issued in the general name of the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor to the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (OKW) in all questions of minor importance in this field the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) has the right to make decisions in case of arguments, without having the point of the argument brought before the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor for his decision. The working side by side of the branches of the armed forces dealing with the preparations for the economic mobilization and the Plenipotentiary General for the War Economy prevents almost in all fields a clear picture about the potential de guerre. In order to justify the necessity of the right of directive the following details are pointed out: 1. The dependence of the armament sector on the remaining sector of economy, and thereby the whole mobilization preparation require, that directives about the extent and speed of the mobilization preparations be issued by the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. 2. The armament industry adjusts its size to the requirements of the Armed Forces. Therefore, in the interests of national defense it must remain the right of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces to decide to what extent industries will be declared armament industries. After the past experiences however, the debtors [Aussenstellen] of the Reich Economic Ministry often oppose such a declaration of armament industries. 3. The Armed Economic Order [Wehrwirtschaftsordnung], which is to regulate the cooperation between the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces and the Plenipotentiary General on the basis of the national defense law, has been completed in draught form by the Armed Forces as far as this is possible without the cooperation of the Plenipotentiary General. The Plenipotentiary General in his part has refused his cooperation in this fundamental plan for the time being. Although a clear determination of the authority of the civilian and military authorities in the war economic field urgently needs to be settled, the further continuation of working on the plan has become impossible through the attitude of the Plenipotentiary General at present. 4. The distribution of the total population (requirements of the Armed Forces and mobilization of labor) must be decided from the standpoint of warfare. Only the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces can determine if the operational situation requires an increased use of men at the front or in the war economy. The use of human labor, in wartime must therefore be placed under the control of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces in peacetime already. 5. The food economy is also decisive for the fighting ability of the units and occasionally of decisive importance for military operations. An exact knowledge of the food situation and cooperation in measures in the food economy on the part of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces are therefore required already in peacetime. Previously it has not been possible to receive a report on the war food situation from the Plenipotentiary General or even only reasonably dependable reports on the necessary food requirements of the civilian population in wartime. As long as no right of directive exists it will be impossible to receive these reports. 6. The use of raw materials decisively influences the supply situation of the Armed Forces in wartime. 7. The usual equipment is only to be secured by the order of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces, because the equipment of the units and thereby their fighting preparedness depends on this. For this the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) must be able to assemble the installations for industrial economy to the extent it appears necessary to the interest of the country's defense. 8. In the field of transport facilities, uniformity is essential. During one of the transport actions carried out recently, the individual officers of the Plenipotentiary General discussed this from completely various viewpoints and from a different one than was taken during the usual war economic-inspection procedure, so that the result is hardly of use. The directory law of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) could have avoided this: 9. In the court of a mobilization at the present time in the Reich, there is a shortage of approximately 40,000 trucks. With the mobilization, the Armed Forces will therefore either not receive the necessary trucks, or parts of the war economy will collapse, since the necessary transports cannot be driven. In the interest of her supplies, the Armed forces must therefore request that the management make possible the procurement of the trucks lacking through tax reductions and release of raw material. The Supreme Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) must use its influence to expedite the procurement of the trucks lacking. The war economy which is subordinated to the Plenipotentiary General represents the war economic stage of the armaments industry. If this stage fails, the striking power of the Armed Forces becomes questionable. The undertaking Otto has brought numerous proofs that the lack of uniformity in the direction of economy will lead to severe disturbances. The greatest part of all points of friction and difficulties can be eliminated, as soon as it has been clearly decided that the Plenipotentiary General in all questions of provisions for the Armed Forces must conform to the orders of the OKW. For the files II b TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT EC-271 COPY The Minister of the Reich and Head of the Reichschancellery R.K. 153 B g Rs vol. 94-4 Top Secret E 271 [Geheime Kommandosache] To the Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces (OKW) General of Artillery Keitel or to his Official Deputy. Dear General: The enclosed copies, concerning the Plenipotentiary for War Economy and the decree concerning the command of the armed forces, dated February 4, 1938, are respectfully submitted, with request to take notice. W 4/12 WSTb. W Wi I a 11 April Tb a II II/4 1938 I Az Nr. 923 138 gk. Anl. (Very Urgent!) Nr. 610/38 g. Kdos. IV a To the Reich Minister and Head of the Reich Chancellery Dr. Lammers Berlin. Dear Dr. Lammers: In connection with a trip to Austria I have among other matters talked to General Fieldmarshal Goering also about the position of the Plenipotentiary for War Economy. I have pointed out that-contrary to the attitude of the OKW of which I was informed the decree of 4 February 1938 concerning the leadership of the Wehrmacht did not change the position of the Plenipotentiary for War Economy. Aside from the fact that this decree, according to its heading, applies exclusively to the "command of the armed forces", the tasks of the OKW, as mentioned especially in the last paragraph in question, are dependent upon instructions of the Fuehrer. Moreover, to the instructions of the Fuehrer, belongs also the decision of the Reich Government of 21 May 1935, according to which the Plenipotentiary for War Economy, in his sphere of duty as Supreme Reich authority, is immediately subordinated to the Fuehrer. General Fieldmarshal Goering assured me that my interpretation, as mentioned above, was correct in every respect and also corresponds with the Fuehrer's opinion. I asked him to give me a brief written confirmation. General Fieldmarshal Goering promised to grant this request. I am transmitting these facts to you for your information, so that you may make use of them, should the occasion arise. Heil Hitler! Yours [signed] WALTER FUNK. COPY Berlin, 6 April 1938 Copy to Rk. 153 B.g. Rs. The Reich Minister and Head of the Reich Chancellery Rk. 153 B. g. Rs. Re: Letter from the Plenipotentiary for War-Economy G.B. 649/38 g. Rs. regarding decree concerning command of Armed Forces, dated 4 February 1938. Top Secret [Geheime Kommandosache] To the Reich and Prussian Minister of Economics Walter Funk or official deputy. Dear Mr. Funk! When reporting to the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor the draft of the decree concerning the command of the Armed Forces, dated 4 Febr. 1938, I extended my report also to the Plenipotentiary for War Economy. The Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor expressed himself in a definite manner, to the effect that his previous instructions with regard to the Plenipotentiary for War Economy, were in no way affected by this decree. The wording in the last paragraph of the decree was formulated in its present manner, for the precise purpose of corresponding with the conception of the Fuehrer. In consequence the position and the sphere of duty of the Plenipotentiary for War Economy have not been altered by the mentioned decree. Both, General Fieldmarshal Goering and the Commander of the OKW have received one copy each, of your letter of 3.3.1938, as well as of this letter. Heil Hitler! Very sincerely yours [signed] Dr. Lammers TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT EC-318 Conference of Presidents under the chairmanship of the 1942 The Reich Minister of Labor, who arrived accompanied by the "Staatssekretaere" Dr. SYRUP and Dr. ENGEL and who remained here throughout the meeting, has welcomed Gauleiter SAUCKEL, assured him of the close cooperation of the depart |