A. Not at all.
Q. Did you do anything against your appointment as chief Reich prosecutor at the People’s Court?
A. I was very much interested in getting out of being appointed to that position, and because of that I consulted with the personnel division of the Ministry as to how I could prevent my appointment. However, I was told that Minister Guertner attached importance to my taking that position, and therefore, being a civil servant I complied.
Q. May I ask you why you had an aversion to that office?
A. First of all, because of the exclusive occupation with political penal cases and in connection with that the absolute dependence upon the Ministry which was my superior was not an inducement for me; even though, at that time, I could not have the remotest idea that war would shortly break out, that Minister Guertner would die, and that through all these events a course would be followed in politics which, in any case, was not in accordance with the one that I imagined.
That was my main reason. My second reason was that I wanted to remain in Karlsruhe.
Q. When were you appointed Chief Reich Prosecutor?
A. I was appointed on 1 July 1939.
Q. At that time, did you still count upon becoming Chief Reich Prosecutor, since Parey had already left the office some time before?
A. Since it took such a long time I had the hope, quietly, that perhaps another person would be found.