 |
If, during the course of the war years, there were considerable
disturbances and difficulties with regard to life in the camps, the effects of
the air raids were of decisive importance, as has already been proved by the
evidence so far submitted. It will be proved that the bombing attacks, which
increased after 1942 to a considerable extent, finally brought to nothing all
plans and superhuman efforts and achievements. This resulted in a time of
distress for the German population which became more serious from day to day
and which necessarily also affected the life of the foreigners.
During
air raids and before the all clear signal had been given, Kupke, without regard
for his own health and often at the risk of his own life, picked his way
laboriously through burning streets and over smoking heaps of rubble to the
camps in order to inquire about the fate of the camps, in order to be on the
spot, to give first instructions for alleviating the great distress, and also
in order to lend a hand wherever it was needed.
His high sense of duty
was shown by the fact that after the collapse none of the foreign workers did
any harm to him, although he was easily accessible to everybody. If he had been
the guilty person, as is maintained by the prosecution, an avenging fate would
also have reached out for him, as it did in some other cases.
If,
during the session of 17 November 1947, Mr. Kupke pleaded not guilty it was a
confession made out of inner conviction.
I can be very brief on the
basis of the very lengthy statements by my colleagues. Within the scope of the
total defense I shall also have to deal with the foreign workers as such. My
presentation of evidence will therefore cover the period of time prior to the
establishment of the office of the main camp management and put into
Kupke’s charge.
In conjunction with the evidence to be submitted
by other defense counsel my presentation of evidence will contribute to
completely refute the accusation by prosecution that foreign workers employed
by this Krupp firm were treated inhumanely and cruelly. |
903432 — 51 —
16
225 |
. 
