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[agen...] cies experiments in Farben laboratories for the development
and production of offensive weapons. Such activities had been carried on for
some time by the defendant Krauch in the production of synthetic gasoline,
nitrogen, and other products. Farben records of 1935 declared the purpose of
Vermittlungsstelle W to be "the building up of a tight organization for
armament in the IG, which could be inserted without difficulty into the
existing organization of the IG and the individual plants. In the case of war,
I.G. Farben will be treated by the authorities concerned with armament
questions as one big plant which, in its task for armament, as far as it is
possible to do so from the technical point of view, will regulate itself
without any organizational influence from outside." The importance of this new
organization to Farben is shown by the fact that the Vorstand placed at its
head Farben's top scientist, the defendant Carl Krauch.
20. One of the
first responsibilities given to the Vermittlungsstelle W by the Wehrmacht was
the enforcement of stringent security measures in Farben, designed to enable
Germany to arm for war with as little notice as possible to the outside world.
This security was of the most far-reaching nature and covered all of Farben's
operations connected with rearmament, including production, contracts for
production, patents, research, and experimentation in the military field. This
covered poison gas, explosives, and other military items. On 2 January 1936, on
instructions from the defendant ter Meer, a department for counterintelligence
service, defense against spying, sabotage, and betrayal of working secrets was
established in the Vermittlungsstelle W, which worked in close cooperation with
the intelligence service of the Wehrmacht.
21. One purpose of the
Vermittlungsstelle W was to assure secrecy, particularly in the field of
patents. Farben records state: |
| |
"The High Command of the
Wehrmacht, Military Economic Staff, has frequently pointed out in discussions
with respect to the necessity of keeping patent applications of IG secret
— whether or not these patents resulted from the joint experimental work
of the IG with the Army officers or from IG's own initiative — that the
Army is prepared to indemnify and underwrite any damages arising from this
enforced secrecy or arising from the fact that these patents cannot be
exploited." |
| 22. By 1934, Farben had worked out detailed plans for defending
their plants against air raids. In 1935, the Vermittlungsstelle W supervised
Kriegsspiele or "War Games," to determine the effect of bombing on certain
factories and the speed of replacement, and to train the Luftwaffe in precision
bombing. The Vermittlungsstelle W also acted as intermediary between Farben and
|
20 |
. 
