and Labor Office, Labor Front, the union of all those that were working, the employers as well as the employees, trustee, social judge, and labor office as a representative of the law-giving agencies. This was only that section of the workers' agreement with which the trustee was concerned. We still had the viewpoint of the trade unions, which were only concerned with labor agreements. Rebuilding the social structure, this became only a part of the task which had to be done there. Q. Then later in 1934, in January, you had a larger concept of the task of the DAF, is that right, when the law of 20 January was passed?* A. Can I tell you? I had known nothing about these unions. I had never before bothered about them as I myself was only an employee in a factory. Then I saw that he was right in practice and that it was wrong. Under that I became a National Socialist. But since I had not occupied myself with this subject, I did not suggest myself to the Fuehrer. Therefore I was surprised when he named me. I told him that too. I told him, "My Fuehrer, with this subject I have never occupied myself." But he said, "You are the right man." Later on when we christened the first ship during a special ceremony, "Strength through Joy," then he said, "Workers, I have given you as leader the greatest idealist." That was the only thing I brought with me for that task. Everything else came afterwards. More I can't tell you. Out of healthy common sense, out of practice, out of my thinking, out of that it has developed. In any case, from our enemies, that has been told me by Sir Patrick, the Secretary of the Foreign Office, in Mondorf. I think his name is Patrick. He told me word by word, "I myself have coal interests in Germany, and I must tell you that the German Labor Front has been one of the most praiseworthy organizations in Germany which I have ever known." In any case, its success proves it, no strikes, no sabotage, in all, achievements. You have interrogated me about foreign workers. Unfortunately, I did not remember at that time. Their labor achievements rose exactly as high as that of the German workers; while the achievements of the Eastern workers when they arrived were not over 60 percent on the average, among them were those who only did 20 percent and others who did at least 80 percent and many 100 percent. The foreign workers took up the battle for achievement. One more thing. While the labor unions in the first world war after one-half year did not have any more dues coming in and *See document 1861-PS, vol. IV, p. 497. were being aided by public funds, we still had in April of this year 90 percent of the contributions, of the dues. There were 55,000,000 per month. Q. Now, under whose direction were the trustees? Did they fall within the framework of the DAF or were they under the Minister of Labor? A. Under the Minister of Labor. At the end under Sauckel. I like to talk about these things. I am not bored. I am glad when I have the opportunity to talk about it because one will be able to feel that at the end of my work, I am still very proud of it. I believe that my system has been the most ideal. It is a great pity that it has not been carried over to other countries. Excerpts of Testimony of Robert Ley, taken at Nurnberg, Ley's Statements After Reading the Indictment Q. You have now been served with a copy of the indictment in this case in which you are accused as defendant of the commission of various crimes. It is expected that you will continue to be interrogated from time to time unless you expressly object thereto. Please state whether you have any objection to being further interrogated, or whether you consider your interests would be protected by refusing to be interrogated further. A. I am willing to answer any questions. I have nothing to hide. This is all so terrible. I have read this indictment. Of course under it falls every member of the Party. For instance, with regard to me it has been said that I had been responsible for offenses and crimes connected with count number three. I have nothing to do with them at all. I was not in charge. It will be necessary to show me those things as well as where I have been participating in the preparation for the war. That I participated in getting the war started-I had prepared the Party Congress in Nurnberg in 1938. I even had arranged for an excursion for workers to the Far East and around the world for that and the following year. I have had no knowledge or information as to the war. It came to me as a surprise, as a hail storm comes to a corn field. Of course, that I was a member of the Party I have stated here before. And that I should have mistreated foreign workers, it is not true. As a matter of fact I have favored them. I have done everything that was within my power-everything to improve their lot. Q. You understand you will have an opportunity to present such a defense as you may. At the present time we do not wish to have a discussion of the merits of the charge. A. I do not know an attorney. I have referred to three names on the list of attorneys but I don't know these gentlemen, but if it is at all possible, I would like to have a Jewish person as my defense counsel. I do not know whether the Major has read my writings. I am willing to die. I haven't written these things to protect my life. I did it because I believed I would serve humanity. And I don't know these gentlemen (referring to the list of lawyers). Who would be able to give me references with regard to these men? Is there anybody who could advise me on this matter? Q. The procedure for the selection of counsel is not known to me at the present time. However, there will be a decision on it one way or the other. What specifically have you in mind regarding that? A. I would like to state again that I would like to be represented by a respectable Jewish attorney, and if I could have two, I would like to have an attorney from Cologne. His name is Robert Servatius. He certainly is not a Jew, but two, Falkenberg and Pollack, I would presume they are Jewish. Q. The procedure on obtaining counsel will be decided later, and you will be able to forward your request for a Jewish counsel if that is what you wish. That will be all. XVII. MAX AMANN* Excerpts from Testimony of Max Amann, taken at Nurn- Nazi Acquisition and Suppression of the German Press Q. Do you recall publicly stating in October 1941 that the majority of the larger and medium-sized papers in Germany were financially controlled by the Party? A. Yes, I think even a two-thirds majority. *Max Amann was Reich Leader for the Press; Head of Central Publishing House of the Party; and President of the Reich Press Chamber. Previously he served in the same company with Hitler in World War I, took part in the Putsch of 1923, and was imprisoned for four and one-half months. He was Munich City Councillor 1924-33; member of Reich Culture Senate since its foundation in 1935; and member of the Reichstag since 1933. See document 3016-PS, vol. V, p. 735; see also vol. I, pp. 330-332. Q. Well, what was the total circulation, at its highest point, of all Party newspapers? A. If the total circulation amounted to 21,000,000 and I said two-thirds of it is controlled by the Party it would amount to 14 million. Q. Was the highest peak of circulation of German newspapers, including both Party and non-Party, the 21 million figure, you have cited? A. Yes, of all German dailies. You have to add a great many weeklies, which had very wide circulation. Q. Now, isn't it a fact that a large number of private publishing houses that were non-Party went out of existence during the eight-year period from January 1933 until 1941? A. Yes. We bought quite a lot after 1935. Q. How many newspapers were owned by the Party at the time the Party came into power in January 1933? A. I can only estimate, but perhaps 400 newspapers. Q. How many newspapers did the Party own at its highest point? A. Approximately, but this is only an estimate, from 1,200 to 1,500, but I rather think 1,200. Q. Is the difference between the 400 and 1,200 or 1,500 figure accounted for by the purchase of going newspapers or by the founding of new newspapers? A. Through both. Q. Which would you say accounted for the larger number? A. In my opinion, purchase. Q. What were the methods used in acquiring these various newspapers by purchase? A. On my strict order two points had to be observed strictly. First, the newspaper had to be relinquished voluntarily and a legal price had to be paid. Q. Why do you think so many newspapers were willing to sell valuable property to your outfit? A. The reason was that those publishers, who were regarded as politically unreliable by the Party, were told it would be a good idea to hand over the newspapers to their sons, who should have had newspaper training by now, or any other relative, or, if no other person existed in his family who would be qualified, to offer his paper to somebody outside. Q. Who, besides yourself in Germany, was doing any purchasing of newspaper properties during the period in question? A. I don't know that but I am sure that newspapers were also sold in the free market to other publishers. Q. You don't really think that, do you? A. Yes. I really believe that. Q. You do not mean to imply by that that you didn't know the publishing picture as a whole in Germany, do you? A. Oh yes, I was well informed all the time but I could not recall detailed, single cases. Q. As a matter of fact, if there had been any substantial buying of newspapers by anybody except yourself you would remember it, wouldn't you? A. Yes, then I would remember it. Q. The fact that you do not remember it would indicate that there was no such substantial buying, isn't that correct? A. Yes, that is right. Q. Don't you think it is a fair statement to make, that you were practically the sole purchaser of newspapers in Germany during this period? A. Larger papers, yes, that could be said. May I add one thing? The financial situation of the German newspapers was quite bad during that period. Many papers had collapsed already during the inflation and later on through mass unemployment when few people could afford to buy newspapers. Q. You are speaking of the period from 1933 on now, are you? A. Only since 1934 and 1935 the publishing business flourished again. I bought, for instance, from Hugenberg the Ala Advertising Company, which operated at a deficit at that time and it took about two years until it made profits again. Q. You don't take the position, do you, that all the newspapers you purchased were in a bankrupt condition prior to the time you purchased them? A. No, I don't want to say that. I want to say in general, the situation was pretty difficult. Q. Why do you think people who owned newspapers that were profitable were willing to sell them to you? A. That willingness could be explained by the fact that many publishers were declared politically unreliable and couldn't continue as publishers. Q. Did you ever make any recommendations as to which pub-1 lishers should be declared politically unreliable in order that their newspapers might then become available for purchase? A. No. The Reich Association of the German Press had to investigate the political reliability of people and they used the assistance of the Propaganda Ministry and the criminal and political records of people were investigated, etc. I remember, for ex |