SOBIBÓR - Holocaust Handbooks

J. GRAF, T. KUES, C. MATTOGNO, SOBIBÓR 139
tial average of 69.4 kg to 52.6 kg at the end of the period. On average
they lost 16.8 kg or 24.4%, split up in the following manner: 411
� Water: 37% of total loss or 6.2 kg
� Proteins: 9% of total loss or 1.5 kg
� Fat: 54% of total loss or 9.1 kg
As we have seen above, the heat loss brought about by the loss of
1.5 kg of proteins is the equivalent of the heat necessary to evaporate
(1.5×5.5=) 8.2 kg of water, whereas the 9.1 kg of fat lost would have
evaporated (9.1×9.6=) 86.3 kg of water, for a total of 94.5 kg of water.
Since body water dropped by only 6.2 kg during the emaciation
process, the negative effect of the loss of fat and proteins is enormous,
corresponding as it does to the heat of vaporization of (94.5 – 6.2 =)
88.3 kg of water.
In other words, the loss of 6.2 kg of body water saves some
6.2×(640+0.493×700) � 6,100 kcal in terms of fuel requirements, as
opposed to a loss of available fuel of (9.1×9,500+1.5×5,400) � 94,500
kcal caused by the loss of body fat and proteins. This results in a negative
balance of some 88,400 kcal, the equivalent of 23 kg of dry wood.
In conclusion it may be said that, even though the average weight of
the deportees may actually have been lower 412 than the values computed
above, this would not have brought about any benefit as far as the thermal
balance is concerned; on the contrary, it would have constituted a
disadvantage, as it would have raised the fuel requirements.
5.3.6. Factors Influencing the Cremation
Available information on the burning of carcasses tells us that there
are two factors favoring the combustion: the fat content of the carcasses
and the dryness of the wood:
“A very important factor observed during the incineration
process was that carcass body fat added significantly to the incineration
rate. It was observed that the small carcasses weighing less
than 100 pounds [45 kg] were not incinerated as quickly as the carcasses
with increased body fat. The body fat appeared to increase
the incineration rate and provide higher burn temperatures.” 413
411 Flamini Fidanza, “Effects of starvation on body composition,”
www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/33/7/1562.pdf
412 But T. Blatt writes: “There was no end to the quest for efficiency: it was found that the
pyres burned hotter if fat women were alternated with the wood.” T. Blatt, op. cit. (note
17), p. 18.
413 “Swine carcass disposal evaluation using Air Curtain Incinerator System, Model T-359,”