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[Luft...] waffe had already been
made before the project was submitted to the TEA. * * *
“The total
investment for magnesium and aluminium in Aken amounted to about 40,000,000
marks; and for magnesium alone it amounted to about 40,000,000 marks. IG
furthermore obtained a special concession from the Ministry of Finance
authorizing IG to provide for an annual 20 percent depreciation on machinery in
the plant. The normal depreciation was 10 percent and so IG obtained a
considerable advantage.
“Before the plant was actually built, the
Luftwaffe carried out a number of tests from the air in order to ascertain how
the plant itself could best be camouflaged. In accordance with the result of
these tests in which Bitterfeld’s chief engineer, von der Bey,
participated, the plans for the plant were repeatedly changed until the
Luftwaffe was satisfied that the plant was well hid from the air. Dr. Pistor
subsequently stated in the TEA that considerable additional costs had to be
incurred by IG on account of the camouflage
requirements. |
| * * * * * * * * * * |
| |
“Also by order of the
Luftwaffe, IG started planning in 1934 another magnesium factory, for which the
Luftwaffe selected Stassfurth as its site. Construction of the plant started in
1935 and it was completed in 1938. * * * The production capacity for magnesium
was 13,000 tons a year since 1942. The total investment amounted to 50,000,000
marks. The Luftwaffe financed the construction by granting a credit of
44,000,000 marks. Here again the Ministry of Finance agreed to increased
depreciation at the rate of 20 percent yearly.
“For Aken as well
as Stassfurth, IG was permitted to charge to the Luftwaffe an increased amount
over the cost price and the normal profit in order to be able to repay the
credits out of the accrued extra profits.” |
| While on the witness stand, Dr. Struss stated that the credit of
44,000,000 reichsmarks referred to from the Luftwaffe was for both the Aken and
Stassfurth plants. At another time, Dr. Struss said [NI-4882, Pros. Ex.
744]: |
| |
“3. * * * Shortly after
start of production in Aken, probably in the summer of 1935, I visited Aken as
well as Bitterfeld and noticed that without doubt practically the entire
production was stored there in the form of tubes and packed into cases. These
tubes had a diameter of 8 cm, a 1 cm wall and a length of 20 cm. Without doubt
these tubes were parts for incendiary bombs. These tubes were packed into
standardized boxes and were called 'Textile Shells' (Textilhuelsen). Everybody
laughed, whenever somebody |
1266 |
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