 |
period in which the communications with them would probably be
broken." The defendant Ilgner suggested a plan to "sell" all Farben's important
patents in Germany to camouflage companies in one of the neutral countries, in
order to prevent seizure of the patents by Allied authorities if Germany were
occupied. At the same time, the defendant von Schnitzler was concerned about
possible confiscation of the stocks of merchandise of the various Farben sales
agencies throughout Europe; he was worried that they might have to close for
lack of merchandise, since, if Germany lost the war, communications would be
interrupted and, at least for a time, Farben would not be able to deliver any
goods to foreign countries.
Certainly one cannot say of these
defendants that they do not look far ahead, but one cannot avoid the impression
that their field of vision is phenomenally narrow. In 1945, after Germany's
defeat, the defendant von Schnitzler expressed himself as being certain that
the French chemical industry would be only too glad to resume its cartel
relationships with Farben and, apparently encouraged by the manifestations of
astonishment which this observation evoked, and taking them for indications of
real interest in the idea, he promptly volunteered to elaborate more fully the
"propositions which were adapted to the present situation." And at about the
same time, the defendant Ilgner, in a letter to his former associates,
stated: |
| |
"In any case, we should try
immediately to make all preparations so that the entire setup is ready to
operate again as soon as the American authorities decide how and to what extent
the IG is to work in the future." |
| It is indeed a strange lens through which the defendants view the
world. One might marvel at such sublime insensitivity were it not joined to
such calculated purpose, brilliant capacity, and ruthless contempt for the
world and its laws. A touch of power, and they are warped beyond redemption.
The creative talents with which they were endowed were perverted, and their
science became a malignant alchemy. There is no loyalty in these men — not
to science, nor to Germany, nor to any discoverable ideal, and Germany can only
be the better for putting their actions to the test of law and
truth. |
| |
| C. Opening Statement for Defendant Krauch* |
| |
| PRESIDING JUDGE SHAKE: The sessions of today and tomorrow, in
accordance with the prior announcement of the Tribunal, will |
__________
* Tr. pp. 4711-4729, 13
December 1947. The closing statement for defendant Krauch is reproduced in
section XI C, vol. VIII, this series. The final statement of defendant Krauch
to the Tribunal appears in section XII B 1, volume VIII, this series.
209 |
. 
