 |
this in view of the considerable expenses which such a specialized
apparatus demanded?
A. I think so. I will give you only one single
example. One year before the devaluation of the U.S. dollar, the VOWI began to
compile a work about the development of the dollar, at my instigation. I made a
special trip to America for that purpose at that time. At that time Farben had
an obligation in U.S. dollars equivalent to 100 million marks. They were
accounts receivable; at least, the risk was 100 million marks. We liquidated
all these risks so that when the devaluation came they were practically zero,
[but] not actually. If Farben had not done that then, it would have lost more
than 30 percent, like many other German firms. That means more than 30 million
marks. Shortly afterwards, I met Mr. Schacht, who was at that time not yet a
Minister, and he reproached me because I did not tell the Reichsbank about this
very clearly and they did not make such fortunate arrangements. |
| |
| * * * * * * * * * * |
| |
| Q. The last question now. Did the VOWI carry on espionage, which
served the preparation for war? A. It is difficult for me, Dr. Nath, to give a
calm answer to this, but I shall try to be objective. I answer with all
emphasis, NO. My whole conduct and thinking and striving, as we shall very
clearly prove, was just the contrary. It served the understanding between
peoples and the maintenance of world peace. VOWI was one means to an end in
this; it was an instrument of peace. |
| |
| * * * * * * * * * * |
| |
| Q. A final question on this subject: What do you know about the
extent of the total activity of Farben in the counterintelligence [Abwehr]
field? A. Dr. Nath, the fact alone that the important man in OKW
Counterintelligence for Economic Questions [Economic Department of OKW/Abwehr]
Major Focke, as late as 1944 — I believe it was March, toward the end of
the war — thought it necessary to give the whole Farben Vorstand
elementary instructions, because it was that and nothing else, about the
necessity of the work of the Economic Department of the OKW
Counterintelligence, proves clearly enough that this work, in the opinion of
the authorities, was completely inadequate. |
| |
| * * * * * * * * * * |
| |
| CROSS-EXAMINATION |
| |
| MRS. KAUFMAN: Dr. Ilgner, you were the responsible department head
of Berlin NW 7, were you not? |
737 |
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