3 Jan. 46
Defendant Speer is absent and I, as a colleague, have
taken over this task.
Witness, is it known to you that the Defendant Speer, contrary to
Hitler's orders, took measures to prevent the destruction of industrial
and other installations?
OHLENDORF: Yes.
DR. KUBUSCHOK: That these measures also extended beyond the interior of
Germany to the then still-occupied area of Upper Silesia, et alia?
OHLENDORF: I believe that the date when I learned about this was so
late that, although applicable to some small areas in the West, it no
longer applied to any area in the East.
DR. KUBUSCHOK: One more question which you might perhaps know about. Do
you know that the Defendant Speer prepared an attempt on Hitler's life
in the middle of February of this year?
OHLENDORF: No.
DR. KUBUSCHOK: Do you know that Speer undertook to turn Himmler over to
the Allies so that he could be called to account and possibly clear
others who were innocent?
OHLENDORF: No.
DR. KUBUSCHOK: This question will perhaps be answered in the
affirmative by another witness.
Are you well informed regarding the events of the 20th of July?
OHLENDORF: To a considerable extent.
DR. KUBUSCHOK: Is it known to you that the circle of plotters of 20
July had also planned to keep the Defendant Speer as head of his
Ministry?
OHLENDORF: Yes.
DR. KUBUSCHOK: Do you know any details about that?
OHLENDORF: From the participants in the plot of the 20th of July I
merely learned that they had considered him, on a drafted organizational
scheme, as continuing in his post as head of the armament ministry.
DR. KUBUSCHOK: Witness, do you believe that this intention of the
plotters of the 20th of July was due to the fact that the Defendant
Speer, in view of his activities, was considered not only in these
circles but even elsewhere merely as an expert and not as a politician?
OHLENDORF: The question is very hard to answer. It is very difficult
not to be considered a politician if one has been so closely connected
with those authorities of the Reich who made the final