. NMT05-T0971
Volume VI · Page 971
| 8. Extracts from the Closing Statement for the Prosecution* |
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| PRESIDING JUDGE SEARS: We will hear the argument for the prosecution on each count of the indictment. | |
| INTRODUCTION | |
| GENERAL TAYLOR: On 18 April 1947, over 7 months ago, the prosecution
in its opening statement outlined the evidence in support of the indictment
which has been brought against these defendants. Since that time the evidence
presented in support of the charges has been subjected to months of sustained
scrutiny, analysis, attack, and explanation by the defendants and their very
able and energetic counsel. Whatever anyone may ever say about the proceeding,
no one can ever say truthfully that the defendants had anything but the fullest
opportunity to justify their actions in a proceeding conducted with endless
patience and judicial detachment. In summing up this case after 7 months of trial, the prosecution sees no necessity or benefit from a tedious rehearsal of details of the record. We are filing factual briefs, on each count of indictment, as requested by the Tribunal, on the evidence under each count of the indictment. In this oral statement, we propose to confine ourselves to the most salient items of proof, and deal principally with the defenses, excuses, and explanations upon which the defendants have chiefly relied. For in this last analysis, and now that the proof is in, it seems to us that there are relatively few important issues of fact to be resolved. On most of the essential points the record leaves little room for doubt. Millions of civilians from the countries occupied by Germany were brought to the Reich against their will and put to work. Thousands of them did work as forced laborers in plants of the Flick Concern. This constituted enslavement. Upon occasions often the conditions of employment were such that disease and death were bound to and did occur. Flick and the other defendants of the Flick Concern during the war knew that there were many enslaved workers among the employees of their plants. We will outline the proof. The defendants did seek to acquire and did acquire possession and control of factories and other capital goods in the occupied territories against the will of the true owners. The defendants did seek to acquire and did acquire extensive properties, and in effecting these acquisitions the defendants utilized the anti-Semitic laws and politics of the |
* 24 November 1947, Transcript pages 10344-10463.
