THE THIRD REICH [Das Dritte Reich], Pages 250-253
The Four Years Plan comprises a generous utilization of German ability and German inventive spirit, the creation of numerous new industries, a comprehensive and systematic directing of economy and last but not least an education of the entire nation for responsible economic conduct in all the big and little matters of daily life. .
The Fuehrer charged Pg [party Comrade] Goering with this immense task, who had been appointed already on 27 April (see para 6) commissioner for all matters concerning foreign currency and raw materials. The "Decree for the execution of the Four Years Plan" dated 18 October stated as follows:
"The realization of the new Four Years Plan announced by me during the party congress of Honor, requires a unified direction of all forces of the German nation, and the strict coordination of all agencies of party and state which are concerned. I charge Prime Minister [Ministerpraesident] Col. General Goering with the execution of the Four Year Plan.
Prime Minister Col. General Goering will take the measures necessary for the accomplishment of the-tasks given to him, and has the authority to issue decrees and general administrative directives. He is, for this purpose, authorized to question and
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issue directives to all authorities, including the highest Reich authorities, and all agencies of the party, its formations and attached organizations.
Berchtesgaden, 18 October 1936.
The Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler"
And PG Hermann Goering went about the accomplishment of these tasks with his characteristic energy and vigor. On 24 October the press was able to publish the First Decree by Prime Minister Goering on the Execution of the Four Years Plan [Voel-kischer Beobachter, 298th Edition], which contained the necessary organizational preparations as to the method and distribution of the work.
"The Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor has charged me with the execution of the new Four Years Plan announced by him at the party congress of honor. I shall accomplish that mission in spite of any obstacles and difficulties that may arise. Just as I am responsible to the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor for the success of the plan as a whole, the persons whom I designate to work with me on this task will be responsible to me for their respective duties.
Only by strict fulfillment of duty and cheerful cooperation of all concerned can the goal we have fixed be attained. The fulfillment of the task given to me will be carried out with the most comprehensive employment of the competent agencies, whose responsibility continues without limitations. New offices will be established only if absolutely necessary. All persons or organizations of the party and state participating in this plan are subject to my instructions.
I shall exercise by authority under the official title of "Prime Minister Col. General Goering, Commissioner for the Four Years Plan".
In the second part of this decree Prime Minister Col. General Goering states that for the making of basic decisions he will avail himself of the cooperation of the special ministers concerned, formed into a ministerial committee. State Secretary and Chief of the Reich Chancellery Dr. Lammers and Dr. of engineering Keppler will be members of this ministerial committee as Chief Experts for the development of German raw and working materials. The following will also attend these discussions: The
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2827-PS -deputy of the Prime Minister in all current affairs, State Secretary Koerner, and the chiefs of the business groups of the Four Years Plan.
In the third part of the decree the organization is regulated with which Prime Minister Col. General Goering will accomplish the tasks which; were delegated to him by authority of the Fuehrer. The detailed directives concerning this matter read as follows.
I. '
In all current matters pertaining to the Four Years Plan I shall be represented by State Secretary Koerner.
Ministerialrat Marotzke will be the personal delegate [Referent] of the State Secretary.
II.
. The business matters are divided into the following groups :
1. Production of German raw and working materials ;
2. Distribution of raw materials; .
3. Arbeitseinsatz (utilization of labor) ;
4. Agricultural production, as far as it is connected with the Four Years Plan ;
5. Price control ;
6. Foreign currency matters.
Questions dealing with the press will be handled for all business groups by the Ministerial-dirigent Dr. Gritzbach as chief of my press bureau.
III.
The tasks of the group "Production of German raw and working materials" are handled by:
1. a. Office for German raw and working materials. It is responsible for:
1. Stepping up the production of German industrial raw materials.
2. Planning and executing the manufacture of German
. working materials with exception of the ones listed in
' b; the Reich agency for regional planning [Reichsstelle fuer Raumordnung] is to be consulted in the selection of suitable manufacturing sites.
3. Furtherance of research required for the mentioned tasks.
4. The mineral oil industry including the processing [Bewirtschaftung] of materials imported from abroad or otherwise produced outside the Four Years Plan.
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Lt. Col. of the General Staff Loeb, is designated chief of the bureau. The financial questions of the development program are to be handled in conjunction with the Reichsministries of Finance and Economics.
b. Dr. of engineering Keppler. The planning and carrying out of the production of industrial fats is incumbent upon him.
In addition Prime Minister Col. General Goering has appointed Dr. Keppler, whose former plenipotentiary powers have been incorporated into the more comprehensive mission of the Prime Minister, to be his personal adviser for questions on the development of German raw and working materials, and as a particularly important mission has given him the special task of reorganizing the geophysical exploration of the German soil and of promoting most vigorously.
The financial questions of the development program are also to be handled in conjunction with the Reichministries of Finance and Economics.
2. The distribution of raw. materials will be handled by Prime Minister Koehler of Baden, as commissioner for the distribution of raw materials in conjunction with the Reichsministry of Economics and the Reich Office for Foreign Currency [Reichsdevisenstelle], who at the same time will retain his duties in the land of Baden. .
Prime Minister Koehler is responsible to me for the proper distribution of the raw materials to the various requirements taking into consideration their urgency, and for corresponding work on the part of the supervisory agency; by my orders, he also will handle all questions having to do with the importation, of foreign raw materials in cooperation with the competent departments or the agencies which I shall charge with the carrying out of transactions for the purpose of procuring raw materials.
3. The utilization of labor will be handled by Ministerialdi-rector Dr. Mansfeld as commissioner for labor utilization in conjunction with the Reichsminister of Labor, as well as President Dr. Syrup. (Both will at the same time retain their duties in the Reichsministry of Labor or in the Reich institute.)
4. The agricultural production connected with the Four Years Plan will be handled by State Secretary Backe (retaining his previous duties in the Reichs ministry of labor).
5. Provincial governor [Oberpraesident] and Gauleiter Josef Wagner will handle price control according to the provisions of the law to be promulgated (retaining his former duties).
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6. Foreign Currency matters will be directed by Ministerial' director Staatsrat Neumann. He will handle, in addition, matters of general nature which may come up, will take care of the maintenance of liaison between the various groups, and will cooperate in the promulgation of laws and decrees. Ministerialrat Gramsch will be at his disposal.
The last part of the decree regulates the cooperation of the various business groups among themselves.
Extract from a book, on Goering's work as chief of the economic Four Years Plan, including the goals, organization, and officials in charge
Authors
Gerd Ruehle (author/editor, ca. 1935-36)
Gerd Ruehle
German politician (1905-1949)

- Born: 1905-03-23 (Winnenden)
- Died: 1949-06-05 (Innsbruck)
- Country of citizenship: Germany
- Occupation: politician
- Member of political party: Nazi Party
- Member of: Schutzstaffel
- Position held: Member of Landtag of Prussia; member of the Reichstag of Nazi Germany
- VIAF ID: https://viaf.org/viaf/198273479
Date: 1936
Literal Title: Das Dritte Reich (The Third Reich) Pages 250-253
Defendant: Hermann Wilhelm Goering
Total Pages: 3
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-2827
Citation: IMT (page 2302)
HLSL Item No.: 452308
Notes:The text includes Hitler's decree (18 October 1936) appointing Goering and extracts from decrees by Goering.
Trial Issues
Administration & organization (all cases) Nazi regime (rise, consolidation, economic control, and militarization) (I…
Document Summary
PS-2827: Decree concerning the execution of the four-year plan, 18 October 1936