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to have his inmates work on the plant site. He preferred to keep them
within the camp. These workers were not forced upon Farben. The inference is
strong that Farben officials subordinate to ter Meer took the initiative in
securing the services of these inmates on the plant site. This inference is
further supported by the fact that Farben at its own expense and with its own
funds appropriated by the TEA, of which ter Meer was chairman, built Camp
Monowitz for the specific purpose of housing its concentration-camp workers. We
are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the officials in charge of Farben
construction went beyond the necessity created by the pressure of governmental
officials and may be justly charged with taking the initiative in planning for
and availing themselves of the use of concentration-camp labor. Of these
officials ter Meer had greatest authority. We cannot say that he countenanced
or participated in abuse of the workers. But that alone does not excuse his
otherwise well-established Guilt under count three.
Other Members of
the TEA and the Plant Leaders. In addition to the defendants ter Meer and
Ambros, the defendants Gajewski, Hoerlein, Buergin, Jaehne, Kuehne,
Lautenschlaeger, Schneider, and Wurster were also members of the Technical
Committee. These defendants were plant leaders or managers of one or more of
the important plants of Farben. These plants were integrated into the war
economy of the Reich by order of governmental authority. In a Hitler decree
regarding the protection of armament economy, dated 21 March 1942 [PS-1666,
Pros. Ex. 1290], war-essential requirements were given absolute priority in
the allocation of available manpower. Plant leaders were ordered to consider
the necessities of the Reich in war economy as if they were their own.
“All considerations, arising from personal interests or from the desire
for peace, must be discarded * * * Whoever disregards this trust and offends
against the conduct expected of a plant leader, will be subjected to
unrelenting, most severe punishment * * *”
This decree was
supplemented by others issued by Hitler and by proclamations of his subordinate
officials, dealing with production quotas, allocations of labor, priorities for
raw materials, and other measures looking toward coordination within the field
of armament economy. These were further supplemented by orders prescribing in
still more detail measures to be taken and restrictions to be imposed. For
instance, in the matter of labor, these orders covered hours of work, food,
clothing, and housing, and made distinctions in the treatment of various kinds
of workers. The eastern workers generally were to be treated with greater
severity than the other classes.
A system of armament inspectorates was
set up which covered plants connected with the armament industry. The
inspectors learned every detail about the factories within their respective
districts and the con- [... ditions] |
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. 
