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[Cor...] poration of the United States, and misrepresented the
purpose of the "loan." The borrowed merchandise was to be returned by the end
of 1939. The loan of the lead was secured by the deposit of approximately
$1,000,000 as collateral by Farben. At the expiration date of the loan, 31
December 1939, Farben, of course, forfeited the collateral. Farben also
procured other strategic materials from abroad, including nickel.
48.
In addition to stockpiling imports, Farben, both on its own initiative and on
orders from the Wehrmacht, built up stockpiles of its own war production.
Magnesium was stored in incendiary bomb tubes which were packed in cases marked
"Textilhuelsen" (textile casings) ; electron metal fabricated by Farben from
magnesium for use in new types of incendiary bombs and artillery shells was
also stockpiled. By 21 December 1936, the Air Ministry informed the director of
Farben's Bitterfeld magnesium plant that "the present stockpiling would be
sufficient at this time for 'A-Fall'." Quantities of chemicals, particularly
phosphorus and cyanides essential to the manufacture of poison gas, were
stocked. Farben was one of the two founders of the Wirtschaftliche Forschungs
G.m.b.H. (WIFO) whose main activity was to construct and maintain huge
subterranean storage tanks for gasoline and oil for the Wehrmacht.
49.
The defendants Mann, von Schnitzler, and Ilgner, in consultation with
government officials, prepared export programs for all German industry and
devised techniques for augmenting Germany's foreign exchange resources. At the
request of the Reichsbank and other government agencies, Farben used its
international credit position to obtain loans of foreign currencies, and when
the German foreign exchange situation became very desperate, Farben sold its
products at less than cost. |
| |
F. Farben Participated in Weakening Germany's
Potential
Enemies |
| |
50. Germany's foreign economic policy was aimed primarily at
weakening the economic strength of countries which the Third Reich regarded as
potential obstacles to the carrying out of its aggressive policy. Farben played
an indispensable and major role in this program. The defendant von Schnitzler
has stated: "*** the development of IG during the last 12 years cannot be
separated from the government's foreign policy." The defendant Kugler stated:
"The foremost purpose of the Nazi government and IG and all other
industrialists was to keep the Wehrmacht all powerful vis-a-vis all
other countries, including the U.S.A."
51. Farben's international
affiliations, associations, and con- [tracts] |
29 |
. 
