 |
“The parties intended that
after the completion of the war and the resulting disappearance of the danger
of United States Government controls the properties would be formally returned
to IG and the prewar relationship resumed.” |
i. The Activities of Farben in Acquiring Control of the Chemical
Industry in Occupied Countries. The evidence discussed in the
Tribunal’s judgment in connection with count two shows in detail the
activities of Farben in the exploitation and spoliation of the chemical
industry of occupied countries. Farben’s New Order for the Chemical
industry is indicative of the initiative shown by Farben in planning to acquire
control of the key industries as additional territory came under the Nazi yoke.
In July 1938, the Political Economy Department of Farben (VOWI)
completed a very full report on Aussiger-Verein of Bohemia. On 21 September
1938, the office of the Commercial Committee of Farben wrote to all Vorstand
members of Farben referring to the discussion at the Vorstand meeting on 16
September 1938 in Frankfurt [NI-10725, Pros. Ex. 1043] and enclosed a
preliminary statement on “location of the chemical industry in
Czechoslovakia,” and called attention to the report completed in July
“which may be obtained from the Political Economy Department on direct
request.” On 23 September 1938, defendant Kuehne wrote to defendant ter
Meer and defendant von Schnitzler saying [NI-3721, Pros. Ex. 1044]: |
| |
“I learned from our
telephone conversation this morning the pleasant news that you have succeeded
in making the competent authorities appreciate our interest in Aussig and that
you have already suggested Commissaries to the authorities — viz. Drs.
Wurster and Kugler.” |
| In a letter dated 29 September 1938, defendant von Schnitzler wrote
defendants ter Meer, Kuehne, Ilgner, and Wurster, saying [NI-3722, Pros. Ex.
1045]: |
| |
“You are informed about the
general principles of the discussion which I have had at the end of last week
with the Ministry of Economics; with Mr. Keppler, Secretary of State, and with
the German Economic Board of the Sudeten area, as to the situation of the
Aussig-Union. The negotiations have been successful insofar as all parties
acknowledged that as soon as the German Sudetenland comes under German
jurisdiction all the works situated in this zone and belonging to the
Aussig-Union, irrespective of the future settlement of accounts with the head
office in Prague, must be managed by trustees (commissioners) ‘for account
of whom it may concern.’ I pointed out that, in the first place the works
Aussig and Falkenau are involved, and that at least the firm Aussig, but
suitably [possibly] also Falkenau, should be run exclusively by IG,
|
1291 |
. 
