The state prosecutor in Wiesbaden is investigating two companies that allegedly tried to provide Libya with high-tech equipment for weapons production, which they tried to export in violation of German law.
The materiel, manufactured by the Fritz Werner Co. and prepared for shipping by the Degussa Konzern, was confiscated in Hamburg in July. It was said to consist of special equipment to produce extra-hard metals useful in building missiles and cannons.
Degussa is alleged by the prosecutor to have falsified the customs manifests to mislead the authorities as to the nature of the shipments.
Degussa owned a large share of the World War II company that provided Zyklon B to the Nazis. The gas was used to kill Jews.
During the war, Degussa reportedly bought gold, silver and other precious metals taken from Jews in Poland.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
