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not also take place the "short thrust" into Czechoslovakia with all
the international complications which would be kindled by it. The first thing I
did was to ask at once for a connection with Paris to cancel my trip to Cannes
(molybdenum negotiations). At the same time, I suggested to Mr. Meyer-Kuester,
who was already in Paris and to whom I talked by telephone, to watch
developments closely, and to depart too early rather than too late.
Furthermore, I requested him to induce Mr. Mayer-Wegelin, who also had already
arrived in Paris, to return the same evening.
Under these
circumstances, of course, the conference on M [mobilization] matters took on
highly significant features. We realized suddenly that — like a stroke of
lightning from a clear sky — a matter which one had once treated more or
less theoretically could become deadly serious, and furthermore, it became
clear to us that the preparations which we had made up to now for the
Grueneburg * had to be considered rather defective after all. As I had up to
now not sworn an oath on the M-matter, I heard only later (after I had sworn
such an oath on 12 March in the Reich Ministry of Economics) in greater detail
about the steps we had taken, which of course I cannot discuss here in detail.
I merely want to say this much, that the intentions of Dr. von Schnitzler
regarding [Sales Combine] Dyestuffs seem to me not nearly sufficient for the
requirements of [Sales Combine] Chemicals, for if the case should happen,
Sparte Chemicals would have to fulfill task quite different from those of
Sparte Dyestuffs. If a certain improvisation seems still to be possible for
Dyestuffs, then certainly not for Chemicals. That the location Frankfurt, of
course, would be from the beginning in the utmost danger does not need to be
emphasized here. All present were aware of the seriousness of the situation,
and also of the fact if the event happened, Frankfurt could not be held in an
organizational respect.
In view of this situation, the conference was
therefore surprised to the utmost when, in the afternoon, Dr. Schnitzler showed
(in the absence of Geheimrat Schmitz) by means of finished plans, the necessity
to enlarge the Grueneburg building. A wing for 600 officials is planned,
connected to the Grueneburg by a tunnel; to cost approximately 3 millions.
The first attack against this was made by Dr. Ilgner who clearly
expressed that, after the discussion of the morning, he considered it madness
to undertake enlargements of buildings in Frankfurt.
I must add here
that Dr. y. Schnitzler mentioned he had talked |
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* Farben's central
administration building was located on Grueneburg Platz (Square) in Frankfurt
and was frequently referred to as “the Grueneburg”.
1539 |
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