. NMT06-T0214
Volume VI · Page 214
| Rombacher was the plant that was taken over
in Lorraine under trusteeship.* Mr. Burkart was also charged with matters
pertaining to the Reichsvereinigung Eisen (RVE). This was an association set up
to cover the iron industry comparable to the RVK in the coal industry. Mr.
Flick himself was on the Praesidium of the RVE. I do not think Dr. Burkart held
any title in the association, but he kept close watch on all RVE matters so
that he could discuss them with Mr. Flick. He also, with Mr. Flick, took part
in meetings with RVE officials accompanied by executives of the various plants.
My impression is that although the RVE was comparable to RVK in purpose and
form of organization, it was not so much a one-man organization as RVK.
Roechling, who was chairman of the Praesidium, was a man with whom you could
discuss questions better than with Pleiger. Pleiger was more dictatorial. The
RVE, like the RVK, had a Praesidium as the governing committee or the top
group. The members of the Praesidium were the representatives of the most
important iron and steel companies. In addition to his functions with the iron and steel companies, Mr. Burkart had charge of raw material questions. For example, if Maxhuette needed coal they turned to Mr. Burkart, Burkart turned to me, and I would arrange through Mr. Flick to have the coal delivered. Mr. Burkart also had control of brown coal matters. These properties were all centered in Anhaltische Kohlenbergwerke A.G. (AKW). He supervised, not only the management of the brown coal properties, but also relations between AKW and Mittelstahl which was supplied with brown coal by AKW. Mr. Burkart worked closely with me on RVE matters since RVK covered not only soft coal but brown coal as well. 8. Mr. Flick's authority within the Concern. — Mr. Flick dealt with all questions concerning engagement of new members of the Vorstand. Under German law, the Aufsichtsrat nominates the Vorstand, and these in turn appoint all other people. Mr. Flick was a very careful chooser of men; during my entire stay with him I have seen only one instance of removal from the Vorstand and that was brought about by myself, as the man in question. Dr. Kuenzel, and I, had different views about working together. Mr. Flick, busy as he was with so many companies and their reports, still was careful to place the right man in the right place. He put the right people in the right places and then controlled them. He was therefore always interested in the people who had responsible positions. |
* See section VIII, below.
