IBM and the Holocaust

by Edwin Black

  107. Aly and Roth, p. 11.

  108. Aly and Roth, p. 80.

  109. Letter, H. Rottke to Thomas J. Watson, December 6, 1939, IBM Files.

  110. Dehomag Profit Statement, circa spring 1940, IBM Files.

  VIII: WITH BLITZKRIEG EFFICIENCY

  1. “How Hitler Has Changed the Map of Europe,” NYT, June 2, 1940.

  2. “Center of Rotterdam Devastated After Its Commander Surrendered,” NYT, May 21, 1940; “Nazi Newsreel Shows Rotterdam in Flames,” NYT, May 23, 1940; “Brussels Is Raided,” NYT, May 10, 1940.

  3. “Terrors’ of Nazis Related by Benes,” NYT, June 3, 1939; “Big Haul for Nazis in Dutch Invasion,” NYT, May 16, 1940; “Transport of Jews in Stettin Reported,” NYT, February 14, 1940; “Jewish Camp Set Up,” NYT, September 30, 1939; “New Deportations of Jews,” NYT, January 21, 1940; “Conscript Labor Put at 2,500,000 in Reich,” NYT, February 2, 1940; “500 Jews Allowed to go to Slovakia,” NYT, February 22, 1940; “Nazis Said to Remove Lublin Ghetto Plan,” NYT, February 27, 1940; “Poles Charge Nazis Aim to End Nation,” NYT, April 3, 1940.

  4. “Poland Protests German ‘Horrors,’” NYT, December 3, 1939; “Refugees Are Pouring Into England and France with Harrowing Tales,” NYT, May 13, 1940; “Big Haul for Nazis in Dutch Invasion,” NYT, May 16, 1940; also see L. DeJong, Het Koninkrijk in de Tweede Wereldoorlog, Vol. 3: Ma 1940, pp. 498-501 (’s Gravenhage: 1970).

  5. “Jews Said to Face Famine in Poland,” NYT, November 6, 1939; “Fears for Polish Jews,” NYT, January 22, 1940.

  6. “Jews in Cracow Move to Ghettos,” NYT, March 16, 1940.

  7. H.B. Fellinger, Enclosure 3, July 14, 1945, IBM Files; Letter, Thomas J. Watson to H. Rottke, September 13, 1939, IBM Files; Letter, Dutch Consulate to Commission of Mobility of Law in War Time, December 4, 1940, DNA RG2.06.09 Box 7; see Letter, J.G. Phillips to Dutch Consulate U.S., September 17, 1940, and Letter, Dutch Consulate U.S. to Commission of Law in War Time, June 20, 1941, DNA RG2.06.09 Box 7; Letter, Commission of Mobility of Law in War Time to Dutch Consulate U.S., July 12, 1941, DNA RG2.06.09 Box 7; Letter, J.G. Phillips to Dutch Consulate, June 10, 1941, and see Letter, Commission of Mobility of Law in War Time to Dutch Consulate, April 16, 1941, DNA RG2.06.09 Box 7; also see Memorandum to Files Re: Application NY-203330, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  8. “Butler Sees Navy as Force for Peace,” NYT, May 5, 1940.

  9. “Foreigners Study in Company School,” NYT, May 9, 1940.

  10. “IBM Group Holds Busman’s Holiday,” “They Are All Coming on 12 Special Trains,” NYT, May 13, 1940; Thomas J. Watson, Jr., and Peter Petre, Father, Son & Co.: My Life at IBM and Beyond (New York: Bantam Books, 1990), p. 84; “IBM Employees Dine,” NYT, May 14, 1940; “Program for Today at World’s Fair,” NYT, June 23, 1940; see Letter, F.W. Nichol to Cordell Hull, April 15, 1939, NA RG59 811.607.

  11. “They Are All Coming on 12 Special Trains,” “IBM Group Holds Busman’s Holiday,” NYT, May 13, 1940.

  12. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 1, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  13. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 1, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  14. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 1, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  15. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 1, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  16. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 1, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  17. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 2, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  18. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 2, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  19. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, pp. 2, 4, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  20. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 2, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  21. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, pp. 2-3, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  22. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 3, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  23. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 3, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  24. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, Attachment, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  25. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 6, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; see “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 2, IIA, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  26. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  27. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; Walther Lauersen, “Organisation und Aufgaben des Maschinellen Berichtwesens des Reichministers fur Rustung und Kriegsproduktion,” December 5, 1945, pp. 3-4, BA R3/17a; “Conscript Labor at 2,500,000 in Reich,” NYT, February 2, 1941.

  28. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 2, IIA, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  29. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  30. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; Secret German Police Activities, Summary 4, p. 7, April 1940, PRO HW16/3.

  31. Summary of Enemy Economic Developments #90, Ministry of Economic Warfare, June 4, 1940, p. 12, Item 61, PRO FO 337/440.

  32. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  33. Summary of Economic Developments #90, Ministry of Economic Warfare, June 4, 1940, p. 12, Item 65, PRO FO 337/440; H.J. Carter, Draft Interview Notes with J.W. Schotte, June 14-16, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; see Lauersen, p. 15, BA R3/17a fol.1.

  34. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Minis
tries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; see CSDIC, “Secret Report: PW Intelligence Bulletin No. 2/57,” April 25, 1945, section III, p. 13, NA RG226.

  35. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; see CSDIC, “Secret Report: PW Intelligence Bulletin No. 2/57,” April 25, 1945, section III, pp. 12-13, NA RG226; “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” IIA, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  36. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 5, Attachment, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  37. Lauersen, p. 15, BA R3/17a fol.1.

  38. “Machines as of September 30, 1940,” IBM Files.

  39. “Machines as of September 30, 1940,” IBM Files.

  40. “Confidential Report on Our Dealings with War Ministries of Europe,” J.W. Schotte to L.H. La Motte, circa spring 1940, p. 2, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; H.B. Fellinger, General Report, August 8, 1945, p. 2, IBM Files.

  41. Letter, IBM to H.K. Chauncey, October 20, 1941, RG60; see CSDIC, “Secret Report: PW Intelligence Bulletin No. 2/57,” April 25, 1945, section III, pp. 12-13, NA RG226.

  42. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; Pugh, p. 48: H.J. Carter, Draft Interview Notes with J.W. Schotte, June 14-16, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  43. Connally, pp. E-9-E-15; “Monthly Average Card Cost and Selling Price Per Country, Three Months Ended March 31, 1939,” Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60. Letter, J.G. Phillips to Netherlands Consulate General, September 17, 1940, DNA RG2.06.09 Box 7; H.J. Carter, Draft Interview Notes with J.W. Schotte, June 14-16, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG 60.

  44. J.W. Schotte, War Memorandum, April 1940, pp. 2-4, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; NA RG242, T-73 Reel 8; Summary of Enemy Economic Developments #90, Ministry of Economic Warfare, June 4, 1940, p. 12, PRO FO 337/440.

  45. NA RG242, T-73 Roll 8.

  46. NA RG 242 T-73 Roll 8; Hummer, “Die Aufbereitung der Volks- und Berufszahlung 1933 im Hollerith-Lochkartenverfahren,” Hollerith Nachrichten (HN) 28 (August 1933): 343; Bohlerwerk Card is author’s copy; also see BA NS 48/6.

  47. Bohlerwerk Card is author’s copy.

  48. BA NS 48/6.

  49. Hummer, p. 345; Lauersen, p. 15, BA R3/17a fol.1; “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 3-4, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; Rudolf Lawin, “Die Auszahlung einer Wohnungsbestandsaufnahme im Hollerith-Verfahren,” HN 58 (February 1936): 773; “Reich Housing Law segregates Jews,” NYT, May 5, 1939.

  50. Rassenamt and Heiratsamt Cards, BA NS 48/6; Hummer, p. 345; Bohlerwerk Card is author’s copy; “Report on Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 9, submitted by Harold J. Carter, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, December 8, 1943, NA RG60.

  51. “Card featuring POWs,” NA RG 242, T-73, Reel 8.

  52. “Card featuring POWs,” NA RG 242, T-73, Reel 8.

  53. “Card featuring POWs,” NA RG 242, T-73, Reel 8.

  54. CSDIC, “Secret Report: PW Intelligence Bulletin No. 2/57,” section III, p. 13, NA RG226; “Oral Testimony of Jean-Frederic Veith,” The Avalon Project: Nuremberg Trial Proceedings, Vol. 6, January 28, 1946, www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon; schematic drawings, NA RG 242, T-73, Reel 8, Frames 1053289 and 1053381.

  55. Dehomag Calculation of Bonus on Profits, February 16, 1940, IBM Files.

  56. Letter, W.A. Pithie to F.C. Elstob, April 22, 1940, IBM Files.

  57. “$5,996,482 Earned on Office Machines,” NYT, July 26, 1940.

  58. Transcript, American Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, April 29, 1940, Hagley Accession 1960, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Box 9, pp. 405, 410-412; “Van Zeeland Tells Business Key Role,” NYT, April 30, 1940; “They Are All Coming on 12 Special Trains,” NYT, May 13, 1940.

  59. Transcript, American Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, April 29, 1940, p. 405, Hagley Accession 1960.

  60. Gallup Question, circa spring 1940, USGALLUP.051940.RK02B.

  61. Letter, Cordell Hull to Thomas J. Watson, May 20, 1940, IBM Files; FBI, File No. 65-205, January 13, 1941, NA RG59 862.20211.

  62. Letter, Cordell Hull to Thomas J. Watson, May 20, 1940, IBM Files.

  63. “$3 Million for Dutch Relief,” NYT, May 24, 1940.

  64. “Sales School Is Opened,” NYT, July 15, 1936; Connally, p. E-9; FBI, File No. 65-205, June 6, 1940, January 13, 1941, and attached material, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60 862.20211; “Leaders of Bund Indicted in New Jersey,” NYT, October 12, 1940; “Nazis Aid Protesters,” NYT, October 11, 1940; “Says Bund Mapped Wall St. Hangings,” NYT, October 5, 1940.

  65. FBI, File No. 862.20211, June 6, 1940, pp. 1-4, NA RG59 862.20211; FBI, Case Report, File No. 65-290, Karl Georg Ruthe, January 18, 1940, October 11, 1940, NA RG59 800.20211; FBI, Case Report, File No. 65-721, Karl Georg Ruthe, October 2, 1940, NA RG59 800.20211; FBI, Case Report, File No. 65-6344, Karl Georg Ruthe, February 13, 1941, NA RG59 800.20211.

  66. FBI, Case Report, File No. 65-290, Georg Ruthe, October 11, 1940, April 8, 1941, NA RG59 800.20211; FBI, Case Report File No. 65-205, NA RG59 862.20211.

  67. Letter, F.W. Nichol to Sumner Welles, June 10, 1940 NA RG 59 800.20211.

  68. FBI, Case Report, File 65-290, Georg Ruthe, April 8, 1941, p. 2, NA RG 59 800.20211.

  69. FBI, Case Report, File 65-290, Georg Ruthe, October 11, 1940, pp. 1, 2, April 8, 1941, NA RG59 800.20211.

  70. FBI, Case Report, File 65-290, Karl Georg Ruthe, October 2, 1940, p. 1, October 11, 1940, p. 1, NA RG59 800.20211.

  71. Letter, F.W. Nichol to Sumner Welles, June 10, 1940, NA RG59 800.20211.

  72. Letter, F.W. Nichol to Sumner Welles, June 10, 1940, NA RG59 800.20211.

  73. FBI, Case Report, File 65-721, Karl Georg Ruthe, October 2, 1940, NA RG 59 800.20211.

  74. “200 Planes Drop 1,100 Bombs on Paris,” NYT, June 4, 1940.

  75. “‘Better Learn German,’ Nazi Says to a Brazilian,” NYT, June 4, 1940.

  76. “Refugee Describes Netherland Dread,” NYT, June 7, 1940; “French Admit Loss,” NYT, June 7, 1940; “From the European Cauldron,” American Hebrew, June 7, 1940.

  77. “1937 Hitler Decoration Is Returned by Watson,” NYT, June 7, 1940; William Rodgers, Think: A Biography of the Watsons and IBM (New York: Stein and Day, 1969), p. 127.

  IX: THE DEHOMAG REVOLT

  1. Letter, H. Rottke to W. Heidinger, June 10, 1940, IBM Files.

  2. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, IBM Files; Telephone Message, P. Taylor, August 19, 1940, IBM Files; Volkischer Beobachter, June 9, 1940, cited in Letter, H. Rottke to W. Heidinger, June 10, 1940, IBM Files.

  3. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, p. 2, IBM Files; Letter, H. Rottke to Thomas J. Watson, June 10, 1940, pp. 1, 2, IBM Files; Telephone Message, P. Taylor, August 19, 1940, IBM Files.

  4. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, p. 2, IBM Files; Memorandum, H.K. Chauncey to Thomas J. Watson, March 2, 1941, IBM Files.

  5. Protocol, Dehomag Board Meeting, July 15, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files; Letter, Dehomag to P. Taylor, July 15, 1940, IBM Files. />
  6. Protocol, Dehomag Board Meeting, July 15, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  7. Protocol, Dehomag Board Meeting, July 15, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  8. Protocol, Dehomag Board Meeting, July 15, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files; Letter, Dehomag to P. Taylor, July 15, 1940, IBM Files.

  9. Letter, Dehomag to P. Taylor, July 15, 1940, IBM Files.

  10. Letter, Dehomag to P. Taylor, July 15, 1940, IBM Files.

  11. Letter, Dehomag to P. Taylor, July 15, 1940, IBM Files.

  12. Minutes, Dehomag Shareholder Meeting, July 29, 1940, pp. 2, 3, IBM Files.

  13. Minutes, Dehomag Shareholder Meeting, July 29, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  14. H.J. Carter, Draft Interview Notes with J.W. Schotte, June 14-16, 1943, p. 20, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; “Aus der Geschichte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft,” Hollerith Nachrichten (HN) 55 (November 1935): 730; also see Bradley E. Schaefer, “Conjunctions That Changed the World,” Sky & Telescope Magazine, 1998, p. 33.

  15. Memorandum, H.K. Chauncey, December 17, 1940, IBM Files; Transcript of August 19, 1940, Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 3, IBM Files.

  16. Minutes, Dehomag Shareholder Meeting, July 29, 1940, pp. 2, 3, IBM Files.

  17. Summary of Enemy Economic Developments, #110, Ministry of Economic Warfare, p. 9, October 22, 1941, PRO FO/837/441; H.J. Carter, Draft Interview Notes with J.W. Schotte, June 14-16, 1943, p. 9, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 1, 4, 6, 9, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; “Inventory of Card Printing Machinery in Foreign Countries of December 1941,” circa 1942, p. 37, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; “CEC Quarterly Report, Fourth Quarter 1942,” Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  18. Cablegram, W.C. Lier to H.K. Chauncey, July 14, 1941, IBM Files; “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 6, 8, 10, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; H.J. Carter, Draft Interview Notes with J.W. Schotte, June 14-16, 1943, p. 9, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.