 The scheme, which was eventually directed by Max Ilgner, played a central role in gaining ethnic German support for the annexation of the Sudetenland and the destruction of Czechoslovakia.He was also aware of the projected invasion of Poland during the summer of 1939 after being told of the plans by his friend Claus Ungewitter, an official in the Economics Ministry and an associate of leading figures in the Schutzstaffel.Following the invasion of Poland Schnitzler was sent into the country as the leader of an IG Farben delegation and in this role he ensured that a number of important Polish chemical factories came under the company's control.