prisoner functionaries varied greatly after the war, raising numerous controversies. Their attitude was most often assessed negatively, which is not surprising, although many also found defenders among former prisoners who were trying to recall and emphasize the support they had received from them. However, this usually concerned situations in which the use of physical violence by the prisoner functionaries was not required or enforced by the SS-men. There were also prisoner functionaries who selflessly helped their fellow prisoners, or at least did not use their prerogatives in a brutal way. Some even got involved in the resistance movement.

Admittedly numerous descriptions of prisoner functionaries' conduct can be found in the accounts and testimonies of former prisoners, but they are not very helpful when formulating more general opinions. You can always find in the archives any number of testimonies that support almost any thesis, that prisoner functionaries' behavior was bad and shameful, or on the contrary—decent.

All things considered, we can merely try to determine with the help of existing SS documents how many prisoners of different nationalities held more important functions in the camp.

In relation to the block seniors, there is data only about the main camp (Auschwitz I) and from the beginning of 1943. They show that, at that time, Poles (mainly from Silesia and with low prisoner numbers from early transports) outnumbered German and Austrian block seniors.

Much more extensive information on the occupation of various positions in Kommandos can be found in the so-called bonus lists (Prämienscheine). They were given to prisoners "extremely eager to work”, and were in the form of coupons worth 0.50 to several Reichsmarks (RM) for which tobacco or other items of small value could be purchased in the canteen. The payments were decided by SS-men (less often) or Kapos (more often) who approved the list of those awarded by signing with their own signature. Almost all such Prämienscheine have survived for the period from late 1943 to early 1945 for the Kommandos leaving for work from Birkenau, and only slightly fewer for those leaving from Auschwitz I. They show that the highest positions in the camp hierarchy were still held by German prisoners.

When comparing the numbers of functionaries at particular levels of the camp hierarchy it should be noted that virtually all Germans held some kind of a position in Auschwitz, in other words there were no German prisoners doing heavy physical labor. Poles held less prominent positions, while Jews were least likely to receive them. This can be explained in two ways. First of all, the Poles came to the camp first and over time naturally managed to occupy most of the positions available to them. Also, later on, those who could tried to protect their colleagues, acquaintances, or simply other Poles. This process of favoring prisoners of the same nationality in the so-called good Kommandos became more apparent especially in the years 1943–1944. In some of the Kommandos Poles predominated, while in others it was Jews—especially if their compatriots already had a position there. Secondly—officially, according to the camp regulations all prisoners were to be treated more or less the same. However, in practice, SS-men facing the choice of appointing a Polish or a Jewish prisoner of similar suitability and qualifications for a given position would more often chose the former, which according to the SS was probably obvious and, for "racial" reasons, completely justified.

The same Prämienscheine also show that the camp rules described above ceased to be of significance when a Kommando included prisoners who were in a relatively stable situation, and who did not have to fight for survival on a daily basis. In these cases, relations between Poles and Jews were often correct, friendly, and based on the same principles as observed "in freedom" [prior to their imprisonment]: camaraderie, mutual assistance, and understanding of their shared fate. This was the case, for example, in various types of scribes' or construction offices. The Prämienscheine issued for these Kommandos did not bear the signatures of the Kapo (who either did not exist or such a function existed only formally), and all prisoners received bonuses of equal value.