1940 Mär 4 Mantelvertrag zwischen OKH und DAG ^[1]

TRANSLATION OF EXCERPTS OF DOCUMENT No.NI-7771

OFFICE OF CHIEF OF COUNSEL FOR WAR CRIMES

Secret

Between

the German Reich (Reich Army Treasury) represented by the Army High Command, hereinafter referred as "OKH"

and

the firm of Dynamit-Aktiengesellschaft, formerly Alfred Nobel & Co., Troisdorf, represented by its Vorstand, hereinfater referred as "Firm",

the following

O m n i b u s  A g r e e m e n t

is concluded.

This contract is to regulate the collaboration of both contracting parties for the purpose of founding, setting up, starting, operating and maintaining, the plants in Dömitz, Guesen, Hessisch-Lichtenau, Clausthal-Zellerfeld and Ueckermuende, which are to manufacture prducts for the Wehrmacht[.] Financial tasks are allotted in this manner, that the OKH provides the means to procure the real estate, buildings, machines, tools and other installations, which become the legal property of the OKH. The plant will be taken over by the Verwertungsgesellschaft fuer Montanindustrie G.m.b.H. Munich ("MONTAN"), acting for the OKH and will be leased to the subsidiary, the Gesellschaft zur Verwertung chemischer Erzeugnisse G.m.b.H. in Troisdorf, founded by the firm with an original capital of RM 300,000.--, for the purpose of operation and maintenance. [...]

Clause 1

I. The Firm has founded by order and for account of the OKH: the following plants in Dömitz, Reuter Works, on the site shown in the enclosed plan{t}, (Appendix 1) [...]

II. On the basis of provisional order No.4-7012/34 placed on 19.9.1934, the Firm, on orders form and for the account of the OKH, has constructed the following plants [in Güsen] on the site shown in the enclosed plan (Appendix 2): [...]

III. On the basis of order No. 4-7104/35, placed with the Firm on 7.9.1935 and supplemented on 4.10.1937 and 31.8.1938, the Firm, by order and for account of the OKH, has further constructed the following plants in Hessisch-Lichtenau, Friedland Works, on the site shown in the enclosed plan (Appendix 3):

1.) a plant for the production of trinitrotoluene, with a capacity of 1,000 tons trinitrotoluene per month with a coagulation-point of at least 80o C, in 25 working days with three shifts;

2.) a filling plant to fill grenades and bombs with a capacity of 1,700 tons per month Fp.60/40 (explosives mixture of 60% trinitrotoluene and 40% ammonium nitrate) in 25 working days with three shifts;

3.) a plant for the production of picric acid, with a capacity of 250 tons per month of 25 working days with three shifts;

4.) a pressing plant for igniting and primer charges from picric acid;

5.) a pressing plant for engineer and naval ammunition from trinitrotoluene, in addition, the Firm has

6.) increased the capacity of the trinitrotoluene plant by about 400 tons per month;

7.) untertaken to build a Nitropenta plant with a capacity of 150 tons per month of 25 working days with three shifts.

8.) On the basis of order No. 9-7043/37, dated 18.2.1937, the Firm has further in

creased toluene stocks at Hessisch-Lichtenau by 1,000 tons and

9.) On the basis of order No.9-5009/36 dated 18.2.1937, has created the conditions for the alternative production of dinitrobenzene at the trinitrotoluene plant.

IV. [Clausthal-Zellerfeld]

V. [Ueckermuende]

Clause 2

1.) The Firm is authorized and, at the request of the OKH, obliged to delegate to its subsidiary any obligations and rights resulting from this contract.

[...]

Clause 12

1.) The Firm declares explicitly:

a) that it will manage the plants which are the object of this contract as trustee of the OKH. [...]

c) it is responsible for the careful selection of the people entrusted with processing and carrying out the projects, as well as with managing the plants.

2.) The OKH declares that it will indemnify the Firm against any obligations and consequenzes which may arise from this contract, unlesse the Firm is bound by the provisions of this contract.

[Schlussbestimmungen: Laufzeit, Geheimhaltung etc.]

Berlin, the 4th March 1940  / Troisdorf, the 4th March 1940

Army High Command / DYNAMIT-ACTIEN-GESELLSCHAFT

Represented by: / FORMERLY ALFRED NOBEL & Co.

(signature:) Borley (?) / (signatures) MUELLER

Dr. SCHMIDT