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I am personally mentioned only once in the whole indictment, as
a member of the big Beirat of the Reich Group Industry. That is no doubt not a
crime in itself. What was presented by the prosecution in the trial and in the
final plea yesterday has been made so clear by my defense counsel, Dr.
Pribilla, and by my testimony from the witness stand that I have nothing to add
to it factually or legally. Only a personal remark. In the long time that I was
in custody I have had an opportunity to think about my life, my principles, and
my actions. As a technical man I am for clarity, and I hold with sober facts;
either a thing is true or it is not. And I can only say: What the prosecution
asserted was not true, either for Hoechst or for I. G. Farben. One could become
bitter when one sees how one acted in former times and how one is now treated
and what names one is called. And yet we human beings must not lose faith in a
moral world order and a future, better world, if we are not to despair.
Your findings, Your Honors, can contribute to the formation of this
better world, but it might destroy the germ of it. After all, it is often the
small things, the almost unnoticeable, things, that really change the world.
They last; the obvious things are effective only in the present. Thus, now, in
spite of all the accusations of the prosecution, I am convinced that the quiet
work in the research laboratories of Farben will continue to have its effect
when the nonsensical charges in this trial have long been
forgotten. |
| |
| 10. DEFENDANT KUEHNE |
| |
PRESIDING JUDGE SHAKE: Dr. Kuehne.
DEFENDANT KUEHNE: May it
please your Honors, I was 9 years old when on the estate of an uncle, I found a
book of chemistry and from then on my decision stood firm: I was going to
become a chemist: and I became a chemist and, despite all opposition raised
against it, I believe I may say that I became a good chemist and above all, I
became a passionate chemist. I couldn't imagine anything better than to hold my
chemical instruments in my hand or, later on, to work in the factory on new
production processes.
At a very early date I was given an executive
position in a small plant and from that time on my special care was devoted to
my workers. From my early youth I always esteemed every person who was capable
of achieving anything, irrespective of the position he may hold, and my workers
felt this, too. Other things outside the sphere of my work and my music I did
not bother about. I was antimilitarist. I recognized, and still recognize, that
an army is an expensive and dangerous toy for generals and politicians. I
hardly concerned myself with politics and, above all, I detested party
politics. It was only twice in my life that I carne into close contact with
party politics, and |
1072 |
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