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2. As far as the eastern corporations are concerned, the initiative
originated with the Ministry of Economics (RWM) immediately after the war
against Russia was started. A discussion in regard to this took place in the
RWM at which, apart from myself, Oster, Buetefisch, Ambros, and Schneider were
present (as to the participants, I may be mistaken). I assisted in making a
report of this meeting to the Vorstand.
The RWM had not yet decided
upon the question of whether the firms participating in the eastern
corporations — in other words, private industry — should participate
in the Russian firms; and, if so, to what extent and which individual firms. I,
however, do not know either what I. G. Farben's original purpose was in
participating in the eastern corporations, aside from suggestions as to
personnel, as requested by the authorities.
I. G. Farben at first was
concerned with the question which of its personnel it should offer. I took part
in such discussions. We particularly recommended Willibald Passarge, in whom I
took a personal interest after the Nazi Party (Foreign Organization) had forced
his dismissal from our sales organization in Paris. I wanted to give him a job
within my organization, Berlin NW 7. He was appointed one of the three managers
of Chemie Ost G. m. b. H. We also suggested the agricultural expert, Dr. Otto
Schiller, and also Dr. Prentzel and Guenther Schiller, who, as far as I know,
were with the armed forces.
Mr. Wilhelm Rudolf Mann at that time formed
a Russia Committee [Russland Ausschuss], of which I was also a member and
occasionally took part in its meetings. Within the framework of my
organization, I. G. Farben Berlin NW 7, I had, as part of the
Political-Economic Policy Department a Liaison Office East [Verbindungsstelle
Ost] (Terhaar and de Haas) which was at the disposal of Mr. Mann in his
capacity as chairman of the Russia Committee. The Russia Committee worked under
the direct instructions of Mr. Mann. Though these gentlemen had jurisdiction,
essential questions were also reported upon in the Mail Conferences. I saw to
it that all questions concerning Russia, arising within the framework of my
organization were assigned by the competent I. G. Farben organization to
Igerussko and to the Russia Committee.
As to Farben's participation in
Russian enterprises, I can state (with the reservation that my memory may be
fallible) that Farben took the attitude that if the German chemical industry
took part in the development of the chemical industry in occupied Russia,
Farben was anxious not to be overlooked. It was a general principle of Farben
to show a reserved attitude towards all new acquisitions, since each new
participation meant an undesirable enlargement of |
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