 |
| [capaci…] ties — for instance, in the field of concentrated
nitric acid — were idle. If we wanted to reach our aim of full capacity
for the Farben plants by keeping the stand-by plants as “shadow
factories,” we saw in Vermittlungsstelle W a favorable opportunity of
proving to the authorities by a mobilization plan that we were all ready for
production, and that it really was not necessary for such “shadow
factories” to be put into operation. |
| |
| * * * * * * * * * * |
| |
| |
3. TESTIMONY OF DEFENDANTS TER MEER
AND VON
KNIERIEM |
| |
| a. Testimony of Defendant ter Meer |
| |
EXTRACT FROM THE TESTIMONY OF
DEFENDANT TER
MEER* |
| |
| DIRECT EXAMINATION |
| |
| * * * * * * * * * |
| |
DR. BERNDT (counsel for defendant ter Meer) Now we come to the
question of the so-called stand-by plants. Can you tell me anything about that?
DEFENDANT TER MEER: I must go back a little in this field to be able to
answer the question clearly. |
| |
| [Here the defendant ter Meer again pursued the subject of Farben's
production in relation to rearmament. This testimony is reproduced above in
subsection G 3. Thereafter, without being asked another question, the defendant
continued with the following testimony.] |
| |
|
A. You asked me about stand-by plants. When rearmament began in
Germany, Farben had adopted a very clear and simple policy as to the extent to
which it would conform with the wishes and requests of the military
authorities. As far as our existing plants could supply products, they were, of
course, supplied, but if the Wehrmacht wanted plants built for larger
quantities than could normally be absorbed by the market, then we refused. We
had no interest in plants which would be idle under normal conditions. The
predecessor firms of Farben had, to a large extent, set up explosives and
poison gas facilities in their plants in the First World War. We did not want
to have such a situation arising again and have Wehrmacht plants built in the
middle of our well-ordered old works. That brought about confusion as to
ownership and could lead to difficulties. We had no inclination whatever to let
ourselves be misused for purposes of rearmament. We therefore said to the
Wehrmacht: “Build your own plants. Do not worry us with things which are
not economical and which do not |
__________
* See footnote on 1 st page
of subsection J 4, above, for further extracts from Defendant ter Meer's
testimony.
1239 |
. 
