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Volume VI · Page 332
| accidental meeting in the Circle
of Friends and the matter of his accidental rank in the SS had nothing to do
with it. Q. The main part of this Thyssen property was the Gewerkschaft
Deutscher Kaiser, which later was called Gewerkschaft Preussen. A. Yes, this Gewerkschaft Preussen or Gewerkschaft August Thyssen was the holding company of the entire Thyssen property. Q. Mr. Steinbrinck, as can be seen from the list of contributors which we have in the files, made contributions from this Gewerkschaft Preussen to the Circle of Friends. Is it known to you that the Prussian Ministry of Finance was instructed that these contributions had been approved? A. These contributions were made from a contribution fund which existed in this Gewerkschaft, and just as the Gewerkschaft Preussen was investigated by the Deutsche Revisions-und Treuhand Gesellschaft, a report was made to the Prussian Ministry of Finance and the auditing chamber. Every penny that was expended by this Gewerkschaft was known to the Prussian Ministry of Finance in this way. Q. Did you ever discuss this with Popitz, who was Prussian Minister of Finance about this time; and from such a discussion did you learn that Steinbrinck always had to get the approval of the Prussian Minister of Finance before? A. Steinbrinck was working with Popitz and with the Referent, Ministerialrat Scheche, on these questions. As a very correct person, I am sure he discussed these matters with him. Q. The funds which Herr Steinbrinck contributed to this Circle of Friends from funds of the Gewerkschaft Preussen, these funds were moneys of the Prussian State? A. They were moneys which belonged to the Prussian State, because they emanated from a foundation within the Gewerkschaft, which had been made for charitable purposes and I consider it a nobile officium of industry to support cultural affairs, and such a rich enterprise as the Gewerkschaft Preussen should pay such contributions for the cultural purposes which we wanted to promote, and that was a very small affair for these people. Q. Mr. von Schroeder, do you know that the Prussian Minister of Finance, Popitz, was also competent in Prussia for cultural tasks, such as making means available for maintaining and constructing cultural monuments? A. The Prussian Minister of Finance had this task automatically. Q. Do you know that for this reason he probably was especially interested in Himmler's efforts and his contributors — these cultural efforts, excavations in Sachsenheim, Eckheim, Quedlinburg? |
