NAZI GERMANY’S FINANCES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24869, 8 May 1946, Page 7

NAZI GERMANY’S FINANCES

EVIDENCE GIVEN BY FUNK

NUREMBERG, May 6. Giving evidence on his own behalf at the War Crimes Tribunal to-day, Dr. Walther Funk described how Hitler, summoning him after Dr. Schacht’s dismissal, said that the Reichsbank directorate under Schacht was sabotaging the Reich’s policy. Hitler added that Schacht had refused to grant a further credit, which was causing the Reich's financial position to be on the brink of disaster. Hitler asked Funk to take over the directorate of the Reichsbank, but he said that decisions regarding credit would in future be taken by the Finance Minister. Hitler, of course, meant himself. Protesting innocence or Ignorance of the allegations against him, Funk said that he had a nervous breakdown immediately after his capture, when, for the first time, he heard that he was accused of theft, murder, and other crimes. Funk, who looked as though he wouM melt into tears at any minute, added: “When I was in prison and heard for the first time details of what had happened during the pest, years, I started crying. Then it suddenly became clear to me that I felt the shame of guilt." Concerning his part in anti-Jewish legislation, Funk declared that he was merely carrying out the will-of the State and his pledge to the Fuehrer which he put before the “inner voice” of his conscience. He still thought that Germany was guiltless of originating the war.