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In regard to the relevant negotiations between Krupp and the SS in
Auschwitz, by way of Army Ordnance Office, Berlin, I was at that particular
time only cursorily informed. The negotiations proper were conducted for Krupp,
as far as I remember, by Messrs. Reiff and Weinhold. I cannot say with
certainty, whether or not Mr. Karl Eberhardt played an essential part for the
following reason. At a certain time, the date of which I can no longer
remember, all matters pertaining to the transfer of plants were consolidated in
the person of Mr. Karl Eberhardt. Since I no longer remember the date, I also
do not know whether the negotiations in regard to the relocation of the fuse
workshop to Auschwitz took place before or after. If it took place later, Mr.
Karl Eberhardt must have played a leading part in them. If it took place
before, he may possibly have participated in spite of this. I do not remember,
if and to what extent other members of the Direktorium were informed about
negotiations concerning Auschwitz. Undoubtedly Mr. Erich Mueller was interested
in the technical aspect of the matter. But I do not think that he was informed
about that part of the negotiations, which dealt with the specific form of
labor procurement. Since at a time when the negotiations were still under way,
it was mentioned that the fuse shop was to be constructed near the
concentration camp of Auschwitz, the name of which I then heard for the first
time, it was clear to me that the labor of the concentration camp prisoners at
Auschwitz would be utilized for this project. I believe that this also must
have been evident to the other gentlemen of the Direktorium. I remember that at
that time I had a discussion with either Mr. Karl Eberhardt or Mr. Goerens in
which we agreed to get out of this Auschwitz affair as soon as possible, with
the stipulation that the continuation of fuse production by Krupp be not
jeopardized thereby. I do not believe that actual operations in Auschwitz ever
materialized. If it is held up against me that receipts are in existence,
according to which the concentration camp Auschwitz debited Krupp with the
employment of prisoners of the concentration camp Auschwitz I can only explain
this fact by the assumption that, possibly, in the preliminary work of the
Krupp firm at Auschwitz, prisoners of that concentration camp were employed.
4. Nothing is known to me of prisoners of concentration camps having
worked in any of the following Krupp plants in Bremen: “Norddeutsche
Huette A.G.,” “Deschimag,” “Weserflug G.m.b.H.” If
such was the case, then I have not learned about it. Especially in reference to
the “Deschimag” and the “Weserflug G.m.b.H.” dependent on
the former, I would like to add that if concentration camp prisoners had worked
there, it still would have to be con- […firmed] |
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