ABSTRACT
The company D reduced the piece work rates in the lathe shop, the paint shop, and for the boiler makers without having previously informed the workforce. This produced a storm of protest and work came to a halt as groups of workers met to discuss the issue. The works manager charged furiously through the plant ordering people to resume work. When this had no effect, he shouted to the workers: ‘Go and see the Trustee, he ordered the reduction’. He vanished and phoned the Gestapo which came at once. There were informers among those involved in discussions who denounced to the Gestapo those stirring up opposition. Twenty-two workers were arrested and taken to the Brown House in Görlitz. The other workers were threatened with immediate dismissal and transfer to forced labour in the event of repetition. In the meantime 8 out of 22 have been released. They did not, however, return to the factory but had to go to fortification works in the West.
