IBM and the Holocaust

by Edwin Black

  27. Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, pp. 39-40, USHMM Library .

  28. Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, pp. 39-40, USHMM Library.

  29. “Die erste Fabrikeinweihung im Jahre 1934,” Der Deutsche, January 9, 1934; photo in Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, p. 14, USHMM Library; Letter, W. D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, p. 2, January 10, 1934.

  30. “Die erste Fabrikeinweihung im Jahre 1934,” Der Deutsche, January 9, 1934; Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, p. 14, USHMM Library.

  31. “Die erste Fabrikeinweihung im Jahre 1934,” Der Deutsche, January 9, 1934; Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, pp. 14, 39-40, USHMM Library.

  32. Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, pp. 13-14, USHMM Library; Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, Jan 10, 1934, IBM Files.

  33. Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, p. 13, USHMM Library.

  34. Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, p. 17, USHMM Library; “Die erste Fabrikeinweihung im Jahre 1934,” Der Deutsche, January 9, 1934.

  35. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, attachment 1, IBM Files.

  36. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files; Connally, p. 28.

  37. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files.

  38. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files.

  39. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files; also see photo in Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, p. 16, USHMM Library.

  40. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files.

  41. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files; also see Edwin Black, The Transfer Agreement: The Dramatic Story of the Pact Between the Third Reich & Jewish Palestine (New York: Macmillan, 1984; Washington, D.C.: Dialog Press, 1999), pp . 368-369.

  42. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files.

  43. Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, p. 27, USHMM Library.

  44. Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, p. 17, USHMM Library.

  45. “Die erste Fabrikeinweihung im Jahre 1934,” Der Deutsche, January 9, 1934.

  46. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934, IBM Files.

  47. Letter, Thomas J. Watson to W. Heidinger, February 26, 1934, IBM Files; also see Denkschrift zur Einweihung der neuen Arbeitsstatte der Deutschen Hollerith Maschinen Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Lichterfelde, January 8, 1934, USHMM Library.

  48. “Die erste Fabrikeinweihung im Jahre 1934,” Der Deutsche, January 9, 1934.

  49. Connally, pp. 20, 35.

  50. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, January 10, 1934.

  51. “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.

  52. “EAM Accounts and Revenue by Industry Class,” January 1, 1937, pp. 1, 2, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  53. “EAM Accounts and Revenue by Industry Class,” January 1, 1937, pp. 1, 2, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; “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.

  54. “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.

  55. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 2-4, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  56. CSDIC, “Secret Report: PW Intelligence Bulletin No. 2/57,” April 25, 1945, pp. 4-17, NA RG226.

  57. Gotz Aly and Karl Heinz Roth, Die restlose Erfassung: Volkszahlen, Identifizieren, Aussondern im Nationalsozialismus (Berlin: Rotbuch Verlag, 1984), p. 23; also see Handbuch fur das Deutsche Reich 1936, NA RG242, A3345-B Roll 172, Frames 7-253.

  58. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 2-4, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; IBM Corporation, Kleine Chronik der IBM Deutschland, 1993.

  59. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 2-4, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  60. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 8, 15-18, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  61. “Report to Associates of Dehomag,” October 6, 1936, IBM Files.

  62. “Die Glaubensjuden im Dritten Reich,” Statistik des Deutschen Reichs 415/5 (1936): 8 cited in Aly and Roth, p. 57.

  63. “Letter of Resignation of James G. McDonald to Secretary General of the League of Nations,” December 27, 1935, FO 371/19918; “Reich Adopts Swastika As Nation’s Official Flag; Hitler’s Reply to ‘Insult,’” NYT, September 16, 1935.

  64. “Die Glaubensjuden im Dritten Reich,” Statistik des Deutschen Reichs 415/5 (1936): 8 cited in Aly and Roth, p. 57.

  65. “Letter of Resignation of James G. McDonald to Secretary General of the League of Nations,” December 27, 1935, FO 371/19918; “Reich Adopts Swastika As Nation’s Official Flag; Hitler’s Reply to ‘Insult,’” NYT, September 16, 1935; “Die Glaubens juden im Dritten Reich,” Statistik des Deutschen Reichs 415/5 (1936) cited in Aly and Roth, pp. 56, 57.

  66. Handbuch fur das Deutsche Reich 1936, NA RG242, A3345-B Roll 172, Frames 7-253. Also see “Anleitung zur Ausfuellung der standesamtlichen Zaehlkarten ueber Eheschliessungen, Geburten und Sterbefaelle, November 1938,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, pp. 1-4, Appendix; “Vom Statistischen Landesamt an die bayerischen Standesaemter, 1934,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, no page numbers; “Handbuch fuer das Deutsche Reich, 1936,” NA College Park, RG 242, A3345-B-172, frames 7-253; “Vorschlag zur Erfassung des im RuS-Hauptamt ruhenden erbwissen - schaftlichen und bevoelkerungspolitischen Materials, November 11, 1941,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6.

  67. Handbuch fur das Deutsche Reich 1936, NA RG242, A3345-B Roll 172, Frames 7-253. Also see “Anleitung zur Ausfuellung der standesamtlichen Zaehlkarten ueber Eheschliessungen, Geburten und Sterbefaelle, November 1938,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, pp. 1-4, Appendix; “Vom Statistischen Landesamt an die bayerischen Standesaemter, 1934,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, no page numbers; “Handbuch fuer das Deutsche Reich, 1936,” NA College Park, RG 242, A3345-B-172, frames 7-253; “Vorschlag zur Erfassung des im RuS-Hauptamt ruhenden erbwissen - schaftlichen und bevoelkerungspolitischen Materials, November 11, 1941,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6.

  68. Handbuch fur das Deutsche Reich 1936, NA RG242, A3345-B Roll 172, Frames 7-253. Also see “Anleitung zur Ausfuellung der stande
samtlichen Zaehlkarten ueber Eheschliessungen, Geburten und Sterbefaelle, November 1938,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, pp. 1-4, Appendix; “Vom Statistischen Landesamt an die bayerischen Standesaemter, 1934,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, no page numbers; “Handbuch fuer das Deutsche Reich, 1936,” NA College Park, RG 242, A3345-B-172, frames 7-253; “Vorschlag zur Erfassung des im RuS-Hauptamt ruhenden erbwissen - schaftlichen und bevoelkerungspolitischen Materials, November 11, 1941,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6.

  69. Handbuch fur das Deutsche Reich 1936, NA RG242, A3345-B Roll 172, Frames 7-253. Also see “Anleitung zur Ausfuellung der standesamtlichen Zaehlkarten ueber Eheschliessungen, Geburten und Sterbefaelle, November 1938,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, pp. 1-4, Appendix; “Vom Statistischen Landesamt an die bayerischen Standesaemter, 1934,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, no page numbers; “Handbuch fuer das Deutsche Reich, 1936,” NA College Park, RG 242, A3345-B-172, frames 7-253; “Vorschlag zur Erfassung des im RuS-Hauptamt ruhenden erbwissen - schaftlichen und bevoelkerungspolitischen Materials, November 11, 1941,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6.

  70. Handbuch fur das Deutsche Reich 1936, NA RG242, A3345-B Roll 172, Frames 7-253. Also see “Anleitung zur Ausfuellung der standesamtlichen Zaehlkarten ueber Eheschliessungen, Geburten und Sterbefaelle, November 1938,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, pp. 1-4, Appendix; “Vom Statistischen Landesamt an die bayerischen Standesaemter, 1934,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, no page numbers; “Handbuch fuer das Deutsche Reich, 1936,” NA College Park, RG 242, A3345-B-172, frames 7-253; “Vorschlag zur Erfassung des im RuS-Hauptamt ruhenden erbwissen - schaftlichen und bevoelkerungspolitischen Materials, November 11, 1941,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6.

  71. RMBliV (1940): 2121; also see A. Schultze-Naumburg, “Die Tatigkeit der Reichsstelle fur Sippenforschung,” Zeitschrift fur Standesamtwesen 17 (1937): 283 cited in Aly and Roth, p. 70 and n35. Also see “Anleitung zur Ausfuellung der standesamtlichen Zaehlkarten ueber Eheschliessungen, Geburten und Sterbefaelle, November 1938,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, pp. 1-4, Appendix; “Vom Statistischen Landesamt an die bayerischen Standesaemter, 1934,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6, no page numbers; “Handbuch fuer das Deutsche Reich, 1936,” NA College Park, RG 242, A3345-B-172, frames 7-253; “Vorschlag zur Erfassung des im RuS-Hauptamt ruhenden erbwissen schaftlichen und bevoelkerungspolitischen Materials, November 11, 1941,” BA Berlin, NS 48/6.

  72. ZSTAP/M, Rep.77, 343, 1:107 cited in Aly and Roth, p. 37.

  73. Hannah Arendt, Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil (New York: Viking Penguin, Inc., 1963; Penguin Books, 1965), p. 42; Aly and Roth, p. 71; Nuremberg Trial Judgment, Part 7, paragraph 61, www.nizkor.org.

  74. Edgar Schultze, “Die verfeinerte Auswertung statistischer Zusammenhange mit Hilfe des Hollerith-Lochkartenverfahrens,” HN 40 (August 1934): 505-517.

  75. Aly and Roth, p. 100; HN 45 (January 1935): 586-7; CSDIC, “Secret Report: PW Intelligence Bulletin No. 2/57,” April 25, 1945, p. 17, NA RG226.

  76. Aly and Roth, 98; also see Henry Friedlander, The Origins of Nazi Genocide: From Euthanasia to the Final Solution (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1995), p. 27.

  77. F. Zahn, “Vom Wirtschaftswert des Menschen als Gegenstand der Statistik,” ASA 24 (1934/35): 461-464 cited in Aly and Roth, p. 99.

  78. F. Zahn, “Vom Wirtschaftswert des Menschen als Gegenstand der Statistik,” ASA 24 (1934/35) cited in Aly and Roth, p. 99.

  79. Siegfried Koller, “Die Auslesevorgange im Kampf gegen die Erbkrankheiten,” Zeitschrift fur menschliche Vererbungs- und Konstitutionslehre 19 (1935/1936): 257ff cited in Aly and Roth, pp. 99-100, n86.

  80. Aly and Roth, p. 107; also see H. Friedlander, p. 17.

  81. Hermann Kruger, “Das Hollerith-Lochkarten-Verfahren im Fuhrsorgewesen,” HN 47 (March 1935): 614; CSDIC, “Secret Report: PW Intelligence Bulletin No. 2/57,” April 25, 1945, p. 17, NA RG226.

  82. HN 47 (March 1935): 615, 618.

  83. HN 47 (March 1935): 615; see illustration HN 47:2 ub.

  84. HN 47 (March 1935): 615.

  85. HN 45 (January 1935): 588.

  86. HN 45 (January 1935): 588.

  87. HN 45 (January 1935): 586.

  88. HN 45 (January 1935): 620.

  89. Kurt Holm, “Vereinfachung des arztlichen Untersuchungsverfahren und Sammlung der Ergebnisse,” Deutsches Arzteblatt 65 (1935): 113 cited in Aly and Roth, pp. 103-104.

  90. Friedrich Zahn, “Fortbildung der deutschen Bevolkerungsstatistik durch erbbiologische Bestandsaufnahmen , “ ASA 27 (1937/38), 194-195.

  91. Ludwig Hummer, “Die Aufbereitung der Volks- und Berufszahlung 1933 im Hollerith-Lochkartenverfahren,” HN 28 (August 1933): 345; see Schultz, p. 507; see Rudolf Gunzert, “Die Erfassung der personlichen Verhaltnisse und des Berufsschicksals der Arbeitslosen,” HN 42 (October 1934); 555; see “Die Bearbeitung der Arbeitsunfahigkeit einzelner Krankenkassen im Hollerith-Lochkartenverfahren,” HN 45 (January 1935): 588, see Kruger, pp. 614, 616; “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; see Aly and Roth, pp. 23-24, 26, 27, 107-108, 118-119; also see H. Friedlander, pp. 25-27.

  92. H. Friedlander, p. 35; also see BA R22/1933 cited in Aly and Roth, pp. 100-101 and n21.

  93. Zahn, “Fortbildung der deutschen Bevolkerungsstatistik durch erbbiologische Bestandsaufnahmen,” ASA 27 (1937/38): 181.

  94. Connally, p. 7.

  95. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 4, item 7 fn, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  96. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 3, item 6, Appendix A, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  97. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 3, item 6, Appendix A, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  98. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” pp. 3, 4, item 6, Appendix A, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60.

  99. Saul Engelbourg, International Business Machines: A Business History (Arno Press, 1976), p. 127, plus author’s typescript.

  100. “Deutsche Hollerith Maschinen GmbH: Confidential Report 242,” p. 10, submitted by Harold J. Carter, December 8, 1943, Department of Justice, War Division, Economic Warfare Section, NA RG60; also see Letter, W. Heidinger to Associates of Dehomag, October 6, 1936, p. 3, IBM Files.

  101. Dispatch from British Embassy Berlin to Sir John Simon, May 17, 1934, PRO 581; see also Attachment, Deutscher Reichsanzeiger und Preussischer Staatsanzeiger No. 111, May 15, 1934, PRO FO371/17753.

  102. Letter, M.G. Connally to W.F. Battin, September 6, 1934, IBM Files; Black, pp. 104-5; Letter and Cablegram, Thomas J. Watson to H. Rottke, January 16, 1934, IBM Files; Letter, M.G. Connally to W.F. Battin, April 14, 1934, IBM Files.

  103. Letter, M.G. Connally to W.F. Battin, September 6, 1934; see handwritten notation at top of Letter, M.G. Connally to W.F. Battin, April 14, 1935, IBM Files; also see Memorandum, J.C. Milner to W.F. Battin, August 30, 1934, IBM Files; Letter, J.C. Milner to H.K. Chauncey, December 13, 1935, IBM Files.

  104. Letter, W.D. Jones to Thomas J. Watson, September 25, 1933, IBM Files; Letter, F.C. Elstob to W.D. Jones, October 10, 1933, IBM Files.

  105. Letter, F.C. Elstob to W.D. Jones, October 10, 1933, IBM Files.

  106. Letter, W. Heidinger to M.G. Connally, November 14, 1933, IBM Files.

  107. Letter, M.G. Connally to W.F. Battin, May 7, 1934, IBM Files.

  108. Letter, J.T. Wilson to J.E. Holt, November 21, 1934, IBM Files.

  109. Board Meeting Deleted Minutes, June 10, 1934, IBM Files.

  110. Memorandum, W. Heidinger to Associates, October 6, 1936, IBM Files.

  111. Letter, Thomas J. Wat
son to Dr. Otto Kiep, April 24, 1934, IBM Files; Letter, Thomas J. Watson to K. Hummel, December 7, 1934, IBM Files; Letter, K. Hummel to Thomas J. Watson, December 14, 1934, IBM Files; Notarized Contract, IBM and W. Heidinger, June 23, 1934, IBM Files.

  112. Emerson W. Pugh, Building IBM: Shaping an Industry and Its Technology (Cambridge: The MIT Press, 1995), pp. 249-250.

  113. Connally, pp. 30-32.

  114. Abstract from Final Decision and Injunction 9th Chamber for Commercial Affairs, Provincial Court, Ref No. 409.0.18.34, April 18, 1934, IBM Files.

  115. Abstract from Final Decision and Injunction 9th Chamber for Commercial Affairs, Provincial Court, Ref No. 409.0.18.34, April 18, 1934, IBM Files.

  116. Reports, Dehomag to IBM, November 16, 1934, IBM Files.

  117. BA R43II/720a cited in Aly and Roth, p. 101; Aly and Roth, pp. 10, 98.

  118. FAAK materials, circa 1936-37, Rheinisch-Westfalisches Wirtschaftsinstitut, RWWA, 130-4001483/0.

  119. ASA 24 (1934/35): 138 cited in Aly and Roth, p. 70.

  120. “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; also see Aly and Roth, p. 70.

  121. See covers of HN 42 (October 1935).

  V: A NAZI MEDAL FOR WATSON

  1. “The Party: Marching Through Nuremberg During the Great Review,” NYT, September 15, 1935; see photos, NA RG242, Items 242-HB-15046, 242-HB-15039a36, 242-HB-15039a56, 242-HB-15039a77; also see photo, RG242, Item 242-HB-15039a65, 242-HB-15026a11, 242-HB-15046, 242-HB-15037; “Hitler Hails the Spade,” NYT, September 13, 1935.

  2. Photo, NA RG242, Item 242-HB-15014M; Item 242-HB-15046; Item 242-HB-15012; “The Party: Marching Through Nuremberg During the Great Review,” NYT, September 15, 1935.

  3. “Reich’s New Army Shows Its Power to Nazi Leaders,” NYT, September 17, 1935; “Text of Hitler’s Speech to Reichstag at Nuremberg,” NYT, September 16, 1935.

  4. Raul Hilberg, The Destruction of the European Jews (New York: Quadrangle Books; Harper Colophon, 1979), p. 58.