 |
on behalf of the Four Year Plan concerning the closing down of
Ludwigshafen-Oppau plant and I was very impressed by the manner in which he
spoke. When he additionally expressed himself to the effect that the
international situation was grave and that it was quite possible there could be
a war with Poland, which would involve France and England, I probably read into
his statement that he said Hitler was determined to attack Poland.
(c) In the second paragraph of the longer statement, I said
‘we were absolutely sure that Hitler would attack Poland.’ This was
my firm impression in August 1945, but I should have only spoken for myself and
not said ‘we.’ Moreover, I thought Hitler's foreign policy of bluff
backed by the strong fist would probably cause Poland to give in to his
demands. However, I was a very worried man, particularly after the invasion of
Prague, since I felt that England, France, and America were bound to take a
stiffer attitude to Hitler’s words and actions, and that ultimately
Hitler's policy would bring Europe to war and ruin.
6. On 22 August
1945, I signed a one-page statement concerning war preparations, the text of
which follows: |
| |
"Even without being directly
informed that the government intended to wage war, it was impossible for
officials of IG or any other industrialists to believe that the enormous
production of armaments and preparation for war starting from the coming into
power of Hitler accelerated in 1936 and reaching unbelievable proportions in
1938 could have any other meaning but that Hitler and the Nazi government
intended to wage war come what may. In view of the enormous concentration on
military production and of the intensive military preparation, no person of IG
or any other industrial leader could believe that this was being done for
defensive purposes. We of IG were well aware of this fact as were all German
industrialists and on a commercial side, shortly after the Anschluss in 1939,
IG took measures to protect its foreign assets in France and the British
Empire. |
| [Signed] G. VON SCHNITZLER" |
| |
| This statement represents my impression in August 1945. This
statement offers an appropriate basis for making some additional statements
concerning the feelings I held before the outbreak of war in September 1939. I
resented Hitler's rearmament policy, and I was terribly oppressed by it. I
mentioned my feelings confidentially to my close collaborators and to my
personal friends, such as Professor Rousselle, Carl von Weinberg, Richard von
Szilvinyi, and Dr. Hans Kugler. I often said confidentially |
1522 |
. 
