Now, it was here known generally what I have already stated, that this way led to the Polish Legion if one started out on it. Secondly, it was known that among the Polish workers in south-western Germany these conditions and knowledge thereof were widespread. Furthermore, it was generally known to those workers too that favorable conditions for work could not be expected in Switzerland; and finally, it was in accordance with the experiences which had been gathered in other trials that a large number of these people who crossed the border after their arrest did not even deny this intention. These general considerations alone would have, in my opinion, justified such a strong suspicion that in accordance with German Code of Criminal Procedure sufficient suspicion for the filing of an indictment existed, and that thus the indictment had to be filed in accordance with the law.
The two indictments which bear my signature are the Bratek and Stefanowitsch cases. The following element, however, is added. Bratek had referred to the fact that he only wanted to cross the border in order to avoid work.
Dr. Grube: In the Bratek case here we are concerned with Prosecution Exhibit 136.[529]
Defendant Lautz: As I said, he claimed it was only for the reason to attempt to seek work that he did want to cross the border. By means of the additional investigations which the division chief instituted, however, it had been found that he did not like to work; he had already left other places of work, so that his statement that he wanted to seek new work in another country in which there were difficult conditions of work did not seem very credible. So for that reason his statement had to be accepted with reservations.
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CROSS-EXAMINATION
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Mr. King: I ask you if it were possible to commit treason against an individual who was not of German citizenship in the period which we are discussing.
Dr. Grube: I object to this question. This is a question which is asking only for the personal opinion of the witness.
Presiding Judge Brand: The objection is overruled.