Organization and peculiarities

„KZ prisoners commandeered to work for the company occasionally received extra, performance-related rations or bonusses from Siemens during their work times. Reports on the type and amount of these vary greatly though“ (Feldenkirchen 2003, 174 ). „These bonusses were given to about 900 prisoners“ (Strebel, 409). The bonusses consisted of clothing such as „shirts, trousers and shoes“ (ebd.).

„The wages paid to the agencies were lower than those of comparable German workers, so companies were able to calculate additional profits out of this. This theoretically calculated higher profit however had a very small real effect, as the war offices only allowed a proven amount of own costs plus an agreed upon profit margin to be entered into the balances“ (Feldenkirchen 2003, 174 ).

The piecework wage at the time was at RM (Reichsmark) 0,80 but Siemens only had to pay the SS RM 0,30. The profit margin appeared too high for people in power, which led to a general increase of the wages for prisoners, who had no benefit from this increase as they had no means of purchasing essentials of life (Krause-Schmitt, p. 40)