Political Department

The director of the Political Department is always an official of the Gestapo or of the Federal Criminal Police Bureau [Kripo].

He is at the camp Kommandant’s disposal and is responsible for the Political Department.

In carrying out his duties as an official of the Gestapo or the Kripo Main Office, whichever is responsible for a particular concentration camp, he may use suitable members of the Kommandant’s staff as additional assistants.

The director of the Political Department conducts investigations of prisoners by order of the police departments, courts, and the Camp Kommandant.

He is responsible for the prisoner card index and the orderly entry of data in the prison files.

He is also responsible for registering new arrivals and setting up files for them. If any records are missing, he has to demand them.

It is his responsibility to verify the correct dates of prisoner transfers to the various police departments and court dates

In order to make available directors’ reports, he directs the appropriate files to the camp Kommandant and keeps track of the dates for appointments.

When a release has been ordered, he must notify the appropriate police department and carry out the release.

When a prisoner has an accident, he must carry out the investigation.

If an unnatural death has occurred, he must notify the district attorney and demand that a coroner perform an autopsy. In all cases of death, he must notify the closest relative.

He must order the transport of the body to the nearest crematory. If the family of the deceased prisoner wishes to receive the urn containing the ashes, he must direct this to be sent to the cemetery of the home town of the prisoner.

After a prisoner escapes, he must take all necessary steps to have the local police departments take immediate action.

Any change in the status of the prisoner, such as release, transfer, death, and escape must be reported to the appropriate intake officer.

Attached to the Political Department is the Records Department. Every prisoner is listed therein. There must be photographs taken, fingerprints, exact personal data, and complete descriptions for each prisoner, all of which must be included in the prisoner file.