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| c. Testimony of Defendant Buetefisch |
| |
EXTRACT FROM THE TESTIMONY OF
DEFENDANT
BUETEFISCH¹ |
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| DIRECT EXAMINATION |
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| * * * * * * * * * * |
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DR. FLAECHSNER (counsel for defendant Buetefisch) : The last of this
series of documents is Document NI-10447,
Prosecution Exhibit 958.² This is also to be found in prosecution document
book 42, English page 132 . This is a file note originating from you and sent
to the OKW. Would you please tell us whether the contents of this file note are
not in contradiction to what you said about the manner in which the exchange of
experience was handled?
DEFENDANT BUETEFISCH: Reading the text of this
file note and not knowing the accompanying circumstances, one may well gain
this impression. This file note was written in February 1940 at a time when
Germany was already 5 months at war. I have described our situation as it
prevailed in October 1939, and I have described our discussions with Mr.
Howard. It was clear that, after this discussion, we once more had to assure
ourselves at the OKW whether we were allowed to continue our exchange of
experience, and if so under what conditions. In other words, in this file note
the issue is the exchange of experience during time of war. Furthermore, it
becomes apparent from that file note that I did not only speak on behalf of
Farben, but also in behalf of Ruhrchemie, which was included in this new field
of contracts - the hydrocarbon synthesis field. At any rate, we could not dare
to continue our exchange of experience on our own initiative without having
received any permission. We could not continue it as it had been handled that
far — that is the exchange of letters and drawings. Up to that time the
matter really didn't become very effective, and an actual exchange only took
place when we actually met. We had intended a meeting in March/April 1940 with
Mr. Esbury and Mr. Howard. I therefore approached the OKW — that is, I
even think that the letter had been written before that. However, I am not
sure, because I don't have my files here. In that letter we asked to be
permitted to continue our exchange of experience. At the time, General Thomas
asked me to come to him, and he told me that he could not undertake the
responsibility himself, because an exchange of experience in wartime would be
quite an important matter and would demand further approval |
__________
¹ Further extracts
from the testimony of the defendant Buetefisch are reproduced above in
subsections C 2 and I 7e, and in subsection IX F 7 in volume VIII, this
series.
² Reproduced in full above in subsection I 2.
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