 |
| 6. AFFIDAVIT OF DR. KURT KRUEGER |
| |
| |
TRANSLATION OF SCHMITZ
DOCUMENT 51
SCHMITZ DEFENSE
EXHIBIT
51 |
| |
| AFFIDAVIT BY KURT KRUEGER, 31 DECEMBER 1947, CONCERNING FARBEN'S
TREATMENT OF JEWISH OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEES IN FARBEN ORGANIZATIONS IN AUSTRIA
AND OTHER COUNTRIES |
| |
I, Kurt Kreuger, at present living in Ramholz, Schluechtern district,
having been duly advised that I shall render myself liable to punishment by
making a false statement, herewith declare on oath that, to the best of my
knowledge and belief the statement which follows is true. It was made to be
submitted as evidence to the Military Tribunal No. VI (Case VI, I.G.
Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft).
I was an employee of the I. G.
Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft from 1928, or thereabouts, onwards. Among
other positions, I held that of head of the Central Finance Administration
Office of IG, Berlin NW 7, which dealt centrally with the financial business of
IG.
Negotiations were frequently conducted (in connection with the
removal from IG organizations abroad of non-Aryans) which had been enforced by
the government and Party authorities for the purpose of arranging payments of
compensation, pensions, and retainers [Karenzzahlungen] which had to be made in
foreign currency to non-Aryans when they left. Owing to the fact that it was
the business of the Central Finance Administration of IG to apply for the
foreign currency required, I took part in such negotiations with the Reich
Ministry of Economics and with the Foreign Organization of the NSDAP very
frequently. I am therefore perfectly familiar with the policy the IG pursued in
these matters, which was to treat the non-Aryans who had to leave with a
maximum of fairness and generosity, and to assure their security for the
longest possible period. In numerous cases “Karenz” contacts [placing
upon one party the obligation not to compete for a certain period of time in
the same field of business with his former employer] were concluded, although
they did not deserve to be called such in reality, in order to bridge over the
time until the person concerned was entitled to a pension in accordance with
the provisions of his contract.
I can remember clearly the following
incident. When a large number of applications for foreign exchange in
connection with the payment of compensation to non-Aryans in our sales
organizations in southeastern Europe had accumulated at the Reich |
1483 |
. 
