A. I did not accept it only for the one and decisive reason that I did not want to leave the beautiful district of Karlsruhe for the time being.
Q. For how long were you general public prosecutor in Karlsruhe?
A. Unfortunately, only until 1939.
Q. May I now ask you, who was Parey?
A. Parey was Reich Public Prosecutor since 1936, later chief Reich prosecutor [Oberreichsanwalt] at the People’s Court in Berlin.
Q. And for what reason did Parey leave his office as Chief Reich Prosecutor at the People’s Court?
A. At the beginning of November 1938. He had an automobile accident.
Q. When did you find out for the first time that you were being considered as Parey’s successor?
A. At the beginning of December 1938. The then Under Secretary Freisler, on order of Minister Guertner, informed me that Guertner had chosen me as his—that is, Parey’s—successor.
Q. Did you make any efforts to obtain that position?