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left the employment of I.G. Farben. Similarly, I cannot clearly
distinguish between the employees of the Plenipotentiary General for Chemistry
and those of the Reich Office for Economic Development, since in conferences an
accurate differentiation was neither possible nor necessary. Therefore, I
cannot say for sure whether all the personnel of the Reich Office for Economic
Development came from IG. Farben.
Q. Surely you mean "exclusively."
A. Consisted exclusively. Or whether, in this case, a large percentage
of the employees of the Ministry of Economics occupied leading positions.
Q. Could you now tell me in what sense and for what purpose you used
the expression that this Reich Office for Economic Development was "a
nationalized I.G. Farben"?
A. Since I.G. Farben had a monopoly for the
expansion of the production of these raw materials, and the Office for Economic
Development had the same task, I chose the expression that the Office for
Economic Development was a sort of "nationalized IG," in comparison with the
"Self-responsibility of Industry" which was led by me. However, I am not quite
clear as to what extent the principles of the Office for Economic Development
coincided with those of the "Self-responsibility of Industry."
Q. In
addition, you then stated at the same interrogation that Krauch was appointed
Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production in the
Four Year Plan at about the same time, and with almost the same functions, as
those of the Reich Office for Economic Development, and that it was planned to
invest Krauch with the additional powers incumbent on a Plenipotentiary of the
Four Year Plan. Taken as a whole, this office, namely, that of the
Plenipotentiary, was identical with the Reich Office for Economic Development.
You added that you could not describe exactly how these powers and functions
were officially allocated. Since we discussed these matters pretty thoroughly
in our interrogations in September, and you have seen most of the documents, I
presume that you can now tell me more in detail about these things and make
additions to what I told you just now.
A. During the interrogations in
September 1946, I also received no accurate information as to the definite
spheres of functions of the Reich Office for Economic Development and the
Plenipotentiary General for Special Questions of Chemical Production. I did not
see any documents at that time. What I stated in the interrogation of 29 May
1945 was the general impression which I had gained as Minister for Armaments
and War Production, without having any knowledge of the legal aspects.
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