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This is something that I could not understand, and even today cannot
understand, and this is the root of the bitterness which I mentioned at the
beginning, and yet I have learned during the course of this trial to overcome
the feeling of bitterness for being torn out of my work. I have learned to
understand that it is impossible to build up a better life and to heal the
wounds of the past in the shadow of these accusations.
This is not only
true with respect to my own person, but also applies to the whole factory of
Ludwigshafen to which I belonged as a chemist for almost 25 years, and the
social management of which was entrusted to me for nearly 10 years.
I
recognize that it is my duty, also towards this work, to stand here in my own
behalf, and to remove the shadow of these tremendous accusations, not only from
my own person, but also from my former collaborators in the whole factory.
I hope and I am firmly confident that my defense counsel and I. myself,
succeeded in doing so, and that is the reason wily I anticipate your verdict,
Your Honors, with full confidence and trust. |
| |
| 12. DEFENDANT DUERRFELD |
| |
PRESIDING JUDGE SHAKE: Dr. Duerrfeld.
DEFENDANT DUERRFELD:
Mr. President, Your Honors, since the collapse, the name of Auschwitz is
closely connected with the concept and idea of crime and destruction, and any
decent German upon hearing this word is covered by the most profound shame, and
the shame is so great that even those people who know that the name of
Auschwitz as an IG Works had quite a different meaning before the collapse,
even these people hesitate to have any contact with that name, and this is
understandable from a human point of view. It may however, seriously prejudice
the finding of the truth, if propaganda and an overenthusiastic indictment
endeavors to erase the demarcation lines between the two spheres, that is the
IG Works and the concentration camp. Therefore, in this regard, I am grateful
for this trial, and particularly grateful to my counsel, Dr. Seidl, that it had
been possible to clarify in au unimpeachable manner what was actual truth, and
is actual truth. The concentration camp and IG have been two entirely different
spheres, two different spiritual worlds, outwardly and manifestly they are
joined by the same name, but there is a deep abyss between the two. Over there
you have the concentration camp; here you have the IG plant; over there you
have destruction; here you have reconstruction by IG. There orders of lunacy;
here you have creative achievement. Over there you find hopelessness; here you
find the boldest hopes. Over there you find degradation and humiliation; over
here you find concern for the individual man. Over there you find death, and
over here you encounter life. |
1076 |
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