 |
a reason to view the contracts under discussion here from a different
angle. This, however, cannot be the opinion of those men who took the
responsibility for agreements, despite the reserve which they should have shown
in face of their country's situation at that time; agreements which proved of
great advantage to their undertaking and also to the French economy. It was not
the attitude of political collaborators. Not "collaboration," but "cooperation"
was the rule for achieving an understanding on an objective, rational basis,
which was the economic political background for these arrangements. My client
claims to have carried out in a fair and correct manner what was expected of
him, just as he, on his part, was always convinced of the political integrity
of his French partners.
As head of a sales combine, my client had
nothing to do with matters of production. He, therefore, never came into
contact with the special problems arising in this field nor with those problems
which arise in wartime; for instance, the procurement of labor.
The
most monstrous accusation against my client is that he is supposed to have
participated in mass murder committed on the greatest scale ever know in the
history of mankind. As chairman of the Verwaltungsrat of DEGESCH, he is
supposed to have known of the extermination of millions of people with Zyclon B
[Zyklon B], and to have done nothing to prevent it. This accusation,
directed also against some of the other defendants, has been made at the end of
the entire hearing of evidence. This accusation, and the manner in which it was
presented, gives me the impression as if, after the fireworks, an additional
rocket has been set off; it lights up quickly, fades after a short time —
but nothing remains. The accusation will collapse in the same manner when I
produce my evidence. This accusation, made against my client in this courtroom,
has been made before the whole world in this courtroom. I must insist,
therefore, that I may prove before the public that this accusation has no
foundation; I repeat, no foundation whatsoever. I have to submit, therefore,
that my witnesses in this case be heard in this courtroom and not by a
commissioner. I believe this to be only fair and just.
I shall disprove
this last and severest accusation made against my client, as well as the others
— I am convinced of that. As General Taylor mentioned in his opening
statement, no act of revenge must be committed here, but the actions of the
defendants must be judged according to laws and commandments. According to
laws, the defendant Mann has not done anything criminal; according to
commandments, he has done no wrong. |
337 |
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