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A. Yes; in 1937.
Q. And later did the Army Ordnance
Office ask that the plant be expanded?
A. Yes; that was at the end of
1938 — an expansion of 500 tons per month.
Q. Now, for what
reason, Witness, did the Army Ordnance Office approach I.G. Farben for the
production of diglycol?
A. I.G. Farben was the sole producer.
Q. And why did the Army Ordnance Office want a diglycol plant to be set
up at Wollen near Bitterfeld?
A. There were military reasons and
technical reasons. The military reason was that Wolfen was in the center of
Germany. In the opinion of the men in positions of responsibility at that time,
it was safe from air raids. And, as for technical reasons, it would be attached
to an existing plant, which could supply power, steam, water, electricity;
calcium deliveries could come from the Harz Mountains near-by, and chlorine
from Bitterfeld,* etc.
Q. If I have understood you correctly, Witness,
this plant was built by order of the Army Ordnance Office?
A. Yes.
Q. Now, what would have happened, Witness, if I.G. Farben had refused
to obey such an order?
A. This is a theoretical question which I can
only answer theoretically. I cannot see why I.G. Farben should not have obeyed
a justified order of the government. I should like to know what factory in the
world would refuse to obey a government order. I can answer only theoretically
as to what would have happened. Pressure would have been exerted. There are all
kinds of compulsory measures that can be taken. The men responsible can be
removed from their positions, et cetera.
Q. In any case you at the Army
Ordnance Office would have had to carry out the will of the state?
A. I
should assume so.
Q. Now, did Farben carry out this diglycol production
in its own plants, or was a Reich-owned plant built for that purpose?
A. A Reich plant was built with Reich funds.
Q. And this plant
was only operated by Farben?
A. Yes, it was operated by Farben.
Q. Was diglycol stockpiled by Farben?
A. Not by Farben, but by
the Army Ordnance Office.
Q. Witness, another product plays a certain
role as an armament product in the prosecution's case; namely, stabilizers. Can
you tell us very briefly for what purpose stabilizers were needed? |
__________
* Bitterfeld was the
headquarters of Farben's Work, Combine Central Germany. in or about the city of
Bitterfeld itself. One of Farben's plants was called Bitterfeld North and
another Bitterfeld South.
1257 |
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