 |
“3. Furthermore, I asked Mr.
Borchers to contact Mr. Geneuss, once more for the same purpose and to point
out to him that the guarantee by the army agency (Wehrmachtsdienststelle)
exists now as before, so that it would be interested in seeing the matter
settled as soon as possible.” |
The attorney Kurt Schuermann was a member of the Krupp legal
department and was associated with Dr. Ballas and Dr. Joeden in that department
until the end of the war. The legal department was directly subordinate to the
Vorstand.
The military commandant in France renewed his efforts to
force ALSTHOM to accept the price offered and threatened that unless such offer
were accepted, payment by the German Reich would be refused. An increased offer
of 190,000 RM was made after this threat failed but it too was
refused. |
| |
| Krupp-Stahlbau wrote to their liaison office in Paris as follows
(NIK-13451, Pros. Ex. 719):* |
| |
“The Intendant of the
military commander has certain scruples about forcing the French to accept a
compensation which would, for German conditions, be acceptable. Step by step he
had gradually advanced the compensation offer to RM 190,000.
“We,
on our part, are extremely interested in acquiring the machine finally at the
estimated value of RM 190,000. But we decline direct negotiations and dealings
with ALSTHOM, as we are of the opinion that the machine was confiscated by the
German Ruestungsinspektion (Armament Inspectorate), and thus it devolves upon
the German authorities to arrange the settlement with the French and that we,
thereupon, shall then enter into clearing negotiations with the German
authorities.” |
| Upon the Allied occupation of Germany the machines were found at the
Krupp-Stahlbau factory and identified by members of a French commission and
thereafter they were returned to the ALSTHOM plant at Belfort. Until December
1943 all disbursements for capital investments by subsidiary companies and the
parent firm exceeding 5,000 RM had to bear the approval of the three members of
the Vorstand who at that time were defendants Krupp, Loeser, and the deceased
Goerens. For investments over 10,000 RM the approval of Gustav Krupp was
necessary in addition to that of the three members. After December 1943,
capital investments of more than 5,000 RM had to have approval of defendants
Janssen, Houdremont, Mueller, and the deceased Fritz Mueller who was
|
__________
* Reproduced above in
section VII F 1.
1360 |
. 
