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leaders, Mr. Leeners, who later on worked at Krupp’s for the
Gestapo. From the middle of 1944, he received an additional efficiency bonus of
RM 50 — per month. I personally applied to Mr. von Buelow for this bonus
and then passed it on to Mr. Leeners. He worked only for the Gestapo; he made
statements on and inquiries into various offenses and political matters. I
personally had nothing to do with these matters. Krupp paid a special bonus to
Gestapo agents; this was usually paid out by Mr. Wilshaus. Leeners informed me
that he only acted as intermediary, and that it was von Buelow only who, in his
capacity as counterintelligence agent, dealt with the Gestapo. It was for the
first time today that I heard that von Buelow belonged to the Direktorium. I
seldom went to the Gestapo alone, in most cases von Buelow was with me. At the
Gestapo I used to confer with Criminal Commissar Bowensiepen and the Gestapo
chief, Kriminalrat Nohles. We then discussed security matters and questions
pertaining to mail control. Cases pertaining to death or escape were dealt with
in writing. Relevant reports always went to Mr. Ihn and Mr. von Buelow. I used
to report personally to the Gestapo on political matters, such as security
matters, morale, complaints of the foreign workers, and also on political
affairs of camp inmates. Mr. Ihn was informed about all conditions in the
camps. So also was von Buelow, who through the plant police was in charge of
the camps for eastern workers until I took up my duties. I continued to inform
both of them about everything. In the beginning of 1944, at a discussion of the
Direktorium, I informed the gentlemen about conditions in the camps. As such
discussions used to take place frequently, I assume that the Direktorium was
informed of the situation.
With reference to the directors with whom I
personally discussed matters, I am only able to name Messrs. Janssen,
Houdremont, and Erich Mueller. In 1936 I was invited to the villa “Am
Huegel” by Gustav and Alfried Krupp, together with War Minister von
Blomberg, his staff, Professor Mueller, Erich Mueller, and the Direktorium. On
that occasion I gave a lecture on railroad and artillery guns, especially
referring to the “Big Bertha” which was then being displayed.
Some months later I once more visited the villa, together with the
artillery inspector of the OKW, when Gustav and Alfried Krupp made inquiries
with regard to the different types of guns. The steel rod shown to me is
unknown to me.* The ones which were distributed among us had no rubber or
handle, but were made of plain steel bound with wire. |
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| [Signed] HANS KUPKE |
__________
* Kupke refers to an
instrument allegedly used for corporal punishment of workers.
945 |
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