UNITED NATIONS WAR CRHE3 COMMISSION (Research Office) SECRET SUMMARY OP Inpohmaticffi

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UNITED NATIONS WAR CRHE3 COMMISSION (Research Office) SECRET SUMMARY OP INPOHMATICffi

No. kb. October. 1945.

THE GERMAN INDUSTRIALISTS AS ACCOMPLICES OP THE NAZI CONSPIRACY SENATOR KILGORE’S REPORTS. (Summarized from papers furnished by the U.S. Office of War Information)

On Juno 25 th 1945, in connection with a nee ting of the Sub-Conaittee on War Mobilisation of the U.S. Senate Military Affairs Committee, Senator Kilgore, Chairman of the Sub-Coniaittoe,, released the following account of a secret meeting of German industrialists in August 1944, showing how German industry had co-oporated with the Nazi party in planning a v/nr of aggression« »TEXT OF A REPORT W A MEETING OF GERMAN INDUSTRIALISTS TO l&KE POST-WAR PLANS, STRASBOURG, AUGUST 40 ''1944» "1. A meeting of the prinoipal German industrialists with interests in France was held on August 10, 1944, in the Hotel Rotes Hans in Strasbourg, France. Among those presont were the following: "Dr. Scheid, who presided, holding the rank of S.S. Obergruppenfflhror and director of the NECE (Hernadorff and Schonburg) Companies. "Dr. Kaspar, representing Krupp. • , "Dr. Tolle, representing Rochling.

"Dr. Sinceren, representing Hessersohmitfc. / * "Drs. Kopp, Vier and Baerwanger, representing Rhinemetall. "Captain Haberkorn and Dr. Fuhr, representing Bussing "Drs* Ellencpyer and Kardos, representing Volksvagenwork.. "Engineers'Drose? Yanchew and Koppshem, representing various factories in Posen, Poland (Drose, Yanchew and Co., Browriboveri, Herkulesvrorke, Buschwerke and Stadtwerke).

"Captain Dorribusch, head of the industrial inspection section at PoSen. "Dr. Meyer, an official of tho German Naval Ministry in Paris.

"Dr. Strossner, of the Ministry of ArcAnents, Paris. "2. Dr. Soheid stated that all industrial material in Franca was to be evacuated to Gorraany immediately« The Battlo of France was lost for Gexnany and now the defence of the Siogfried Line was tho main problem. From na.7 on, also, German industry must realise that the war could not bo won and that it

PURL: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/9733ac/ must take steps in preparation for a post-^var comercial campaign. Each industrialist nust nake contacts and alliances with foreign firms, "but this must .be^ clone, individually and without attracting any suspicion* Moreover, the ground would have to be laid on the financial levol for borrovdng con siderable sur» fron foreign countries after the war.

"As .examples of tho kind of penetration which had been most useful in the past, Dr, Scheid cited the fact, that patents for stainless steel belonged to the Chenioal Foundation Inc*, New York, and the Krupp Company of Germany jointly, and that the U*S, Steel Corporation, Carnegie, Illinois, American Steel and Viro, and National Tube,, etc.,..were thereby under an obligation to work *,7ith the Krupp concern* He also aited tho Zeiss Company, the Leica Company, and tho Hariburg-Anerican Lino as firms which had been especially offootive in protecting Gernan interests abroad and gave their New York addresses to the industrialists at this meeting*" . ^ ' ( W 2 7 / 1 0 L) "Following this noeting a srAllor one was held, presided over by Dr. Sosse of the Gemxn Armaments iZiniatzy and attended only by representatives of Hecho, Krupp and Hochling. • At this second neo ting it-was stated that the Nazi parly had inforood the industrialists' that it would-continue until a guarantee of the unity of Ge rainy could bo obtainod, GernOn industrialists nust, it was said, through their oxpcrts, increase the strength of Germany* They nust also prepare; thenselves to finance the Nazi Party which would be forced to go under ground as maquis (in Gebirgsvertoidigungsstellen gohen). Fron now on the governnont would allocate largo suns to industrialists so that each could establish a seoret post«<7ar foundation in foreign countries. Existing financial reserves in foreign countries nust be placed at tho disposal of the Party so tliat a strong German Empire can be created after tho defeats It is also immediately required that tho large factories in Germany creato small technical offices or research bureaux which would be absolutely independent and have no known connection with tho factory. These bureaux will receive plans and drawings of new weapons as,well as documents which they need to continue their researah and which nust not be allo.rad to fall into tho hands of the enfcry. These offices are to bo established in large cities where they can be nost successfully hidden, as well as' in little villages near sources of hydro- oleotric power,, whore they can pretond to be studying tho development of water rosouracs. The existence of these is to be known only bo very few people.in each industry and by ahiofs of the Nazi Party. Each office will havo a .liaison agent with the Party, As soon as tho Party becomes strong enough to ro-ostablish its control over Gormany, the industrialists will be paid for their effort and co-operation by conoossions and orders*" • (X/s/Zl/^O/L) SENATOR KILGORE'S CO^.üJPrS. Senator Kilgoro commented on the above, that 11 tho prohibition against tho export of capital wliich was rigorously enforced until new has been completely withdrawn and roplaaed by a new Nasi policy whoroby industrialists with govemnent assistance will export &s nuoh of tho oapital as possible. Previously exports of capital by German industrialists to neutral countries had to be accomplished rathor surreptitiously and by noons of spoaial influence. Now the Nazi Party stands behind the industrialists and urges them to save themselves by getting funds outside Germany and at the samo time to advance tho party's plans for its post-*/or operation. This froodon givon to the industrialists further aenents thoir relations with tho Party be giving then a moasuro of protection. '> N

"Tho German industrialists are not’only buying agricultural proporty in Germany but are placing thoir funds abroad, particularly in noutral countries. 3\7o . main banks through which this export of capitr.l operates are -the Basler * Handolsbank and tho Schweitzorisahe ¡ireditansta.lt of Zurich. Also thero ara a number of agencies in Switzerland which for a five por oont comission buy proporty in Switzerland, using Swiss cloak.

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"After the defeat of Germany, the Nazi Party recognise» that certain of its best-known loaders will be condemned as war criminals. However, in co operation with the industrialists it is arranging to place its less conspicuous but most important members in positions with various German factories as teohnioal experts or members of its research and designing offices." Wa/zrAo l) . As an illustration of these net hods, Senator Kilgore cited the preparation of the Krupp works for post-war use. "Step One: The Krupp works were recently returned to "private" owner ship. It is the hope of the Germns that under the conventional international law concepts "private" property would have an excellent chance of remaining untouahed by the Allied occupation foroes.

"Step t w o ; Germans anticipated that priva to ownership alone night not be enough. The occupation forces night be directed to take severe oeasures against Nazi ownership and control of industrial organisations. .With this in : mind^ the Nazis are reported to have issued a decree prohibiting all Nazi Party officials and a ü persons who held government posts to which they have been appointed by the Nazi party fron holding any official or managing position in aj\y business undertaking regardless of whether such position carried with it any remuneration or not, ‘Step Three; Not wholly satisfied ttat property which was both privately owned and was not controlled or owned by Nazis would! escape the Allied controls, a further precaution was taken to nake assurances doubly sure that the really important industries would be saved frcn Allied destruction or control. Germans have reportod on several occasions that Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Kalbach, the head of the great Krupp' munitions canbine, who was instrumental in bringing Hitler into power, was arrested for making defeatist utterances: and for organising anti-Nazi resistance groups. V 'Thus the Krugp works, one of the backbones of German aggression ¿ is nor "private property", owned and controlled by persons who notonly are not Nazi party members or government officials but who are seemingly in the disfavour of the Nazi Government.

"!Eho Krupp example is but one illustration in a pattern of behaviour. Hie Krupp case is too obvious to fool maiy pooplo - other oasos> will bo less obvious. Tho; underground which will keep the Nazi fire burning will be nourished and supported by the trustees of German heavy industry and tho trustees of German economic and financial interests within and outside Gerrpi They are the true underground." (lvQ/27/»0 LJ COHPLICITT OP (THE • INDUSTRIALISTS. . • " On October 3rd, in connection with a report issued by the Sub-Committee on War Mobilisation, Senator Kilgore released a further statement, in which ho observed; •

\"3he Tripartite collaboration of state, arny, and industrialists has characterised the development of Germany sinoe her rise as a modem nation. It has been cemented by numerous inter-marriage 3 among the leading industrial families and tho land-^oor Junker aristoaracy. The Junkers have long had a near monopoly of positions in the officers corps, as well as high positions in the civil administratiort both under tho Empire and the Weimar Republic. Con cluding that defeat :r*s not due to failure of arms or military strategy but to a breakdown in tho war economy, tho .throo groups of conspirators resolutely wont to work to strengthen Germany's eaononic position in the next war. Among the measures employed wore modernisation and oxpansion of aapacity in tho in dustries essential to war, maximum oaploitafcLon of domosti.a raw materials, deve lopment af synthetic substitutes for those not found in Germany or nearby, stock piling of critiaal materials, and ocononic piracy on an international scale • . ." (H/G/Z7A 0 D)

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• “In building up’ their por/or over the Gorman nation, tho arqy, industry, • and the state, assisted oaoh other. Y/hon it */as no longer oxpodiont for tho • arny and industry to preservo the semblance of the Republic, the leading coal and steel industrialists subsidised the rise of Hitler. The largest Ruhr' coal Syndicate swelled the Nazi parly coffers "by placing a snail tax on every ton..of ooal nined by. it3 members, who in 19^7 tfere responsible for. 80 per cent of GernÁn production . . . . " ; (I^G/27/1 0 D) . .• ...

r , On October 6th 1945, aftor tho issue of the final volumes of the first series of the T7ar-Mobilisation Sub-Oonnittee*s hoarings, Senator Kilgore issued a statenent whioh said, in part:

"Of especial intorost in connection with the apprehonsion and trial of war criminals .is exhibit number 10 to the Treasury testimony which consists of the. biographies of some 40 loading Goman industrialists; • The facts here . assembled doarly inplica to these industrialists in tho crimes committed against the peoples of many nations by the Nazis in their quest for world domination. *’ ’’They show further that these industrialists, far fron Mining the Nazi bandr»waggon in the last days in order to safeguard 'their persons And properties, were from the very’inception of the Nazi Party its enthusiastic supportors. Their assistance made possible tho Nazi soizure of.pa/or, they directed the conversion of the eoonony to war, and in governmental or soni-official ‘industrial posts they nanaged Geraany’s production of the instruments for aggression. 1 * Í • \ ‘ "I note that of this group, only one name, Gustav Krupp von Bohlen, ha» i so far appeared on tho Allied list of war arininals to be tried at Nuremberg. I trust that the othors will bo included in subsequent lists, since their *. activities, though, porhaps, in some ’instances less spectaoular than that of Krupp, placo them definitely in the sane category. They aro by no means the "neutral" businossnen they would have the Allies believe.

"Homan Beuchor served tho monarchy, the Y7oinar Republic, and Hitler with impartiality. in 1933 ho joined the Nazis, thereafter- boaoming intimately associated with tho party's efforts and with tho government's industrial end financial pro jebts. He was a director of tho Reichsbank and the Berliner Handelsgesollsohaf t and he.has numerous important connections in the field of public utilities in Gemary and abroad, including South Anerioa and, through AEG (Allgenoine Elektrizitaots Gosellschaft),. with the General Eleatrio Conpary in' the United States.

"Dr. Alfred Hugenborg, soné tinos r e f e r r e d to as tho »giant shadow over Hitler* was chairman of tho board of the ICruprp wbrks during t/orld \7ar I, in whiah capacity he built up a world-vdldo espionage net>7ork for supplying the Gorman general átaff with military intelligence through the agency of Krupp representatives ;abroad. * After tho First ’Jar, he expanded this notwork through the acquisition of moving picture end publishing enterprises, including, in 1-926, the New York book firm, B. \7estemann, Inc. / "This firm, until its olosuro in 1941 by tho Uni tod States Treasury Department, supplied the Nazi Government with stratogio United States nilitary infomation and disseminated Gcman propaganda in this country. Huge rib erg was one of the earliest of Hitler!s supporters. In 1930, he publicly doolarod ’I an happy to know that Hitler's party, which syrfcolises ooming GornAny, has won such a brilliant electoral victory . . • . now wo are close to our goal. It will not be long before Go many awakens.1 ' "Dr. Ifcx Ilgnor, head of I.G. Jfcrben's financial department was one of tho original group which plonnod its world-^ride organisation. He specialised . in world patent and cartel agreements and organised foreign, markets for I.G.

PURL: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/9733ac/ Barbenfs development and penetration into other continents* XIgner is only’ . years old, maniacal on tho sub joot of Gorman domination axjd reportedly one of tho non who laid carful plans fpr Germany's post**7ar industrial reari^amont* " LIS? OF r&JOli BfPUSTRIALISTS. (+) ' (VO/27/^0 E) In another release to tho Press, cb.ted Oatobor 9th, Senator Kilgore gave the names of 40 Goman industrialists, with a briof note on Qaoh vrho had been specifically- namod in exhibit 10 of tho Kilgore report: viz?

"Count Hans Bodo von Alvensleben - Jtmker nobleman and landowner, in 1952 president of the Herron Club of Berlin. .. - * ■ Dr. Friedrich Hick,' operator and head of one of Gernanyfs largest industrial" combines, Düsseldorf.

"Alfred Krupp von Bohlen und Kalbach, head of tho Krupp organisation, succeeding his father Gustav. ^ "Dr. Gus-tAv Krupp von Bohlen und Pfclbach, owns the great majority of shares of the Krupp aombine, Gormany's largost industrial and t*tr production trust,, and is considered to bo one of the small group of industrial leaders largely responsible for toingLng Hitler to power. "Hermann von Harmokon, one of Gtttitxy's outstanding economic and organisational experts; and one of tho key planners of Germany's four year plkn, particularly the iron and steel phase, also served as Under Secretary of State and chief of the industrial division of‘the Ministry of Eoononic3. > . • ■/ "Dr. Hugo Henkol, succeeded his father as sole manager- of Henkel-Jerke in I908r has; led his oonpany through too wars. "Dr. Alfred Hugeriborg," (see page 4). ♦ * "Dr. LEax Ilgnor," (see pages 4 and.5). "Bins Xehrl, president of the largo Phrix Synthetic Textile Conibino, ono of tho key men in Nasi oconomy. ,ri7ilheln Kopplor, outstanding politician and industrialist. Held many offioes under Hitler. Preaedcd Schaaht as a financial expert for tho government, was Undor Secretary in tho Gorman Foreign Offico, took irportant part in under mining of. countrios Ha sis planned to invade. "Philipp Kessler, for many years connected with the Sioruons Schuokert '• group. Chairmen of management committee of Borg^ann Eloktrizdtaotsvorko, A.G. . \ t * "Dr. Florian Klocknor, wealthy-industrialist, prominont in fields of coal and iron, an early contributor to tho Nasi party.- "Johann August von Knicricm, a mombor of the I.G. Parben board, officially connected with two Earben affiliates, acts for tho combine as chiof counsol in charge of legal patent questions. "Heinrich Koppenborg, associated with a number of aeroplane and automotive industries, a director of several Flick enterprises, connected with the Voroinigto Stahlwerke combine. A loader in tho Gorman war production programme. "Karl Krauch, roportod as Hitlor's right hand man, head of tho I.G. Farbenindustrio and dirootor of a number of its subsidiaries.

A copy of this m m list v.t.s uont to the UNY/CC by tho United States Commissioner.

PURL: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/9733ac/ ’’Fritz. Lohman, inportant industrialist, associatod with sono 30 companies affiliated for tho most part \7ith Felton and Guilloaune, Carlsvrerke A.G., Cologne, v/hioh in turn is an important sub a i diary of tho Farben Konzern, , Luxembourg, the third largo31 stoel coribine on tho continent. • . • ’’Karl Lindomami, chairman of the advisory board of tho North Gercan • Lloyd, a dirootor of the Hamburg-sAmorika Lino, among outstanding shipping export a; i$. Europe. . . . \ "Kurt'Nobagung, /very important figure in tho industrial lifo of Saxony, holding positions with .a long list of iron and steol, and heavy industrial onterprisos. , Seomod to stand high in tho councils of the Nazi party. . "Alfred Olschor, member of advisory conoittoo of Doutscho Bank, associated with a nuribor of organisations closoly identified \7ith Nczi ooonony. •."'./aldsmar von Opponhoim, a partnor of the 1^0 year old family banking firm, Sal. Oppenheim ot Cio. ^ Cologne, 3inco 1921. ‘ . '• "Dr. Robert Pfordnengos, long associated with sono of tho uost inportant industries in Germany, including oloctrical and coal works, Allgeneino Elektrizitaets Go3oll3chaft and Karpenor Bergbau. .’’Hins Pildor, activo in Drosdnor Bank’ 3 prograrxje of expansion in Central Europe. Connootcd with .various 'typos of industry, among which wore iron works, transportation facilitios, public utilities, magnesium works. "Paul ELoiger, prominent Nazi, one of two nanagors in nanmoth enterprise, Reichsworke A.G., für Borgbau and Hiettcnbotriobo, Hermann Goering* "Ernest Poonsgor , associatod with tho Voroinigte StaftLvrorko, since 1.926 aha innen of it3 management aonmitteo, one of tho non responsible for swinging that enterprise to tho Nazis. "Guonthor Quandt, owner of tho Aocunulatoren-R'.brik, A.'G. "Karl Rasche, prominent Rhinoland industrialist, member of Free Masons, politioal group built up arovlnd Hinmlor, member of Nani innor cirde. Proninontly associated with major ontorprisos producing stoel,\ armaments machinery, chemicals and coal. "Philipp F. Roontsna, gonoral partnor in ci garet to concern of H.F. & Ph.F. Roemtsma KG: Re.emtsmas were invotorato foes of 1 the :.7oimar Republic,' prosperous under National Socialism. * "Ho maim Rochling, one of key men in Nazi war machine. Member of a powerful and active industrial fanily which controls an enormous soator of Saar-Lorraine heavy industry. Said to havo participated in the construction of tho Maginot Lino. "Kurt Schmitt, Germany's insurance export. v "Dr. Hermann Schmitz, achiovod outstanding succc3s in industry, finance, government. Served with zeal every government in power. Finance king of I.G. Farbon. "George von Schnitzler, prominent member of management committeo of I.G. Pirbonindustrie, affiliated with Nazis since their beginning. V "Kurt von Schroodor, Germany*3 outstanding private banker and partner of the Cologne banking house, J.H. Stoin, since 1921

PURL: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/9733ac/ "Hermann von Siomona, a director of tho Doutacho Bank, closoly idontifiod with the-giant Siemena aloctrioal . aoncorn, Ono of Germany's most important industrialists, __ - * ' --v'\ ' "Dr. Hoinrich von Stoin, owner of tho private banking house of J.H. Stain, Cologne,

"Paul Stein,• proninontly connootod with aovoral I,G-. Farben subsidiarioa, and affiliatos, waa ono of* initial promoters of Hitler. . "Hugo Stinnos,-fornorly known as coal king of Gormany. ^ ,r.7ilholm Tongolnann, activo Nazi party member 3inco 1«930, SS leader, leader of the war prpgraixve, advisor of Prussian Prime Minister# ErtroDoly prominont in coal industry,- A Director of Comnorz Bank, A.G., Borlin, . • - "Britz: Thysson, formor head of - Gorman stoel trust, Vereinigte Stahlwerke, "Albert Vogler, *hoad of Vereinigte Stahlwerke, largo steel combine. "Kurt \7eigelt, one of leading German bankers, reported to have finanoed Hitler in early days, managed Deutsche Bank,

"Baron Tilo von YTilmotslcy, brother-in-law of Gustav Krupp, deputy chair man of Eriodrich Krupp, A.G., and of several of it3 subsidiaries; ."Tiilholm Zangen, aormectodwith Uannosmann Roohren-tferko combine, which- has a long history of association \d.th Germany's expansionist policies." t (R/G/27/10 P) . In the same rolease Senator Kilgoro is quoted as saying: "'The facts here assomblod cloarly implicate those industrialists in the crimes coixiittod against' tho pooplos of many nations by tho Nazis , . • * Tho Senator also noted that only ono nano on thi3 list, that of Gustav Krupp von Bohlen, has appoared on the list of war ariminals to be tried at Nuremburg." (Vg/27/10 p) Another rv-rao in addition to tho above, mentioned in the reloaso of June 25tn I9^f51 T/as that of Eduard Houdremont, "nanaging dirootor of the Krupp armaments work3, is -also an official of .’the Ministry of Armaments and Munitions headed by Albert Spoor, holding the post of special deputy for metal substitutes* In this post Houdremont is director for tho co-ordination of all private, semi- publia agencies (oartols, groups, etc») entging in finding substitutes for aoorco metals." (H/d/Zf/IQ L)

APPENDIX I -

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\ « % - ' ' APPENDIX g* ;.V DIDUST3IALISTS AS PHSLLIGSNCE AGENTS. '*t£r£jü t « ; '.>;j ■> , • Letters, constituting oxhibits of tho Kilgore Sub-Committee^ report, illustrating the nannor in which the I*G. ifcrbenindustrie assisted the Go mm Airy intelligence services in espionage abroad« • f , "'(A). Lotter dated March 15, 1943, fron Piekenbrook. Colonel, General Staff, Counter Espionage Soction one, Vfohmaoht Suprene Connand, to Pr, Geor.n: von Schnitzlori • , (

'Dear Herr Dr. von Schnitzler: I would like to infornpyou that- ' . I an shortly leaving Borlin and ny prosont office to tako ovor a corxjand at the front* -I feel particularly urged to thank you for tho valuable oo-oporatior.. whioh you havo extondod to jqy office; I shall always retain pleascnt nonoriea of the personal and official collaboration with you* I should like to" take this opportunity of asking you to givo tho sano support to my successor, Lioutenaht Colonel Hansoni 'with nary thanks and Heil Hitler, I rerfiin, yours, very dovotod (signod) Piokoribrcck. ’ "«(B) Letter dr.ted iiarch 24, 1943, fron Dr» Schnitzler to Piokeribrock, *Doar Colonel: X thank you vory nuoh for your( kind no to of 15 Ikrch and take liberty of expressing ny bo3t \rishos for your front connand, 'I and ny colleagues working hero at Frankfurt on foreign business have always con sidered, it a duty of honour to be always at your disposal for your special tasks* This will of course bo the same in the future aftor your succcssor, Lieutenant Colonel Hanson, has taken over. With cordial regards and Heil Hitler, I rear.in, yours very dovoted, (signod) V* Schnitzler* * v

W,(C) Excorots fron letter dated iiarch 30, 1940, fron Dr* E. von dor Hoyde to Dr. von Schnitzler: . fAs you..know the (ÄST (Suprone Coraaand of tho TfohrnS-cht) has repeatedly 03q>ressdd its requost for all possible help in plaoing its "Ver trauensleute" (confidential agents) abroad* The OKiT has approached us in regard to oases in which it was/desirable to incorporate permanently into our foreijpi organisation, a trustworthy person in rogp-rd to casos where temporary backing for confidential agonts on individitfil trips abroad of linitod duration was noodcd. As I explained at the last nee ting of tho Cormorcial Conaittoe, . not only the 0Ki7 but also tho Reiohssiohorhoitshauptrvnt (Reich Security Main Office) has such desire and pursues its specific *ins in* accord with the' 0K17. • •"(D) Excerpt fron letter datod 3rd April, 194-0, fron Dr* von Schnitzler to Dr* E* von dor iley&3: 'I recently had occasion in Berlin to discuss with liajor Block of • the CKW another natter pertaining to this subjeot, i.e. whother and to what * extent the 0K\7. wonts to use tho services of the "Gesellschaft für Verkaufsr foerderung*’ (Association for Sales pronotion) whiah is under the Jianagonent of Kessrs* Kunzler and von Puttkaner* This Conpany is particularly well suited for the intended cojnouflaging manoeuvres, sinoa tho failure of one of its emissaries will never lead to a catastrophe: If worst cones to worst this , company night tove to cease operating in some particular country and would havo to confine its activities to other neutral countries.«

PURL: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/9733ac/ "*(E) The following secret communication on November 9> 194-3, is in the sane vein, from the 7/irtschaftspolitischo Abteilunff to Dr. Oberhoff of I.G. Eirbeh:

’Lieutenant Colonel Bocher is shortly coing to Spain on orders of the Abwehr (tfehrmaaht Intelligence).. However, since it is not supposed, to be laiown there that he is attached, to this agency he is to be camouflaged by becoming part of some firm. Since Bocher is a wool merchant by trade, it was first thought advisable to plaoe him with a wool purchasing firm fron Sofindus. For special reasons this is not possible, and tho Rtfi is now enquiring whether the I.G. would not bo able to find et place for Hr. Bocher.*” - - (VG/27/10 J)

/jEsroix n. * . / ' HITLER'S FEIAIICIAL BACI3PJS.

Extracts concerning Gorman industrialists, fron "Germany puts the Clock Back” by Edgar Howror, page 113 et seq. "According to the conclusions of an investigating connittoe (Unter- . suchungsausschuss) of the Bavarian Diet, Hitlor's financial backers.in his early days included a reactionary industrialist, von Borsig, of Berlin, two leading figures in the. Association of Bavarian Industrialists (Bayerish ' Industriellen Verband) and a. high-born aristocrat, Prince Aroribexg. According to the Berlin Vielt an Abend (Deceriber 11, 1930), this first list should be completed by tho addition of two nore big industrialists, one baron, one count, Prince Henckel von Donnersmarck, Duke Ludwig ITilheln of Bavaria and the Duka of Coburg. Is it to be supposed that suah Illustrious representatives of tho ancient order of things would relinquish the money they knew so well how to get and keep in order to install "socialism" in Gerrf-ny.

"In later years7 the list of the alleged financial patrons of the National- Socialist movement beoame extremely long* Eaatoiy owners, managers, general oounsel (Syndici), were as thick as they might bo on 'the subscription list of the Republican National Comittee in the United States. Here were no lack of interesting folk: a Erc.u von Prittwitz of Karlsruho (Die Arbeiterstirnne of Dresden, May 21, 1930); Bechstoin of piano fame (Ostthueringer Tribuene, of Gera, December 16, 1930)» Qno of tho biggost industrialists in tho Ruhr District, Privy Councillor Emil Kirdorf, was frequently mentioned; the Iahuson Brothers of Bremen* who nourished the National-Socialist movement with money that was alleged to have belonged to the stockholders of tho Nordsrolle Concern until it went bankrupt under their able direction; and finally, Fritz Thyssen, that pillar of financial conservatism, who introduced Adolf Hitler to the Industrialists* Club in Düsseldorf (January, 1931) as the "saviour of Germany". On another occasion, Herr Thysson was reported to have peddlod among his friends admission cards to a National-Socialist political meeting at fifty marks a head*. "The large landownors seem to have discovered the value of Adolf Hitler sonowhat later, but a fair number wore signalled out as among his subsidisers. The Berlin Voiwaorts (August 27, 19^9) nontioned a group of wealthy men in East Prussia ^ho had found it useful to support the movement. Among them were a Baron Buttlor and a Baron von der Goltz.

PURL: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/9733ac/ "Cliribiiif, a atop highor onp.roaohod the cirolos'of tho deposed Goroan sovereigns. Beside .tho Duke of Coburg, who scons to h?.vo rot in at an early date , .a 3a ter 'list' (Die 7,’eltbuohna, Berlin, April SO, 1932) nentioned the Dukr of Brunswiok, tho Grand Duke of Oldenburg and the Grand Duke of Hcokleriburg as: financial backers. V;; --\V ;• ' ' '-'v' > '••V* . "Hjr.lmr Horace Grooloy Sohacht, Raichs mark nanipulator and chief* "fixer" of tho Reich's foreign creditors, deserved corxwnt for other reasons# First, ho was not a Nr.zi at all but an unlinitodly cdbitious individualist; . second, without his sheer nagic in financing arnanont on a shoestring and , conjuring up export trade for Gornany in falling market, tho regime night have collapsed. It would bo a pity if tho world ovor forgot that this long necked banker began political life as democrat,, evolved into Conaorvatisn just when tho Republio began to fail, hookod on to Hitler just in tine to ride into history as tho financior of tho world's greatest conspiracy, Yfehr.virtschaft."

In regard to Schaaht, tho following extract fron "What about Gornany" by L.P. Loahner, pago 35» is of interest, (Loohner was the Bureau Chief of the * Associated Press, in Berlin), "Schaaht, as his forei<7i! friends learned to thoir disnay, bocamo the finanoiai organiser of Hitler's armed challonge to the world, A friend of rrLr'~ who for many years had boon a cl9se collaborator of Dr, Schacht, but who severed his connections with tho Reichsbank when he realised where his high- collared chiof was hoaded for, ably sunned it up: • • I • "'She wizard of National Sooialism transformed the eoonor.de system of the Reioh into a complete rjachiriory for the’ preparation ot war. A, unique, ays ton of taxation, of monopolies, of currency nanipulation was. buiit up which enabled the Gernr.n loader (Hitler) to use German labour, German pur chasing power, German tochnioal inventions, for an unprecedented concentration of national strength* Every action, evory Dan,' every idea served was purpose If Hitler was tho political organiser, Goering the military organiser, Dr. Sahaaht became the financial organiser of the a ttaok of National Socialism on the European neighbours of the Reich,'" .

PURL: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/9733ac/