FUNK: I cannot remember that, although of course I considered the union of Germany and Austria necessary; but I do not recall discussing it with Mr. Messersmith.
As far as Dr. Paul Oestreich’s book is concerned, I am sorry that the Prosecution has used this book as a source of information. Mistakes have arisen which could have been avoided and which I would not have to refute here now. Oestreich was a man who was quite outside the Party.
DR. SAUTER: What was he?
FUNK: He owned a German newspaper in Chile, and for some years he was political editor of the Berliner Börsenzeitung.
DR. SAUTER: Political editor?
FUNK: First of all, he naturally wanted to secure a market for his book; and for that reason he exaggerated the importance of my position in the Party. He may have thought that in this way he would do me a particular favor. In any case, as things have been described there, they are not correctly stated.
DR. SAUTER: Witness, in Document Number 3563-PS, submitted by the Prosecution, there is a statement to the effect that you, Dr. Funk, were described in several publications as Hitler’s adviser on economic policy; and in another passage you are said to be Hitler’s “Wirtschaftsbeauftragter” (Economic Plenipotentiary). Was this a Party office, or what precisely was meant by this term? What functions is it supposed to indicate?
FUNK: It was neither a Party office nor a Party title. The press frequently called me so on account of my activity on behalf of the Party in 1932, and it was obviously adopted by writers from the newspapers. But it was neither an office nor a title. It is really nonsense to consider my activities at that time so important; for if they had actually been of importance, I should certainly have retained these offices when the Party came to power.
The Reich Minister for Food and Agriculture was also a Reichsleiter; State Secretary Reinhardt, of the Finance Ministry, was the head of the Department for Financial Policy in the Reich Party Directorate (Reichsleitung), et cetera. But there never was a “Reichsleiter für die Wirtschaft.” When the Party came to power I left the Reichstag and all Party organizations.
DR. SAUTER: Dr. Funk, a Reich Economic Council of the Party—I repeat the term: Reich Economic Council of the Party—has been mentioned once or twice in the course of this Trial. What do you know about your part in this Party organization and about the duties and domain of this Party organization?