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reichsmarks. He also said that “of a total of 76 chemical
projects of the Army Ordnance Office, no less than 75 were executed by the IG
and either operated, or controlled by them.”
Zeidelhack further
said that in the development of the expansion program, Farben “disclosed a
particularly pronounced initiative in finding building sites and in the drawing
up of specific plans. Without the intensive co-operation of the IG, including
the DAG, and its experience and initiative, the carrying out of the chemical
projects of the Army would have been impossible.”
While Wifo was
predominately a Reich company, Farben owned one-fourth of the “foundation
capital.” Wifo had to do primarily with production and storage of critical
war material, such as sulphuric acid and nitric acid, and the establishment of
stand-by plants, commonly called shadow plants, which were to be put in
extensive production only in the event of war.
In the minutes of the
TEA meeting held in Berlin on 30 June 1943 is a review of the condition of
Farben plants on account of destruction by bombing. It shows such a possibility
had been contemplated in working out the expansion program since 1933. It is
said in those minutes [NI-10947, Pros. Ex. 1506] : |
| |
“* * * The increase in
existing production which has been going on since 1933, and the assimilation of
new manufactures, gave early cause for the basic decision to be made to set up
new large plants for this purpose, which, apart from new manufactures, should
take over also products which had already been manufactured in the old I. G.
Farben plants. In the field of organic-chemical goods, Schkopau was founded in
1935, where, together with buna production, large-scale manufacturing of
phtalic acid, acetic acid anhydride, vinyl chloride, and Igelit was planned, in
order to cut out further increases in western production. The foundation of the
major plants |
| |
1938
Landsberg
1938 Huels
1938 Moosbierbaum
1939 Heydebreck
1941
Auschwitz |
| |
followed, whose location and
production program were chosen from the outset in such a way that they would
take over such manufactures as already existed in other, principally western,
plants.” |
| With reference to financing of new plants, witness Dencker said that
Farben “took the position that the total facilities available at that time
[1934] were sufficient to cover the peacetime needs.” As a consequence,
Wifo was formed “to expand the production of nitric acid, for which IG was
not prepared to furnish its own means.” All these plants, however, were
operated by Farben. |
1270 |
. 
