“As regards the employment of European labor and the problems,
methods, and means for the same, Timm made the following
remarks: 1) Northern Europe; 2) Southeast; 3) Italy; 4) France.”
Then we come to the passage about which I am asking you for an
explanation, because you made this statement. Will you answer that? Do
you still deny your knowledge of the fact that these deportations were
forced?
TIMM: I have no intention of denying anything. I can only say that
Sauckel probably had powers from the Führer to use all reasonable means
to speed up the procurement of workers.
Measures were introduced and carried out in France which, even if they
were approved by Laval, the Premier at the time, might nevertheless be
termed compulsory.
M. HERZOG: Thank you. I have one last question to ask you. In this
quotation you say, “The Führer has approved....” If the Führer approved
something, it means, that something was suggested to him. Is that not a
fact?
TIMM: As far as I can remember, Gauleiter Sauckel always reported the
results of his talks in Paris to the Führer. It is possible that he
reported to the Führer the question of recruiting methods which he had
discussed with Laval; and it was customary for him, as I have already
said in my testimony, always to make sure of the Führer’s approval, so
that he did not work against the Führer’s ideas.