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Q. Did you yourself negotiate with the Reich Ministry of Economics in
the Francolor question?
A. Not as far as I remember.
Q. Who
discussed these questions with the Reich Ministry of Economics?
A. I
remember that Mr. von Schnitzler talked to the Reich Ministry of Economics, and
occasionally, people from the Berlin office may have talked to the Reich
Ministry of Economics during the first period of the occupation of France.
Q. Before the beginning of the negotiations with the French group
— that is before the Wiesbaden meeting on 21 and 22 November 1940 —
had you been in France?
A. Yes. At the end of August or the beginning
of September 1940.
Q. Can it be the period from 29 August until 5
September 1940?
A. Yes.
Q. Is that the trip, Mr. Kugler, to
which Prosecution Exhibit 1241 refers, Document NI-6839?*
Mr. President, this is the
prosecution document contained in book 57 (of the Prosecution Document Books)
on page 31.
A. Yes, that is right.
Q. I shall deal later with
that exhibit, but now I should merely like to find out from you what brought
about this trip at the end of August and the beginning of September 1940.
A. On 20 August 1940, there was a meeting in Berlin of the Commercial
Committee. I participated in this meeting as a guest. Mr. von Schnitzler
reported during that meeting, among other things, about his first trip to
France that I have already mentioned. Mr. Mann informed the people present of
his intention also to undertake a trip to France at the end of August. Dr.
Terhaar and Dr. Krueger wanted to join his staff. These people were from Berlin
NW7. I had known Mr. Mann for many years. I was a particularly close friend of
Mr. Mann's during the years 1921 and 1925 , when I was under his charge at
Hoechst during my apprenticeship with Farben. It was a kind gesture of Mr. Mann
to suggest to Mr. von Schnitzler during that meeting that I should be permitted
to take part in that trip. Mr. von Schnitzler agreed. I remember this very
clearly. It was during a lunch at the Hotel Adlon. And thus I became a member
of that group. I should merely add that as railroad traffic had not yet been
restored regularly, the trip was undertaken in two automobiles belonging to the
firm.
Q. Did the people participating in this trip have an outlined
program or a joint task that was prearranged? |
__________
* Reproduced in 2 above.
179 |
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