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served as a central clearing office for all major legal and patent
questions of general interests.
The foregoing constitutes a description
of the instrumentality of Farben and a factual recital of the manner of its
functioning. Farben, for decades, has been a pioneer in the world of chemical
research. It was with pride that defense counsel pointed to these pioneer
achievements: the discovery of “dyestuffs, the synthesis of nitrogen from
the air, the methanol synthesis, artificial fibres, light metals, buna, the
plastics, the processes of refining coal as a source of power by means of
gasoline and lubricant synthesis, numerous chemicotherapeutic agents of vital
importance.” During that period Farben had achieved a dominant position
not only in Germany but one of leadership in the world. Defendant von
Schnitzler referred to a phrase most aptly characterizing Farben as “a
state within a state.” As to the important position of Farben in German
industrial, commercial and political life, there can be no controversy.
Activities of Farben in the Rearmament of Germany
The
indictment had divided the activities of Farben into particular categories:
(a) support of Hitler and the Nazi Party; (b) cooperation with
the Wehrmacht; (c) Four Year Plan and economic mobilization of Germany
for war; (d) activities in creating and equipping the Nazi military
machine; (e) procuring and stockpiling of critical war materials; (f)
activities in the weakening of Germany’s potential enemies; (g) the
carrying on of propaganda, intelligence and espionage activities; (h)
the cloaking of Farben’s assets abroad for war purposes and in
anticipation of hostilities; (i) the activities of Farben in acquiring
control of the chemical industry in occupied countries. In its excellent
preliminary brief the prosecution has marshalled the more significant evidence
under similar headings. For reasons of convenience the same major categories
will he utilized in discussing Farben’s activities. The following facts
have been proved beyond any possibility of doubt by competent evidence found in
abundance in the record. Captured documents, official reports, statements,
affidavits, interrogations, letters, and direct testimony of many witnesses all
combine to make it certain that the following facts are true:
a. Support of Hitler and the Nazi Party. In the
critical election of March 1933, Farben supported Hitler and his coalition with
a financial contribution of 400,000 reichmarks, being its share of a fund of
more than 2,000,000 reichsmarks contributed by industries represented at the
meeting in Goering’s home on 20 February 1933 [D-203, Pros. Ex. 37],
addressed by Hitler and Goering and attended by the defendant von Schnitzler.
The action of Farben along with other industrialists in rallying to the support
of Hitler at that time was undoubtedly a factor contributing to the seizure and
consolidation of power by Hitler. |
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