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[Gerst...] hofen by Farben with a capacity of 6,000 tons per year. In
1932 Farben produced 1,400 tons of aluminum; in 1939, 16,500 tons and in
1943,24,000 tons. Thus, it appears that the capacity of Farben plants for the
production of light metals increased manifold during that period.
As is
pointed out by Dr. Neukirch in his report, with the conquest of Norway, Farben
undertook to carry out additional plans for increased production of light
metals in Norway through the exploitation and use of facilities of Norsk Hydro.
Chemical Warfare Agents. While so
far as is known poison gas was never used in World War II, Farben participated
extensively in experiments and in preparing for and producing poison gas during
the years immediately preceding and during the war. The defendant Ambros may be
credited with having participated in dissuading Hitler from the use of poison
gas.
There was a close relationship and interlocking of preliminary
products needed for the manufacture of explosives, gunpowder and chemical
warfare agents. Farben’s contribution to the preparation for chemical
warfare included research, development and production of mustard gas, tear gas,
nitrogen mustard gas, adamsite (throat irritant) and phosgene. The development
and production of chemical warfare agents were closely related to and were
coordinated with the production and development of other chemical war material.
The contract between Farben and Orgacid, dated 22 July 1935, for the production
of Ethyl-oxide from alcohol and the production of polyglycol M from Ethyl-oxide
[NI-5681, Pros. Ex. 351], under which Farben was “to give all
chemical technical advice * * * including the experimental work which may
become necessary,” is a typical example. In 1936 and 1937 there was
continued planning with reference to research and production of chemical
warfare agents. There is in evidence a detailed “accelerated plan”
dated 30 June 1938 outlining an acceleration of the expansion program for the
production of many chemical products including chemical warfare agents [NI-8839, Pros. Ex. 439].
Following his appointment by Goering as “his Plenipotentiary in this field
of work,” Krauch in a communication to the Ludwigshafen plant of Farben
dated 26 August 1938 [NI-7428, Pros. Ex. 217] urged the early completion of
building projects for several chemical products, including mustard gas,
“for which no postponement of the deadline set for their completion can be
tolerated.”
The capacity of planned poison gas plants on 1
September 1939 for which Farben was responsible, was over 75 percent of total
capacity, and by December 1942, Farben’s share was estimated by the Krauch
office to be 90 percent. [NI-12678, Pros. Ex. 1820; NI-12724, Pros.
Ex. 1818.] |
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