This letter from the payroll office of the General Building Inspector for the Reich Capital shows how much Soviet civilian laborers were paid after their wages were brought into line in April 1944. Depending on their age and gender, their gross wages ranged from 22.50 Reichmarks to 43.70 Reichmarks. Taxes, social insurance contributions, and the cost of board and lodging were then deducted from this amount. The wages actually paid out were therefore significantly lower. The example of Marija Stefsine mentioned in the letter also shows that no wages were paid in the event of illness.

The author of this letter also assumes that wages would not remain this high for long: “As far as I understand it, these are not fixed wages, but are likely to change again; and indeed, the wages are likely to be reduced somewhat.”