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Your Honor, is this exhibit before the Tribunal?
NI-14169, Exhibit 1877.
PRESIDING JUDGE
SHAKE: No, it is not.
DR. BERNDT: In that case, Dr. ter Meer, I think
it would be better if you read the first paragraph of the letter to the
Tribunal. Otherwise your explanation would not be understood.
A. This
paragraph reads, and I quote: |
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“This question is, of
course, of immediate interest and Dr. Ambros, particularly is asking for
assistance for Auschwitz. I had promised the latter that I would find out as
soon as I arrived here how the matter stands and that I would report about it.
Unfortunately, I am not able to do this at this moment since no final decision
has yet been made about the recruitment of chemical workers. The Referent
concerned of the G. B. A. (that is the Plenipotentiary General for Labor
Allocation) with the Staff for Rearmament and War production and Lt. Colonel
Kirschner and Dr. Deichmann are trying to issue a final decree about the
compulsory recruitment of chemical workers during the course of this week. As
soon as the wording of this decree is definite, I will see that you get a copy
of it. I myself have up to today, not yet been able to contact time three
persons mentioned above. Perhaps you could telephone Messrs. Wurster and Ambros
to give them this provisional information.” |
Q. Now, will you please explain this paragraph which you just read?
A. Yes. The matter is quite clear. Around that time March — l944
— a regulation was pending regarding the recruitment of chemical workers
from Italy. Responsible for this regulation was the representative for labor
allocation with the staff of General Leyers. He and Lieutenant Colonel
Kirschner and Dr. Deichmann wanted to issue a final decree about the
recruitment of chemical workers as soon as possible. I myself had nothing at
all to do with this matter. With respect to the chemical plants which I was
concerned with, I rejected any interference regarding workers. But since there
were other chemical enterprises in Upper Italy aside from time ones with which
I was concerned, and from which, alone, labor could be drawn off, we had to
take into consideration that Italian chemical workers would go into Germany.
Since I knew the scarcity of labor prevailing in Germany, I promised Mr.
Wurster and Ambros before going to Italy in March or at the end of February,
“as soon as any settlement has been made I shall inform you of it.”
This letter said “no settlement has yet been made and I can, therefore,
give you no information as yet.”
Q. Very well. Can you say
anything else regarding the further contents of this letter? |
718 |
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