 |
were members of the Nazi Party is a significant fact, but it is not
part of the basic framework of this case.
Nazism was, after all, only
the temporary political manifestation of certain ideas and attitudes which long
antedated nazism, and which will not perish nearly as easily. In this case, we
are at grips with something much older than nazism; something which fused with
Nazi ideas to produce the Third Reich, but which has its own independent and
pernicious vitality.
We cannot, therefore, comprehend the actions or
judge the guilt or innocence of these defendants without some familiarity with
the setting in which those acts occurred. And that setting is the Krupp firm
and family enterprise — its plants, its techniques and, most of all, its
history and traditions. We do not indict these defendants because of the
history of the Krupp firm, but that history will shed much light on the motives
which led the defendants to do the acts with which today they are charged.
In opening a case of such historic import, there is a natural impulse
to dramatize the occasion by ringing all the charges on the name
“Krupp,” which was described 2 years ago by Mr. Justice Jackson as
“* * * the focus, the symbol, and the beneficiary of the most sinister
forces engaged in menacing the peace of Europe.”*
But in fact our
task is far too grave and serious to warrant any indulgence in forensics. The
pages of Krupp history need no underlining; we have not indicted these men to
make a show, but because we believe that the evidence will prove them to be
criminals. We will postpone any further characterization or general comment,
and proceed at once to the charges. |
| |
COUNT ONE-PLANNING, PREPARATION, INITIATION
AND EXECUTION OF
AGGRESSIVE WARS |
| |
| The acts and events on which the charges in count one are based began
nearly 30 years ago. The earlier history of the Krupp firm is important only as
background, and we will sketch it in at this time in the briefest manner only
for the purpose of clarifying the scope and nature of the Krupp firm at the end
of the First World War, when the story of this case begins. |
| |
| A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND |
| |
| The firm of Fried. Krupp was founded in 1811 as a small steel
foundry in the city of Essen, in the Ruhr. The firm retained its family
character throughout the early part of the 19th century; |
__________
* Trial of the Major War
Criminals. International Military Tribunal, Nuremberg, 1947, vol. I, p.
134.
61 |
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