Verzeichnisse - memories

Effenkammer occupied the block No 26, and then a barrack located between the blocks No 25 and 26. There was the main office and disinfection residing on the ground floor of the block No 26, and the barrack hosted a warehouses of civil belongings of prisoners. There were files of those items kept in the office, together with records of valuable belongings, e.g. watches, rings and wedding rings. After disinfection, the items were packed into bags and deposited. At the beginning I would carry the bags as a novice. One time, the chief of Section of prisoners' personal effects (Gefangenen-Eigentumsverwaltung)  SS-Oberststurmfürer Theodor Krätzer demanded to have a signboard prepared, and they were looking for someone who could do it. I learnt technical lettering at school so I volunteered for that task. The chief liked the signboard that I prepared, and I was moved to fill in files in the office.

Henryk Szklarz (No 1132)

Effektenkammer's duties comprised of formalities connected with arrivals of new prisoners, as well as releasing them from the camp. Apart from that, storage of belongings, valuable items and clothes of prisoners incarcerated in the camp.

            Actually, the prisoners deported to the camp were taken to the Effektenkammer at once. The first action was to ascribe camp numbers. Afterwards, it was ordered to give away the valuable items, rings, watches, etc. together with IDs and other documents. When the newly arrived handed them, and after they were recorded in the file, the SS man often performed revisions. After that, the prisoners approached tables, where personal details were filled in, and the items taken away were deposited. The prisoners obtained pieces of paper with their numbers on, and moved to undressing rooms, where while naked, they packed all items into a bag, attaching the piece of paper with a number to it. Since April 1943, the numbers were tattooed on a left forearm. Afterwards, the newly arrived prisoners' hair was cut, they went to a bath, and the prisoners from a clothes warehouse (Beklaidungskammer) gave them prisoner clothes.

            Civil items, placed in the bags, were disinfected, and then transferred to a warehouse at the attic. (…)

            Releases also had to go through the Effektenkammer. (...) An SS man from the Political Department, brought in the prisoners, who were to be released. The prisoners went to take a shower, they shaved, their hair was cut. The SS man was waiting for them. After dressing up in the civil clothes, earlier prepared and returned to them, and being given the documents and valuable items from the deposit, the SS man took them "to the gate". (…)

            In case of death, if the prisoners came from the Reich, the items were sent to their families as "Nachlas". While in case of the General Government's prisoners, the items were stored in a warehouse.

Adam Stapf (No 3704)