Recording

German officer served with SS as Secretary for Special Tasks with Ministry of Economic Affairs in Berlin, Germany, 1938-1942; served as Chief of Planning Office in the Ministry of Armaments in Germany, 1942-1945

REEL 1 Recollections of period as Secretary for Special Tasks with Ministry of Economic Affairs in Berlin, Germany, 1938-1942: economic conditions in Germany during late 1920s and early 1930s; reasons for joining Nazi Party; opinion of achievements of Nazis; work in textile supply from 1934; reaction to re-occupation of Rhineland, 1935; increase in re-armament from 1937; work with Economic Ministry in Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia and Austria; reaction to prospect of war; opinion of Adolf Hitler's views on Soviet Union. REEL 2 Continues: opinion of progress of war, 1940-1942; role studying economic conditions in occupied countries; question of economic co-operation with occupied countries; belief that the timing of start of the war was wrong; reaction to invasion of Soviet Union, 6/1941; economic treaties with Russians; directed economy; lack of co-ordination and direction from ministries; opinion of Reich Minister for Economic Affairs Walter Funk. Recollections of period as Chief of Planning Office in the Ministry of Armaments in Germany, 1942-1945: organisation of ministry; relations between ministers; question of access to Adolf Hitler. REEL 3 Continues: opinion of Albert Speer and his abilities; Albert Speer's access to Adolf Hitler; effect of drug addiction on Hermann Goering; effect of air raids, 1940-1941; problems of acquiring forced labourers from occupied territories from 1942; reasons for lack of conscription of women; reaction to assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler, 7/1944; problems faced in final months of war; state of German Army by 1945; belief that Germany should not have invaded Czechoslovakia, 1939; question of treatment of Jews and moral responsibility; question of war being unnecessary.