IBM and the Holocaust

by Edwin Black

  19. Letter, SS-Major Dreher to Inspector for Statistics, November 30, 1942, BA NS 48/6; “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 4, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; Cablegram, W.C. Lier to H.K. Chauncey, July 14, 1941, IBM Files; “Tool-machines Already Ordered for the Sindelfingen Factory,” December 1, 1937, pp. 1-3, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; “Vorschlage zur Erfassung dos im RuS-Hauptamt ruhendan erbweissenschaftlichen und bevolker ungsspolitschen Materials,” November 11, 1941, p. 2, BA NS 48/6.

  20. “Vorschlage zur Erfassung dos im RuS-Hauptamt ruhendan erbweissenschaftlichen und bevolkerungsspolitschen Materials,” November 11, 1941, p. 2, BA NS 48/6.

  21. “Vorschlage zur Erfassung dos im RuS-Hauptamt ruhendan erbweissenschaftlichen und bevolkerungsspolitschen Materials,” November 11, 1941, p. 2, BA NS 48/6.

  22. “Vorschlage zur Erfassung dos im RuS-Hauptamt ruhendan erbweissenschaftlichen und bevolkerungsspolitschen Materials,” November 11, 1941, p. 2, BA NS 48/6.

  23. Letter, SS-Major Dreher to Inspector for Statistics, November 30, 1942, BA NS 48/6.

  24. “Demands of CEC,” circa June 1944, pp. 1, 4, 5, NA RG242 T73, Reel 8, RmfRuK/173, Frames 1057532, 1057535, 1057536; Letter, Maschinelles Berichtwesen to Herbst, August 3, 1944, NA RG242, T-73 Reel 8, RmfRuK/173; List of Machines in Contract of German Military High Command, September 5, 1941, NA RG242, T73 Reel 11, Frames 1057616-1057617; also see Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, August 20, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  25. Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, August 20, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files; James Connally, History of Computing in Europe (IBM World Trade Corporation, circa 1967), pp. 33, 34; see Letter, W.C. Lier to H.K. Chauncey, October 10, 1941, pp. 6, 7, IBM Files; “CEC I.B.M. Subsidiary in France: Confidential Report 332,” p. 2, submitted by Harold J. Carter, April 10, 1944, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; Groupe Bull Chronology perso.club-internet.fr/febcm/english/chronoa3.htm, pp. 1-2.

  26. Memorandum, H. Albert to H.K. Chauncey, circa Fall 1940, pp. 3-4, IBM Files.

  27. Memorandum, H. Albert to H.K. Chauncey, circa Fall 1940, p. 4, IBM Files.

  28. Memorandum, H. Albert to H.K. Chauncey, circa Fall 1940, pp. 3-4, IBM Files.

  29. Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, August 20, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  30. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  31. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  32. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  33. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  34. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, pp. 1-2, IBM Files.

  35. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  36. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, pp. 2-3, IBM Files.

  37. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 5, IBM Files.

  38. Transcript of August 19, 1940 Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, circa November 21, 1940, p. 5, IBM Files.

  39. Memorandum, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, March 10, 1941, pp. 1, 4, 5, IBM Files; Letter, W.C. Lier to Harrison K. Chauncey, October 10, 1941, pp. 8-9, IBM Files.

  40. Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, August 20, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files; Bruce Clements, From Ice Set Free: The Story of Otto Kiep (New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1972), p. 162; Dehomag Meeting Minutes, August 31, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  41. Letter and Attachment, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, August 20, 1940, IBM Files.

  42. Typescript Notes, H.K. Chauncey, December 19, 1940, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, “Program,” October 20, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  43. Letter Attachment, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, August 20, 1940, IBM Files; Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  44. Radiogram, P. Taylor to Thomas J. Watson, August 19, 1940, IBM Files; Letter, J.C. Milner to P. Taylor, July 15, 1940, IBM Files; Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, September 12, 1940, IBM Files; Telephone Message Transcript, H.K. Chauncey to P. Taylor, September 30, 1940, IBM Files.

  45. Memorandum, H. Albert to IBM NY, circa Fall 1940, p. 7, IBM Files.

  46. Memorandum, H. Albert to IBM NY, circa Fall 1940, p. 8, IBM Files.

  47. Memorandum, H. Albert to IBM NY, circa Fall 1940, p. 9, IBM Files.

  48. Telephone Message, P. Taylor to IBM NY, September 30, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files; Transcript of Conversation between H.K. Chauncey and K. Hummel, circa 1940, p. 3, IBM Files; Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, August 20, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  49. Telephone Message, P. Taylor to IBM NY, September 30, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files; Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, September 12, 1940, IBM Files.

  50. Transcript, Telephone Message, P. Taylor to IBM NY, September 30, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  51. Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, September 12, 1940, pp. 1-2, IBM Files; Memorandum, H. Albert to IBM NY, circa Fall 1940, IBM Files.

  52. Draft Letter, Thomas J. Watson to Dr. Hjalmar Schacht, circa 1937, p. 2, IBM Files.

  53. Letter, P. Taylor to F.W. Nichol, September 12, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  54. Memorandum, H. Albert to IBM NY, circa Fall 1940, p. 7, IBM Files.

  55. Memorandum, H. Albert to IBM NY, circa Fall 1940, p. 8, IBM Files; Confidential Memorandum, H. Albert to H.K. Chauncey, circa December 1940, p. 8, IBM Files; Letter, G.H. Hackworth to IBM NY, June 8, 1943, cited in “S.A. Watson Italiana: Confidential Report 287,” Appendix A, p. 2, submitted by Harold J. Carter, February 21, 1944, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  56. H.B. Fellinger, Enclosure 1, July 10, 1945, IBM Files; H.B. Fellinger, Enclosure 2, July 14, 1945, IBM Files; Memorandum, H. Albert to IBM NY, circa Fall 1940, pp. 11-14, IBM Files.

  57. H.B. Fellinger, General Report, August 8, 1945, pp. 1, 5, 6, IBM Files.

  58. Transcript of Conversation between H.K. Chauncey and K. Hummel, circa 1940, IBM Files.

  59. H.J. Carter, “Memorandum for the Files,” May 16, 1944, pp. 2-3, Department of Justice War Division Economic Warfare Section NA RG 60; H.J. Carter, “Control in Business Machines,” circa Spring 1943, p. 8, Department of Justice War Division Economic Warfare Section NA RG60.

  60. Affidavit, R.A. Virgile, August 8, 1944, NA RG242 Frame 1053876; see H.B. Fellinger, Enclosure 7, August 4, 1945, pp. 1-3, IBM Files; Draft of contract between MB and CEC, circa 1940, NA RG242, T-73 Reel 11 RmfRuK/297.

  61. Connally, pp. 31, 42, 44.

  62. “Justice in 2 Weeks Seen by Boro Expert,” Brooklyn Eagle, August 28, 1940, NA RG59, 740.00119 European War 1939/497; Letter, W.G. Wilson to City Editor, September 6, 1940, NA RG59, 740.00119 European War 1939/497; Letter, T.J. Watson to W. Ross, September 6, 1940, NA RG59, 740.00119 European War 1939/497; Letter, T.J. Watson to Cordell Hull, September 6, 1940, NA RG59, 740.00119 European War 1939/497; Letter, P.T. Culbertson to T.J. Watson, September 16, 1940, NA RG59, 740.00119 European War 1939/497; Letter, Adolf A. Berle, Jr., to J.E. Hoover, September 18, 1940, NA RG59, 740.00119 European War 1939/497. See Letter, M.F. Perkins to Cordell Hull, October 5, 1940, NA RG59, 164.12/2778; also see Letter, Cordell Hull to Stockholm, September 11, 1942, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  63. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 27, 1937, NA RG59, 711.0012 AntiWar/1521; Letter, Cordell Hull to Thomas J. Watson, May 3, 1937, NA RG59, 711.0012 AntiWar/1521; see Letter, F.W. Nichol to Cordell Hull, October 21, 1938, NA RG59, 123C11/574; Letter, H.M. Cochran to Cordell
Hull, August 26, 1937, p. 2, NA RG59, 651.003/715.

  64. Letter, M. Cochran to Cordell Hull, August 26, 1937, p. 2, NA RG59, 651.003/715; Letter and Reply Letters, W.A. Burton to Harry C. Hawkins, September 20, 1937, NA RG59, 611.60F31/311; see Letter, U.S. Embassy Moscow to Cordell Hull, September 21, 1936, NA RG59, 661.1115 Amtorg Trading Corp./175; also see Letter, Frederick P. Hibbard to Cordell Hull, September 28, 1938, pp. 1-2, NA RG59, 160/1400.

  65. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to Cordell Hull, February 12, 1937, NA RG59, 600.00171/369.

  66. Letter, Loy W. Henderson to Cordell Hull, September 21, 1936, State Department No. 1906, NA RG59 661.1115 Amtorg Trading Corp./175 and Attachments; Letter and Attachments, Thomas J. Watson to Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 27, 1937, NA RG59, 711.0012 Anti-War/1521.

  67. H.M. Cochran to Cordell Hull, August 26, 1937, NA RG59, 651.003/715; Report, W.A. Burton to Harry C. Hawkins, September 20, 1937, NA RG59 611.60F31/311.

  68. Report No. 543, Frederick P. Hibbard to Cordell Hull, September 28, 1938, pp. 1-2, NA RG59.160/1400; Report No. 494 and Attached Enclosure, Francisco Ugarte to Cordell Hull, September 30, 1938, NA RG59.352.115/365.

  69. Letter, F.W. Nichol to Cordell Hull, October 21, 1938, NA RG59.123C11/574.

  70. Report No. 35, Florence J. Harriman to Cordell Hull, September 23, 1937, p. 2, NA RG59 032/1065; Report, Fletcher Warren to Cordell Hull, June 14, 1938, pp. 2-3, NA RG59, 660N.00171/1.

  71. Letter, Harry A. Havens to Frances Munos, May 3, 1943, NA RG59 125.840H3/ 5-345.

  72. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, IBM Files.

  73. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, pp. 1, 2, 4, IBM Files.

  74. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, pp. 1, 2, IBM Files.

  75. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, p. 3, IBM Files.

  76. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, pp. 2-3, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, “Program,” October 20, 1940, pp. 5-6, IBM Files; “Memorandum Regarding Conversations Relating to the Interest of IBM in Dehomag,” circa Winter 1941, pp. 1, 2, IBM Files; “Memorandum on Dehomag,” circa 1940, pp. 1-2, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, Memorandum on Heidinger, circa 1940, IBM Files.

  77. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, pp. 2-3, IBM Files.

  78. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, p. 3, IBM Files.

  79. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, p. 3, IBM Files.

  80. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, October 2, 1940, pp. 3-4, IBM Files.

  81. H.K. Chauncey, “Program,” October 20, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  82. “Chauncey Departs from La Guardia,” Business Machines, October 31, 1940, IBM Files.

  83. “Chauncey Departs from La Guardia,” Business Machines, October 31, 1940, IBM Files; “Hadassah Backs Fight of Britain,” NYT, October 31, 1940; “50,000 French Jews Hit by New Decree,” NYT, October 8, 1940; “Vichy Drafts Plan to Deal with Jews,” NYT, October 2, 1940; “Beating of Aliens Laid to Iron Guard,” NYT, October 22, 1940; “The International Situation,” NYT, October 28, 1940.

  84. “Chauncey Departs from La Guardia,” Business Machines, October 31, 1940, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, “Program,” October 20, 1940, p. 10, IBM Files; Transcript, Telephone Conversation between H.K. Chauncey and J.G. Phillips, January 31, 1940, p. 4, IBM Files.

  85. “Chauncey Departs from La Guardia,” Business Machines, October 31, 1940, IBM Files; Connally, p. 44.

  86. H.K. Chauncey, Potential Memorandum for Dr. Albert and Dr. Kiep, January 1, 1941, IBM Files; Letter, H.K. Chauncey to Thomas J. Watson, December 13, 1940, pp. 1, 2, IBM Files.

  87. H.K. Chauncey, Potential Memorandum for Dr. Albert and Dr. Kiep, January 1, 1941, IBM Files.

  88. H.K. Chauncey, Typed Running Notes, January 1, 1941, IBM Files.

  89. H.K. Chauncey, Typed Running Notes, circa November 1, 1941, IBM Files.

  90. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, pp. 1, 2, IBM Files.

  91. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, pp. 2, 3, IBM Files.

  92. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, pp. 2, 3-4, IBM Files.

  93. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, pp. 4, 6, IBM Files.

  94. Cablegram, Thomas J. Watson to J.E. Holt, March 31, 1939, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, “Program,” October 20, 1940, pp. 3, 4, 6-7, IBM Files.

  95. Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, pp. 4-8, IBM Files.

  96. H.K. Chauncey, Typed Running Notes, December 17, 1940, p. 4, IBM Files; Memorandum, H. Albert to H.K. Chauncey, circa 1941, p. 2, IBM Files; William L. Shirer, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1960), p. 259; Notes, H.K. Chauncey to W. Heidinger, p. 1, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, Notes on Conversation with Dr. Kimlich, January 30, 1941, IBM Files; Cablegram, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, pp. 1-2, IBM Files.

  97. H. Albert, Memorandum and Handwritten Notes, circa December 1941, pp. 4-5, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, “Memorandum of Conversation with Dr. Veesenmayer,” circa December 1940, IBM Files.

  98. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, pp. 4-5, IBM Files.

  99. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 1, IBM Files.

  100. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 3, IBM Files.

  101. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, pp. 1-2, IBM Files.

  102. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files.

  103. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 3, IBM Files.

  104. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 3, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, Typed Running Notes, December 17, 1940, p. 6, IBM Files.

  105. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 4, IBM Files.

  106. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 5, IBM Files.

  107. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, p. 5, IBM Files.

  108. SS Personnel Identity Card of E. Veesenmayer, NA RG242 A3343-SSO; Lichterfelde Map, NA RG169, entry 128; H.K. Chauncey, “Memorandum of Conversation with Dr. Veesenmayer,” circa 1940, IBM Files; Letter, H.K. Chauncey to IBM NY, November 29, 1940, pp. 4-5, IBM Files; State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, p. 16, NA RG165, 390/35/15/07, entry 179; also see Gerald Reitlinger, The Final Solution: The Attempt to Exterminate the Jews of Europe, 1939-1945 (Beechhurst Press, Inc., 1953; New York: Perpetua, 1961), pp. 417, 419; Raul Hilberg, The Destruction of the European Jews (New York: Quadrangle Books, Inc., 1961; Harper Colophon Books, 1979), pp. 436-437, 453, 458, 471, 513, 526-528, 530-533, 541, 543, 547-554; Memorandum, H. Albert to H.K. Chauncey, circa December 1940, p. 18, IBM Files; Letter, E. Veesenmayer to Chief of SS-Personnel Main Office, December 18, 1944, NA RG242 A3343-SSO; see Letter, E. Veesenmayer to Reichsfuhrer SS, November 1, 1940, NA RG242 A3343-SSO; also see Letter, E. Veesenmayer to Reichsfuhrer SS, July 1935, NA RG242 A3343-SSO; also see Letter, SS-Obersturmfuhrer to E. Veesenmayer, May 13, 1942, NA RG242 A3343-SSO.

  109. Handwritten Biography from E. Veesenmayer’s SS Personnel file, NA RG242 A3343-SSO; State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, pp. 1, 2, 16, NA RG165 Entry 179.

  110. State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Wilhelm Keppler, October 23, 1944, pp. 5-6, 7, 8, 10, NA RG165 Entry 179.

  111. State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, p. 3, NA RG165 Entry 179.

  112. State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, p. 2, NA RG165 Entry 179; also see Hilberg, Destruction of the European Jews, p. 436 and Reitlinger, p. 417.

  113. State D
epartment Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, pp. 2, 4, NA RG165 Entry 179.

  114. State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, pp. 5-6, NA RG165 Entry 179; Telegram, Seyss-Inquart to Minister Schmidt, March 11, 1939, p. 2, NA NG 5135, p. 2; Hilberg, Destruction of the European Jews, p. 458.

  115. State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, pp. 8, 11, NA RG165, 390/35/15/07, Entry 179.

  116. State Department Special Interrogation Mission, Interrogation of Dr. E. Veesenmayer, October 5, 1945, p. 9, NA RG165, 390/35/15/07, Entry 179; also see SM, Library, Facts, srpska-mreza.com/library/facts; Ruth Mitchell, The Serbs Choose War (New York: Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc., 1943), pp. 254, 255; also see “The Ustashi in Croatia Support Hitler,” North Park University, Department of History WebChron, East Europe, campus.northpark.edu/history/WebChron//EastEurope/Ustashe.html; also see “Serbian Prelate Charges Killing of 180,000 in Nazi Invaded Croatia,” NYT, January 3, 1942.

  117. H.K. Chauncey, “Memorandum of Conversation with Dr. Veesenmayer,” circa 1940, IBM Files.

  118. H. Albert, Unmarked Typed Note, circa 1940, IBM Files.

  119. Memorandum to H.K. Chauncey, January 16, 1941, IBM Files; Letter, H.K. Chauncey to Thomas J. Watson, p. 1, December 13, 1940, IBM Files.

  120. Letter, H.K. Chauncey to Thomas J. Watson, p. 3, December 13, 1940, IBM Files; Memorandum, H.K. Chauncey to H. Albert, p. 2, December 23, 1940, IBM Files.

  121. Connolly, p. 44; Jan Van den Ende, Knopen, kaarten en chips. De geschiedenis van der au-tomatisering bij het Centraal Bureau voon de Statistiek (Amsterdam: CBS, 1991), p. 53; H.B. Fellinger, General Report, August 8, 1945, p. 3, IBM Files; Letter, H. Albert to H.K. Chauncey, circa December 1940, pp. 7, 14, IBM Files; H.B. Fellinger, Enclosure 6, Supplement I, July 25, 1945, p. 4, IBM Files; H.B. Fellinger, Enclosure 5, July 30, 1945, p. 1, IBM Files; Transcript, “Resume of Telephone Conversation between W.C. Lier and W. Borel of the CEC on October 14, 1941, at 10 A.M. and 4 P.M.,” pp. 1-2, IBM Files; H.K. Chauncey, Typed Running Notes, December 17, 1940, p. 2, IBM Files; Transcript, H.K. Chauncey Interview with K. Hummel, circa November 1940, p. 7, IBM Files; “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 1, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; Paraphrase of Telegram Received, American Legation Stockholm to Secretary of State, April 30, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.