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B. Opening Statement for the Defendant
Alfried
Krupp* |
| |
DR. WECKER (associate counsel for the defendant Krupp): Your Honors,
I shall make the opening speech for Dr. Kranzbuehler, whom I represent, for Mr.
Krupp von Bohlen. Before doing so, I should like to read an excerpt from a
speech made by Cardinal Frings, the Archbishop of Cologne, during a papal
celebration in Essen before many thousands of people, on 14 March of this year,
and which I just saw now.
PRESIDING JUDGE ANDERSON: Excuse me, just a
minute. This is not coming through. See what is the matter. Just a minute,
please. It's all right. Pardon the interruption.
DR. WECKER: Your
Honors, this speech by the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Frings, is very
interesting in connection with the things we are dealing with, and I therefore
consider it important to precede my opening speech with this excerpt. The
Cardinal said the following: |
| |
“When I refer to Krupp and
to the family of Krupp, then I mean those things which have made Essen as big
as it is now. I believe I may say that this firm and this family always showed
great social understanding and cared very much for the welfare of their workers
and employees. I know that all the people in Essen were proud of being Krupp
workers, employees, and officials. If there is anyone entitled to be an
honorable citizen of the city of Essen, then it was surely the head of this
house. I do not know how this right was lost and how much guilt there is in
this firm in connection with the preparation for the aggressive war, and I do
not want to interfere in this matter. However, nobody will think ill of me if I
say I feel very deeply for the fate of this family who was once so well thought
of.” |
| Your Honors, when General Taylor delivered his opening statement
before this Tribunal on 8 December 1947, he spoke as follows:
|
| |
“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.’” |
__________
* Opening statement is
recorded in mimeographed transcript. 22 March 1948, pp. 4711-4781. (The opening
statements on behalf of all defendants were delivered on 22 and 21 March 1948.
tr. pp. 4714-4848.)
132 |
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