. NMT06-T0597
Volume VI · Page 597
| Q, Do you know that in the spring
of 1940 the majorities of the stock of the Ewald and Koenig Ludwig mines were
for the same reason of State political necessity awarded to the Hermann Goering
Works? A. I cannot say that, because at that time, I was not in office. Q. Could Flick, therefore, have in the long run successfully refused Pleiger's demand for the Harpen mines, in your opinion? A. I do not think so, at least not to a certain extent. Somehow, Pleiger would have acquired the coal and would have had Goering's full support in this cause at that time. Goering, himself, had the greatest interest in the expansion of the works. Q. May I ask you to supplement your answers by telling us the consequence of Flick's stubborn refusal, in your opinion? A. That is a question which is very difficult to answer. I have already said that somehow, no doubt ways and means would have been found in order to supply the Hermann Goering Works with coal. But on Goering's part, apart from his own works, there was no particular interest in national economy. Goering intended to solve everything in a form which would be fair to all parties concerned. Q. May I ask, was Mr. Pleiger in favor of rather stronger measures in principle? A. That was generally known. Q. Mr. Gritzbach you told me this morning that you only got more into the Petschek business and got more intimate with the details of it when the exchange of brown coal against soft coal came up. Did I understand you correctly? A. Yes. Q. Can you recall that shortly before 6 December 1939, may I add on 6 December 1939, this instruction from Mr. Koerner was issued which was submitted to you yesterday, and which I would like to have submitted to you again now. In brief, can you recall that shortly before this day, a meeting was held with Goering, in which Pleiger reported to Goering that the negotiations with Flick had come to a standstill? A. Whether such a discussion took place shortly before, I cannot say, in view of the many discussions Pleiger had with Goering. I cannot remember it, but it is certain that Pleiger reported to Goering that the negotiations with Flick had come to a certain standstill and that difficulties remained to be overcome, Pleiger asked for Goering's express support, and the whole, matter was reported as being especially important to State Secretary Koerner as chairman of the Aufsichtsrat of the Hermann Goering Works. |
