FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: Did you have lifebuoys anchored in the Channel for shot-down fliers?
GÖRING: Quite a number of lifebuoys were anchored, to which ropes were attached and to which fliers who had been shot down could cling. The lifebuoys were also equipped with foodstuff, drinking water, life-saving jackets, lifebelts, and the like. Besides these small lifebuoys there were larger ones in the form of small rafts which the fliers could board. There also food, drink, first-aid kits, blankets, and the like, were to be found.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: How were these lifebuoys treated by the British?
GÖRING: In different ways. Some remained, others were destroyed.
FLOTTENRICHTER KRANZBÜHLER: I have no further questions.
DR. EXNER: Is it known to you that particularly in 1942 a severe conflict arose between the Führer and Colonel General Jodl?
GÖRING: Yes.
DR. EXNER: Is it known to you that at that time Jodl was even to be relieved?
GÖRING: The conflict arose from the Caucasus crisis. The Führer blamed General Jodl for the fact that no concentrated forces had been used to press forward in the direction of Tuapse; but that battalions of mountain troops had been marched from the valleys over the mountain chain of the Elbrus, which the Führer thought was senseless. At that time, as far as I remember, Jodl pointed out to him that this matter had been discussed with, and approved by him. The Führer severely criticized the commander who was in charge of this sector. Jodl defended him on those grounds, and this led to extremely strained relations. The Führer mentioned to me that he wanted to relieve Jodl. The tension was so strong that from this moment on, as far as I remember, the Führer withdrew from the Officers Club jointly used by both his Operations Staff and High Command, and even took his meals alone. For quite some time, for several months, he refused to shake hands with this gentleman. This illustration is just to show you how great the tension was at that time.
As successor to Jodl, Paulus was already selected; the Führer had special confidence in him. Just why this change did not materialize, I do not know exactly. I assume that here again, despite all tension, the decisive factor for the Führer was that it was extremely hard for him to get used to new faces, and that he did not like to make any changes in his entourage. He preferred to continue working with men of his entourage whom he did not like rather than change them.