Lecture of General Thomas before the Staff Instructors' Course [Dozenten-Lehr-gang des Lehrstabes] on 28 Feb. 1939 in Saarow-Pieskow
"The national socialist state, soon after taking over the power, has reorganized the German economy in all sections and directed it towards a military viewpoint, which had been requested by the Army for years. Due to the reorganization, agriculture, commerce and professions become those powerful instruments the Fuehrer needs for his extensive plans, and we can say today that Hitler's mobile politics as well as the powerful efforts of the Army and economy, would not have been possible without the necessary reorganization by the National Socialist government. We can now say that the economic organization as a whole, corresponds with the needs, although slight adjustments will have to be made yet; Those reorganizations made a new system of economics possible which was necessary in view of our internal and foreign political situation as well as our financial problems. The directed economy, as we have it today concerning agriculture, commerce, and industry is not only the expression of the present State principles, but at the same time also the economy of the country's defense. * * *"