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2. AFFIDAVIT AND TESTIMONY OF PROSECUTION WITNESS FELIX EHRMANN
CONCERNING THE REICH OFFICE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE PLENIPOTENTIARY
GENERAL FOR SPECIAL QUESTIONS OF CHEMICAL PRODUCTION, AND THE KRAUCH
OFFICE |
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TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT NI-4952 PROSECUTION EXHIBIT
464 |
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AFFIDAVIT OF DR. FELIX EHRMANN CONCERNING THE KRAUCH OFFICE, 13
MARCH 1947* |
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I, Dr. Felix Ehrmann, residing at Baddeckenstedt, District of
Wolfenbuettel in the British Zone of Occupation, having been advised that by
making any false statements I will become liable to punishment, hereby
voluntary declare the following under oath and without having been subjected to
any duress:
The functions of the Plenipotentiary General for Special
Questions of Chemical Production on one side, and of the Reich Office for
Economic Development on the other side, were closely interlinked and their
tasks were always overlapping. Dr. Carl Krauch was at the head of both
organizations mentioned, and so it happened that both of these organizations
were often simply called "Krauch Office."
This "Krauch Office"
distinguished itself from all other authorities by the fact that it availed
itself quite independently of persons who were not officials, but acted in an
honorary capacity. These honorary people were outstanding personalities in
industry, and in every respect far superior to the paid employees of the Krauch
Office. The policy followed by the Krauch Office was not decided by the paid
staff, but by the honorary representatives of the industries.
The
majority of these persons acting on an honorary basis, approximately up to 90
percent of the total number, were representatives of the I.G.
Farbenindustrie.
The influence and importance of these honorary persons
in the entire economic life was enormous, and the various business enterprises
were eager to obtain appointments for their people in the Krauch Office.
I have carefully read this one page of this affidavit and signed it
with my own hand. I made the required corrections with my own hand and
initialed them with the first letters of my name, and I herewith declare upon
oath that I have said the pure truth in this statement to the best of my
knowledge and belief. |
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[Signed] FELIX EHRMANN |
__________ * The cross-examination of
Ehrmann concerning this affidavit appears immediately below.
857 |