Berlin W.35. 29.11.37 Tirpitzufer 72/76 Tel. B 1 Kurfuerst 8191
The Reich War Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces:
WA, No. 1961/37 Most Secret L IV a (When replying, please quote above reference and give date and contents in brief).
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Most Secret
Re: Plenipotentiary General for War Economy
To the Commissioner for the Four Year Plan, Ministerpraesident
General Goering, Berlin Dear General Goering:
As provided in Section 6 of the Reich Defense Law, the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor, when declaring the state of defense, provided for the appointment of a "Plenipotentiary General for War Economy G.B." for the direction of the war economy as a whole. By virtue of a decision of the Reich Cabinet of 21.5.1935 he has already taken up his duties in peacetime.
The Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor, by a special decree, had appointed the President of the Reichsbank directorate, Dr. Schacht, as Plenipotentiary General, and he was at the same time charged with the direction of the Reich and Prussian Ministry of Economics.
Because I deem it necessary that the position of Plenipotentiary General should continue to be combined with that of the Reich and Prussian Minister of Economics, I intend to suggest to the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor that he should appoint the Reich and Prussian Minister for Economics, Funk, as Plenipotentiary General, effective immediately, and strengthen his operational staff as regards constitutional law, through the appointment of a Secretary of State.
The urgency of unified further work on all preparations for the conduct of the war does not admit of this office being paralyzed until 15.1.1938.
May I have your opinion on this matter?
Heil Hitler ! signed v. BLOMBERG 1.12.37 [Illegible Initials]
1178
EC-255
Most Secret
No. 1961/37 Most Secret. IV A.
To War Economy Staff.
The above copy is transmitted with the request that it be noted.
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. [signature illegible]
War Economy Staff, War Economy la.
Dec. 2 1937. No. 3333/37/Seeret Enel.