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[acqui… ] sition of the plant through a Krupp-owned French
corporation.
At the time the lease was signed, the Krupp firm purchased
all but thirty of the machines at a ridiculously low price according to Celap.
The price for the stock of materials was to be fixed after inventory. Under the
provisions of the sales contract the Krupp firm agreed to furnish spare parts
and maintain repairs on the Austin agricultural tractors then in circulation.
The lease agreement was signed by Maurice Erhard as provisional
administrator pursuant to the German decree for the sequestration of Jewish
properties for a 3-year period, with right of renewal for an additional 3
years. The Krupp firm was authorized to make extensions, improvements, and
modifications, and to install new machinery.
The machines of the
assembly-line type for agricultural tractor production were sold or sent to
other factories to be rebuilt for the Krupp firm production. Considerable
machinery which was obtained in other parts of France was installed in the
factory by the Krupp firm.
After the Krupp firm took possession of the
Austin factory they manufactured parts for other Krupp factories in France and
in Germany. These were used for war purposes. Only about 2.1 percent to 2.2
percent of the production was devoted to the manufacture of spare parts for
agricultural tractors called for in the lease.
The Krupp firm continued
its efforts to acquire the plant by purchase and it may be concluded that only
the change in the military situation prevented the Krupp firm from finally
obtaining title to the property.
The two men most active in the attempt
to acquire the plant by purchase were Krupp employees named Stein and Schmidt
who were representatives of the firm in France and received instructions from
the Krupp firm at Essen.
In fact, in view of the acquisition of
additional properties in France by the Krupp firm the defendants Krupp and
Loeser discussed the advisability of establishing a French firm to supervise
the various Krupp interests in France. Following subsequent discussions between
Schroeder, defendant Loeser’s chief subordinate, with defendant Krupp and
later with defendant Eberhardt, a joint stock company known as “Krupp
Société Anonyme Française” was formed. It had a
capital stock authorization of 20,000 shares valued at 1,000 francs per share,
14,000 of which were held by Krupp Essen. The plan was to have this
“French company” buy up the Austin plant at Liancourt.
Moreover, the Krupp firm selected a valuable property located in the
heart of Paris: 141 Boulevard Haussmann, which was to |
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