SAUCKEL: I had those cases investigated and left any further measures to
the authorities concerned. I did everything on my side to prevent and
stop such occurrences, and that can and will be testified to here.
M. HERZOG: Is it correct that you appealed for the help of the Wehrmacht
to insure the recruiting of foreign workers?
SAUCKEL: In those areas where the Wehrmacht exercised jurisdiction I
passed on to the military commanders or commanders-in-chief, through the
Quartermaster General of the Army, the instructions I received from the
Führer.
M. HERZOG: Is it correct that you asked the military authorities to put
troops at the disposal of your offices and services?
SAUCKEL: I have no recollection of troops, but there were labor
detachments there. It is true that in areas where there were uprisings
or partisan fighting I asked that order be restored, so that the
administration which had been disturbed or interrupted could be resumed.
M. HERZOG: You therefore asked that troops should be put at your
disposal?
SAUCKEL: Not at my disposal. It was not my task to bring order to those
areas. I explained that it was essential for the fulfillment of my own
tasks and that I could only carry them out if proper administration were
once more made possible by the establishment of order; it was not for
recruiting purposes.
M. HERZOG: Did you not ask that those troops should participate in the
tasks assigned to the service for the recruitment of labor? I submit to
you Document Number F-815, which I put in under Exhibit Number RF-1514.
It is a letter of 18 April 1944 from General Field Marshal Von Rundstedt
and addressed to you. I read the first paragraph of it:
“On the part of the Plenipotentiary General for the Allocation
of Labor...”—that is you, is it not?
SAUCKEL: That is I, but there was another department in France, too...
M. HERZOG: “....the request was made that the Commander, West
should be approached to the effect that in sectors where there
are units belonging to the Commander, West, the commanders of
these units should receive orders to support the execution of
the tasks assigned to the Allocation of Labor by making troops
available.”
Do you still deny that you requested that troops should be put at your
disposal?
SAUCKEL: I personally did not ask for them. This appears to be the
administrative office West.
M. HERZOG: Are you not the Plenipotentiary General for the Allocation of
Labor?
SAUCKEL: Yes, but this order is not known to me personally.
M. HERZOG: Do you know whether this request was seconded by the
Defendant Speer?
SAUCKEL: I cannot tell you.