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materials. His activity as Plenipotentiary for Conversion in the
exchange of metals during 1942-1943 can be elucidated by testimony of one of
his colleagues.
Contrary to a charge by the prosecution, he never held
high government office. He never played an important role in industry apart
from the fact that at home and abroad he was known as a great scientist.
On account of his neutral position in the management of the central
steel office and the research division, and ability, Professor Houdremont after
1939 was entrusted with the task of mediating occasionally between the various
factions in the field of raw materials and power management. Prior to April
1943, when he took over the management of the Huettenwerke he was not connected
with production nor was he actually in charge of any workers. At that time, and
this is true to an increasing degree for the period June-July 1944 when in
addition he took over the tool plants, and for September 1944 when he became
plant leader, all questions concerning the procurement of labor from a variety
of sources were answered by basic government decisions. No individual could
change the course of events, just as little as he could have made the
Mississippi disappear into its source just before the estuary. As will be
further shown Professor Houdremont was sick from December 1943 until June 1944
and during this decisive period when with the approaching end of the war
conditions became chaotic he was 500 kilometers away from his office and
confined to his sickbed. It will be the task of my colleagues to present
details concerning the situation of the labor allocation and the chaotic
conditions in general. I shall confine myself to introducing evidence for those
facts which characterize the basic attitude of my client. It was always known
that he insisted on decent and humane treatment. In addition, his closest
collaborators can testify that reports on maltreatment of workers were never
submitted or related to him, still less that he approved of or tolerated them.
This appears credible from the very fact that they had to pass through the
various channels of worker, section-leader, foreman, chief foreman, assistant
plant leader, group leader, plant director, director of the Friedrich Krupp,
and member of the Vorstand in technical questions. Although as an
internationally renowned scientist he was accustomed to sit together with his
professional colleagues from all countries in peaceful collaboration, he
avoided on purpose visiting a single factory in any of the countries occupied
by Germany despite his technical interest and his linguistic knowledge, and
still less did he participate in any so-called spoliation. I have to stress
this explicitly since I have taken it upon myself to deal within the
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