FUNK: I had to think for a long time before I could remember this group at all, especially as neither Hess, Rosenberg, nor Frank remembered anything of the kind. But I remember dimly that Gottfried Feder had a Circle of people whom he used to call in for consultation and to which he gave the rather pompous name of “Reich Economic Council of the Party.” After the seizure of power this group ceased to exist. I never attended any of its sessions, and I was very much surprised to learn from the Indictment that I was supposed to have been the deputy chairman of this group. This group was of no importance whatsoever.
DR. SAUTER: You mentioned Gottfried Feder.
FUNK: He was responsible for the economic program and tenets of the Party from its establishment until it came to power.
DR. SAUTER: So he was the economic theorist of the Party from its foundation until it came to power?
FUNK: Yes. Dr. Wagner and Keppler overshadowed him later on. Keppler was always given the title of Economic Adviser to the Führer in public.
DR. SAUTER: Dr. Funk, if I understood you correctly, the persons whom you mentioned just now are those whom you consider as the economic advisers of Hitler?
FUNK: No, that is wrong.
DR. SAUTER: Well?
FUNK: Hitler did not allow anyone to advise him, especially on economic matters. These were merely the men who dealt with problems of economic policy in the Party leadership, both before and after my time.
DR. SAUTER: Also from the publicity angle, like Gottfried Feder?