. NMT06-T0211
Volume VI · Page 211
| in the Berlin office, one copy going to
Burkart or myself in reference to companies under our jurisdiction and one copy
going to Mr. Kaletsch. In order to keep in touch with conditions in the various
plants, I did a great deal of traveling. Also, the executives [Vorstaende] of
the various companies were very often in Berlin. Since the whole German
economic system was concentrated in Berlin, everyone had business there and
would find it necessary to keep in close touch with Berlin. We of course also
kept in close touch with the various companies by telephone and letter. Later
on — I think it was 1943 or 1944 — we had a teletype. 5. Distribution of duties in the Berlin office. — I have been shown a copy of an outline of the duties of the various people assisting Mr. Flick in the Berlin office, attached to a memorandum from Mr. Engel to Mr. Kaletsch dated 24 October 1942. This outline was prepared by Mr. Engel in accordance with Kaletsch's instructions because some people were not quite clear about their duties and jurisdictions. Although it was never put in force as an actual order, it corresponds generally to the actual duties which were performed by the persons named, as far as Kaletsch, Burkart, and myself are concerned, but it does not give a correct picture of responsibilities. From this outline of duties it will be observed that I was charged generally with supervision of the soft coal companies and the finishing plants. Mr. Burkart was in control of iron and steel works and the brown coal properties. However, Mr. Kaletsch had jurisdiction which cut across all main companies with respect to financial matters. He would be concerned with anything of important character having to do with finance, tax, or accounting matters; and he would be very closely involved in anything having to do with buying or selling of companies. In general, Mr. Kaletsch held the purse strings, but subject, as Mr. Burkart and I were, to the over-all control of Mr. Flick. The yearly balance sheet and profit and loss statements which, by German law, must be prepared by the Vorstand in conjunction with the Aufsichtsrat, was one matter which would be taken up with Mr. Kaletsch. When people from the various companies came to us with their proposals for these annual reports, we discussed them with them and Mr. Kaletsch. There was never any friction between Mr. Burkart, Mr. Kaletsch, and myself in our relations with each other or with Mr. Flick, and we usually worked out our problems jointly. Mr. Flick worked very hard and tried to keep as well informed as possible with respect to conditions at the various companies. On the other hand, Mr. Flick believed that the companies should be directed by the directors (Vorstand members) according to German law, which gives the Vorstand full responsibility for management |
