, MINUTES
of the 12th Meeting of the Reichs Defense Council
Time: 14 May 1936. - Begin: 10:00 o'clock.
Place: Grand Conference Room End: 14:00 o'clock.
of National Ministry of War.
(Secret business of the Command)
1. The National Minister of War and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, General Field Marshal von Blomberg, opened the 12th meeting of the Reichs Defense Council by expressing thanks for the work accomplished and pointing out in principle the necessity of a preparation for a total mobilization with emphasis on the most important measures to be taken at this time. (Among others: mobilization schedule, legal basis, preparations in the remilitarized zone). He further indicates the assignment of the national resources [Reichsressort] to finance its measures for preparation of the Reichs defense out of its budget.
2. The chairman of the Reichs Defense Council, Lieutenant General Keitel, states:
In today's and future meetings of the Reichs Defense Council a cross section of the general situation concerning all matters of the national defense is presented. The picture of the situation does not appear in the reports of the meetings. The open discussion of State secrets before our large council gives the special obligation to the chairman of the Reichs Defense Council of pointing out its secrecy.
Today's session takes place under the auspices of the restoration of the State authority in the demilitarized zone.
The difficulties of the economic situation, which are presented today, must be mastered.
3. The serious raw material and foreign exchange situation has led to the special mandate given to the Prussian Ministerpresident Goering by the Fuehrer and Reichschancellor of which the Reichs resources were notified. In order to strengthen the connection between the Prussian Ministerpresident and the Reichs Defense Council, one more representative for the raw material and foreign exchange matters, besides the official national defense council representatives of the Prussian Ministerpresident, is appointed as a permanent member to the Reichs Defense Council according to a cabinet resolution of April 4, 1933: Lieutenant Colonel Loeb of the National Air Ministry.
4. The following changes took place in the Reichs Defense Council.
The chairman welcomes as new members these representatives
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of the National Office for Regional Planning: Director Bloecker (not present) and Dr. Schopers.
Replacements were: In the National Ministry of Finance Geheimrat Wapenhensch by Ministerial Director Dr. Mitze; in the Postal Ministry Postal Director Timme by Ministerial Director Schroeder; in the Ministry of Transportation Ministerial Counsel Schmidt by Ober Regierungs- and Baurat Pigge.
The chairman welcomes the new co-workers and expresses his gratitude to the gentlemen who have resigned for their valuable work in the Reichs Defense Council.
To Ober Regierungsrat Dr. Barth who left the executive staff of the plenipotentiary and the mobilization staff of the Ministry for Economics, and who was one of the first and most active fellow-workers in preparing the economic mobilization, the chairman gives the special thanks of the Reichs Defense Council.
A. About the present situation reports for the uniform preparation for the national defense are presented under special consideration of the experiences from the occupation of the demilitarized zone :
1. by Secretary of the Legation von Buelow (Foreign Office) about the foreign policy situation.
The chairman gives the order to procure documents about Italy's measures against the sanctions to solve also our difficult problems concerning the armament economy and the demobilization. A study of war economy is suggested in view of various foreign policy situations.
2. By Major von Wrochem (National Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda) about the propaganda policy situation at home and abroad.
The chairman points out the importance of propaganda as a weapon.
3. By Colonel Jodi (W A (L) ) about the military policy situation.
The war of today is composed of many steps. The experiences during the tension period in March led to the recognition that in the Mobilization Book for the civil administration an arrangement to 3 periods of strain is unsuitable for preparatory measures ; it will be abandoned. The measures to be taken in the "X" case and in the mobilization case are combined in one chapter because they are almost the same. In part I of the Mobilization Book directives for this are drawn up. Its new edition and the directives for the mobilization schedule of the civil administration
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by the National Ministry of War is to be expected during the next quarter.
Explained are "blockade organization" and "frontier guard", changed inclusive Reichs defense measures, the details of which will be sent to the participating departments of the National Ministry of War. The participating civilian departments will not be burdened to any great extent with new tasks and costs. The chairman points out that the new construction of the armed forces makes possible improvements in the preparation which will be effective beginning in the mobilization year 1937.
4. By Colonel Thomas (W A (W STb) ) about the military economic situation.
The improvement of our military economic situation which is dependent on foreign countries in the task of the economic policy, to be influenced by the military economy, and a foreign policy which assures itself of economically strong allies.
5. By Ministerial Director Wohlthat (executive staff plenipotentiary) about the condition in the field of food, trade and industrial economy, raw materials, and foreign exchange.
To maintain the armament and food self-sufficiency, further increases in production and the most vigorous savings measures are necessary immediately, a demand, which has led to the special mandate of the Prussian Ministerpresident Goering. The chairman states comprehensively:
Through the occupation of the demilitarized zone, the military economic situation has improved. In relation with foreign countries the power of the Reich became stronger.
According to the last two lectures, we face a difficult situation in the National economy. To overcome them Ministerpresident Goering has given more detailed explanations at the beginning of this week. Three demands must remain:
a. the demand for armament depending upon the full capacity of our economic power. The Fuehrer wants no delay for this urgent task.
b. to maintain the productive capacity of our industry and agriculture avoiding the discharge of workers.
c. to maintain the food self-sufficiency of the people: a good harvest can be hoped for.
The progress in the production of substitutes, for instance in fodder, rubber, fuel, are still a live insurance for the people and the armed forces. With keeping this in mind their often un-economieally high costs have to be judged.
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