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59. It was Hitler's basic thesis that: "After the enemy has been
completely demoralized from within, we will strike." The weapon chosen for this
demoralization was propaganda; the instrumentality, the Auslandsorganisation
(Foreign Organization) of the NSDAP. The purpose of the Auslandsorganisation
was to solidify German racial unity and regiment German institutions abroad, in
accordance with National Socialist racial doctrines; prevent the assimilation
of Germans in foreign countries; insure the loyalty of all Germans abroad to
the Nazi Party; and carry on fifth column activities. Numerous Farben officials
abroad held important positions in the Auslandsorganisation and were its sole
representatives in many areas.
60. The German Foreign Office feared
political friction if it were obvious that Germany was establishing agents
abroad whose chief function was the furtherance of Nazi propaganda. It became
official policy, therefore, to foster "an international economic approach"; to
carry on intelligence work and disseminate propaganda behind the facade of
seemingly respectable business. Officials and employees of Farben concerns
throughout the world became "economic agents" of the Third Reich.
61. In 1933, the
defendant Ilgner became a member of the "Circle of Experts of the Propaganda
Ministry," and president of the Carl Schurz Association, which was active in
disseminating Nazi propaganda. In 1933, Farben mailed a report idealizing
conditions in the Third Reich to all its representatives abroad and requested
them to circulate its contents. In 1933, Farben's American public relations
expert began to disseminate Nazi and anti-Semitic propaganda and literature
throughout the United States.
62. In 1937, the Commercial Committee of
the Vorstand established the following policy: "It is hereby understood that in
no case will men be sent to our foreign companies who do not belong to the
German Labor Front and who do not possess a positive attitude toward the New
Order. The men who are to be sent should make it their special duty to
represent National Socialist Germanism." The Commercial Committee further
resolved that all foreign representatives were to be armed with Nazi literature
and were to work closely with the Auslandsorganisation. Before any employee of
Farben departed on a foreign assignment, he had to sign a loyalty declaration
to the Nazi Party and the New Order and vow that his primary duty would be to
represent "National Socialist Germanism."
63. In advertising campaigns
abroad, Farben emphasized Nazi ideology. On 16 February 1938, the Board of
Directors of the Pharmaceutical Division of Farben (Bayer) resolved that adver-
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