Cover letter (to General Udet) and minutes of a conference led by Goering on the prospects for war, Germany's strengths compared to others, the need to prepare for war mobilization, labor issues, and Goering's hope for the development of high-altitude bombers

The Reich Air Minister
and Commander-in-Chief of the Air Force Aide-de-Camp Major Conrath
Berlin, W.8, 11 July 38
3 Leipziger Str. Staff Headquarters Telephone 12 00 44
' SECRET Staff HQ—Dept II No. 134/38 secret To General Udet
Enclosed I transmit a copy of the shorthand minutes on the conference with the airplane manufacturers on 8 July 1938 at Carinhall.
(signed) Conrath
, Major
1 Enclosure.
Dr. Eggeling/Ba
. Conference
with the gentlemen of the airplane industry at Karinhall 8th July 1938. 1130
Field Marshal Goering:
Gentlemen: May I first welcome you here and express my satisfaction that we have come here together again to discuss our problems. Today I invited you into the country, in order to have you later on as my guests, thus giving expression to the feelings of solidarity between us.
Before we start our discussions I am in duty bound to commemorate here too the man who, being one of you, always was among the first to press for the development of German aviation and of the German Air Force. It is a grievous loss which the aviation industry has suffered through the departure of your member, Mr. Hellmut Hirth.
(Those present rise from their seats.)
I thank you.
Gentlemen: The situation today does not differ from that which existed at the time of my last address except perhaps for the
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fact that it is even more serious today. You are aware that today it is no longer Germany on whose attitude the continuance of peace depends. It is Czechoslovakia who threatens the peace like the sword of Damocles. We do not know what will happen. But you are aware, Gentlemen, that, in case something happens there, Germany will not be able to be disinterested. As long ago as May it became manifest that raving individuals of Czechoslovakia thought the time had come to provoke Germany while hoping that such provocation would start a world war, in which one side was probably to consist of France and England, Russia, America as the main forces, while Germany perhaps assisted by small countries interested in areas of Czechoslovakia on the other side. They hoped to catch just the last moment .when conditions were still favorable enough to overwhelm Germany. We have not been provoked, and probably the other side also was too anxious for peace after all to allow further provocation. There can be no doubt that England does not wish for war nor does France. As to America, there is no certainty on this question. The economic situation of America is hopeless. Therefore the Americans might hope to do big business again by providing all the munitions for the enemies of Germany, while not themselves actively intervening for the time being, but by dispatching many airmen at least as volunteers.
The Jew furthermore agitates for war all over the world. ,So much is clear: Antisemitism has risen now in every country as a logical consequence of the over-increase of the number of Jews in these countries, and the Jew can expect salvation only if he succeeds in letting loose a general world war. If I mention the Jewish agitation for war, I have a good reason to do so, since the Jew who dominates the bulk of the world press is in a position to use it for psychological propaganda.
With regard to England too, we have to acknowledge the existence of some, I don't want to say, readiness for war, but of a certain feeling of the unavoidability of war which is widespread. To be added is the fact that wide circles in England take this stand: the last thing we are prepared to bear is the incorporation of Austria, but we are not ready to allow any further enlargement of Germany's power. Beyond this they fear that once we have pocketed Czechoslovakia, we will attack Hungary, the Rumanian oil wells etc. Moreover since there are democratic countries on the one hand, and authoritarian ones on the other, there is enough inflammable matter in the world anyway. When, how and where this inflammable matter will explode, no one among us can say. It may happen within some months, but it may also take some
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years. At present the situation is this that Czechoslovakia has promised the Sudeten Germans to meet them half way. I am convinced that they will satisfy no more than some of their unimportant demands. Such action on their part would probably suit our policy best, since in this case we could put the entire, responsibility on England because she has engaged herself so deeply in this business.
Briefly, gentlemen, this is what is happening on the political plane. In this circle, however, we have less to do with politics. I told you these things only in order to provide some background. What we have to discuss are the conclusions which have to be drawn, especially with regard to the air force. Everywhere we observe indeed immense preparations for mobilization, and I expect nobody to become frightened to death. If I judge the preparations for mobilization which are undertaken by other nations by their press publications, in which these countries, I dare say, shoot their mouth off, one might feel inclined to get the jitters. But if they write there: "England is to produce within the next year so and so many thousands of first line planes of which so and so many will be ready a month, France will build this and that, Russia is now again to produce another 100,000 planes and to train so and so many airmen", then think of the difficulties which we have to overcome and translate what we have into a democratic system, and then you will be able to make a correct guess. I am perfectly convinced gentlemen, that what we can produce of new goods within a year, England is able to produce with the utmost pains in two, perhaps three years. This is how I judge the situation, taking into consideration the establishment of factories etc.
You heard tall stories about the English shadow factories. But what happened in fact? These people did not even complete the conversion of their existing factories, let alone the erection of shadow factories, the essence of which is that they are not working today, but may be switched on tomorrow. And how far have they gone with their second great project for the motor-or-plane industry which this Automobile King Nuffield has set up? The latest report is this that this honorable lord now has made up in his mind, and almost decided where he will build these shadow factories, therefore in the best possible case has chosen their location. You know how much it takes to build a big factory, and I think, it cannot be done in such a hurry. If on the one hand they introduce the 40 hour week or even go down to 35 hours a week, and On the other hand we are working 10 or 11 or 12 hours
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a day instead of 8 hours, then this discrepancy must at the end favor the man who works longer, and work is what matters for results.
But still we have to keep in mind that from the long term view these people too certainly will have some results, and before all, that England and France do not stand alone on the opposite side, but are always in a position to draw upon the immense reservoir for raw materials in America.
If I compare the Air Forces of the principal countries which may become our enemies (by which I always mean England and France), I am bound to say: we have done marvellous work indeed! In 1933 we were at zero, today, 1938, at the end of the year, Germany will have a complete first line strength equal to that of England's strength plus * * * Thus we are superior
in quantity, too, and as to quality we are equal, even superior. This is an enormous success. It is a miracle that we were able to do it.
And here you deserve great credit, gentlemen, for having succeeded in establishing factories from nothing, and finally producing in them planes and motors which are equal today and partly superior.
Altogether, I consider the German air force as being ahead compared with the English as well as with the French. Our task is, not only to keep, but also to increase this advantage. For if it comes to the decision, we shall again be opposed by a great multitude, considering the world reservoir at the disposal of the enemies. We have to endeavor, therefore, to increase our advantage, at least in the air, by producing highest quality and at the same time in enormous masses, and I am firmly resolved to take every measure which can and will provide us with permanent superiority in the air. .
It is for this reason that I have to approach you again, gentlemen, with a demand to provide loyally and passionately those conditions which will allow me to increase that advantage. I am aware that there are great difficulties, and one of these difficulties consisted and still consists in the so-called shortage of raw materials. Gentlemen, shortage of raw materials! Indeed, everyone has less iron than he needs. But if you come to think of it that we now manufacture almost 2.000 tons of raw iron a month, then that is something immense. We are today producing more iron than France and England combined. Only our needs are so immensely great. The same applies to aluminum. I increased our
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requirements for aluminum under the Air Ministry plans, later in the frame of the Four Year Plan, from 32.000 tons a year to
150.000 tons a year as of today, then after the end of this year
180.000 tons, and by the end of 1939, to 288.000 tons. And even this will not be quite enough. Now you can roughly estimate, if you compare the aluminum quota at the disposal of the rest of the world, how much they can produce from aluminum. Although one should not forget that there are many cases where we are forced to use aluminum, while other people can use other materials owing to their richness in raw. materials. Yet much has been done also with regard to raw materials, and if I just altered the contingents again and allotted to the armed forces 500,000 and lately even 550,000, possibly even 600,000 tons, these are also enormous figures.
We shall make it all right. What matters is only that everybody knows he has to be careful, that material is short, but that the manufacture must not be impeded. Everything often depends on , the right distribution of materials, in order to balance temporary shortages and prevent stoppages of work. Moreover the demands often are for much more than is really needed or is said to be needed. .
Now, if I touch once more on the political problem, this is because you felt the consequences of the political situation in the increase of the program, and that we have to request that everybody do his best, and that all our labor supply must be used. We are fully embarked on the way to mobilization-capacity and shall not be able for years to deviate from it; on the contrary, we may have to increase our speed under certain conditions until we reach full mobilization capacity.
Gentlemen, please consider the far reaching consequences; you ought to be aware that the smallest faults and omissions cannot be. caught up with, and repaired, if we work with such speed. I have to ask you therefore to be in a state of the greatest readiness. It is the fate of Germany which is at stake. Your job is hot to be politicians. But if you sometimes have a quiet half hour to ponder on the history of the era after the world war, you will become convinced that, in case a combination of powers today would succeed a second time in overwhelming Germany, the end of the Reich would be there. These people have been forewarned now, they know what a Germany totally prostrated can create anew, if she only remains united. This is what they have learned, and they will act accordingly.
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Gentlemen, the following is my personal belief: Wherever the conflagration may begin—if then Germany must go to war—this will be the greatest hour of destiny ever since there has been a German history. And the possibility of victory indeed exists. It depends solely on our own power, on the manner in which we mobilize that power, and on the degree to which everybody is resolved to do his bit, convinced as he is that'afterwards every individual will experience personally the advantages as well as the disadvantages of the situation. Believe me, gentlemen: once Germany has again lost a new war, it will be no use for you to go and say: Yes, I did not want this war, I was always opposed to it, moreover I was opposed to the system and never wanted to collaborate with it. You will be dismissed with scornful laughter. You are Germans: the others don't care two hoots whether you wanted to collaborate or not. '
We have to see things as they are. The situation being what it is, I believe there is still a 10% to 15% possibility for a relatively small scale action, but I am convinced that a 80, 85, 90% chance exists that a greater disaster will occur anyhow, and that we shall have to fight the great battle of which I am not afraid. The only thing that matters is that we shall not collapse again. What matters is that everybody knows: Victory can be ours only if we work to an immensely higher extent. We have to replace by men everything of which the other side has more in raw materials. This is why the determination of every single German has to be much stronger than that of the enemy in question. And the determination of a nation that knows its very existence is at stake, will necessarily be stronger than that of people who are only half resolved and only go along in the war, and the agitation, etc.
Those are not phrases, gentlemen. For God's sake do not understand them as nationalistic blusterings, you would do me a great injustice. I am passionately convinced that everything I tell you is an absolute, gigantic truth. I am truly of the opinion: we shall not be able to save our fatherland unless we stake all our passions.
Believe me, gentlemen, I have now learned during these years, what it means to bear continually the responsibility for a nation. If you are concerned about your work, this is indeed a grave responsibility. But what it means if a man is aware that on his own counsel, decision, judgment, and deliberation lastly depends the fate of the nation, this is beyond your imagination. You may be certain, seldom indeed do I have any other thought in my mind.
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Actually I have to force myself to think of other things; all the time my thoughts are circling around one thing: When will war come? Shall we win? What can we do? I assure you, gentlemen, it is hour after hour that I ponder: What can we do? I am well aware that there are still infinitely more things we could do. I am aware that many things are not yet ready, I am aware of the many obstacles in our way, and I am very sorry that I am unable to do everything as quickly as I would like. I wished, however, I might be able to say later on with regard to the task which has been given to me: Well, every preparation which a man can make has been made by us. It is a bad thing if a man has to confess, when the battle has started: Damn it, you could have done this before. This responsibility rests heavily on me, you may believe me.
This is why I again beg of you with all my heart, gentlemen: Consider yourself an industry which has the duty to create an air force, which is most intimately connected with that air force. Do understand that all personal interests take second place. What does your work mean compared with the fate of the nation ? What value have after all the considerations which will often occur to you: Well, what are we to do afterwards, if now the capacities become so much inflated? Would it not be better to go a little more slowly in order to distribute the work better? Such thoughts would prove nothing—don't take this amiss, gentlemen, but an extremely petty character. What does it matter, if there will come a day when you have to manufacture chamber pots instead of planes ? That is of no importance if there is only now a chance for Germany to win the struggle.
For if I spoke so far briefly of the fate which would befall us if we lost the war, I may be allowed now to mention what will happen if we win it. Then Germany will be the greatest power in the world, then it is Germany who dominates the world market, then will be the hour when Germany is a rich nation. For this goal, however, we have to undertake risks, we have to stake out bets. This is why I once again demand of you: all the questions ruminating in your heads, all ideas of external or internal importance, any doubts whether you can obtain higher prices, whether you might make insufficient profits, etc., all this is perfectly beside the point. What matters is only this: What is the production of the works; how many motors are being made and in what time, and of what quality are these motors and planes ? Only this is important. And even if you know what you are doing now may mean that within three years your firm will collapse, you will have to do it all the
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same. For if Germany collapses, who will dare to tell me to my face that his shop will go on? Out of the question! If only this fact would be understood by the whole of the German economy— although the dictate of Versailles in 1918 should indeed have been a good teacher to them—and if all would understand that nobody here exists by himself, but that everybody stands and falls with Germany's existence! It does not matter if someone says: I disapprove entirely of the National Socialist system. I don't care, let him disapprove, it is still the system which at this moment decides Germany's fate. This is why he has willy-nilly to cooperate. Therefore I repeat once more: Only that nation which stakes everything on its armaments and draws all consequences from this fact, will be able to continue its existence.
Gentlemen, I have no reason, and this is gratifying to me, to complain of the airplane industry but to praise, to acknowledge, and to thank. You went my way on the whole, though at the start one or the other did not quite catch what it meant and you did really wonderful work, in some factories quite extraordinary things were done. Thus, just with regard to the airplane industry, I have no reason for complaints, thank God. Just this fact permits me to say, especially as it cannot happen in this industry, not for a second, and I mean second, would I hesitate—as I proved with regard to another matter—to intervene at once and to confiscate at once the whole business in case I should come to the conclusion that he does not understand that he can see the world only under the toilet-seat perspective of his own enterprise, and cannot look farther. Such a fellow is a ne'er-do-well. That fellow must go. By a stroke of my pen he would lose his business and his property. But as I said before, and I am very gratified to state this once again, that the airplane industry performed quite excellent work.
But, gentlemen, we must not rest on our laurels, our performance must encourage us to perform still more. If I said some moments ago that the raw material situation is and will remain difficult, the situation regarding labor supply is perhaps still more difficult. This is by no means surprising. Imagine, in 1933 we had almost 7 million unemployed, and today the greatest problem of Germany is where to find enough workers to complete the most urgent tasks. I believe, a leadership which led to such results has some justification for its existence. If today some degree of prosperity exists in other countries, if for instance a country like Sweden is in excellent circumstances, then it is very wrong if this country scoffs on Germany, since it is indebted for its prosperity to nobody but Germany and her re-armament. Anyway this la-
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bor supply problem is difficult indeed. It was with difficulty that I decided on the law enacted recently, a law which intervenes to a truly enormous extent in the freedom of movement of every individual. If a worker can be told today you are finished here, pack up your things and start tomorrow at such and such a place, this means indeed quite something! If despite this fact I resolved to issue this law, you ought to be able to comprehend how difficult the situation is, but also that we shall dodge no issue. As long as there are any chances of balancing the situation, I shall take these chances.
As for the airplane industry, here again of course the most difficult problem is that of providing skilled workers. But we have devised means and ways to attain our goal.
Beyond this, gentlemen, I want you to be perfectly clear, today already, how you will run your business when war comes. 'The earlier you can make clear proposals on this to me, the earlier you know yourselves what you want, including the changes in personnel, what people you want to get rid of, and what people you want to have, the earlier you will be all right, and the less danger there will be of work being held up. If you act in this way, we should be able to apply in time to the Inspectorates for Recruiting for deferments on the basis of your claims, so that the moment mobilization starts, everything will have been arranged already. You will then be in a position to know; when mobilization starts, so-and-so will be taken away, but you will also know who will replace him. I should like to have this arranged almost by names. I want every man and woman to know: on the first, the second, the third day of mobilization I shall have to do this and that, so that the order of events will not be: the airplane industry will be allotted a certain number out of the bulk of available labor, etc., and then the allotments will be altered four or five times. No, this will have to be done from the beginning, by names. I want the airplane industry to take again the first place and go ahead by appointing a special employee in each factory who has nothing to do but to make the arrangements for mobilization, so that every shop knows accurately: I shall lose so-and-so, he will be replaced by so-and-so. But with regard to those people who cannot be spared by any means you must apply for deferment already, so that I can order their deferment. If this is being done accurately and executed carefully, you will see what a help that will be. For it is quite clear: there will be a great to-do the day of the mobilization, and every man will then have to know what he will
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have to do. And with regard to juvenile labor, to apprentices, I want you to make your decisions also with regard for the mobilization; it might be advisable to accept already many more apprentices than you would accept normally.
At this point I want to prevent the spreading of a fairy tale in case it should exist. If you'd think that since I have so much to do, I am more or less above things, do not trouble about them and do not know what is going on, you are mistaken; first of all I am seeing the chief of the C.-Offiee once a week if not more frequently, and I can assure you that nothing of importance is being ordered, really nothing which has not been discussed with, and agreed upon by me first. No sample is dispatched, no order given without my consent, I decide personally upon each piece to be delivered on the basis of these conferences. Every measure, therefore, which the chief of the C-Office takes, has been previously discussed in conference lasting many hours.
You know of the new method which General Udet wishes to apply. This method naturally calls for sacrifices. They are necessary however. For what is it which matters? We must have, firstly the best types, secondly as few of them as possible. Thirdly, types which can be built within a short time, which can be built in good quality, and which can be built cheaply. This is, I believe, the result of planning for almost a year. For it has been almost a year since I started the deliberations which led to the method we wish to apply now.
It goes without saying, gentlemen, we shall communicate to you the demands which we have with regard, to the machines we want. You shall have a chance to build that machine in free competition. Then we shall have to decide what machine it is which suits us. And this today is often very difficult to decide. Often we had to ponder very long when we had to decide between two types. Either machine had its advantages, the one these, the other one those. If one has to choose between two machines of which one is good, the other less good, the choice is easy; but to decide on one of them, if both machines are good, this is difficult. And if we chose one, and refused the other, this in many cases did not mean that the one refused was not good; perhaps it was just as good, but some small advantage of the chosen machine tipped the scale after we had considered everything.
But I cannot allow the manufacture of several types. I am well aware of the objections to this opinion. They have been known to me already since the last war.
One should not create monopolies, and I don't want to do so.
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I never asked you, gentlemen, to work in your construction offices in a given direction, i.e. to do everything by order, but there you are free, and every firm is free to produce something better at any moment. But if I made up my mind after the most thorough deliberations and discussions with all responsible people, to choose the bomber, which is to be the backbone of the air force, which is to be produced in greatest numbers, then I have the duty to arrange that this type is also produced in the shortest possible time. Gentlemen, the kind of licensing method which we had so far, was never very pleasing to me, for we were forced to acknowledge that a series of accidents—to mention a minor detail—was caused for the following reasons: that with the firms which had licensed things did not quite fit in some place, something stuck, and they gave it one more little jerk, and the part just got in; by such methods tensions were created which later had fatal results. It cannot go on like it did so far, that we say we gave them the license, and let the firm construct and fit the licensed parts. If we have now chosen a certain type, the firm which developed this type carries the central responsibility for the construction and the completion of this type, even where part of the work is done by licensed firms. And the other firms shall produce this type until another type appears in our factories which may perhaps have been constructed by a different firm and which may replace the older type. But the firm which has developed the type chosen by me is responsible to me for the following: that first it will provide the gadgets [Vorrichtungen] drawings, materials and everything else which is necessary, in order to deliver at the end of the manufacturing process the same type in every factory. And this, gentlemen, is the more important because I no longer order: you, please produce license 88, and the other produce the so-and-so license, but I shall tell you: You produce nothing but the right wing, you nothing but the left wing, you nothing but the glider appliance, you the rump, etc. and at the end everything must fit together. And if I proceed to produce the highest possible number of planes, then, gentlemen, you will have to understand that everybody has to march in step. For these small parts are to be produced in various places, and then they must fit and the firm which developed that type will be responsible to me that they do fit. Not the greatest profit ought to matter for you, but before all more work and better results. There can be no doubt about that.
Gentlemen, I am aware that there are quite a number of objections against this method. But there are objections against every method. But if I balance the advantages and the disad-
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vantages, taking into due consideration the security problem which is so important, I finally come to the conclusion that for the time being this is the right way, which is bound absolutely to bring superiority over the enemy, and I should like to add here over the democratic, the leaderless enemy, for in England it is possible that Lord Nuffield says any plane will be built, if I am not to produce the plane which I want then I shall not produce at all. Yes, such things he can say in England, but not in Germany, thank God, and I only hope he says such things: may God preserve him in this condition. In such a case it goes without saying that one day he will fly around at the front with the most varied types. This is just what will make him inferior. Since we are provided with the principle of organization, I really would be quite insane if I did not organize these powers and made use of the chance which fate allowed me to have.
Above all, gentlemen, and you will remember that I told you this already in 1933, if you are planning for a new type, the serial manufacture of the current type must not be disturbed by it. Never! These two tasks must be entirely separated from each other. For I know the difficulties inherent in the development of a new type. If I allow this work to interfere, at any stage, with the manufacturing of the serial type, then disadvantages to the serial type are unavoidable. Therefore, full separation must be provided and care must be taken that the serial manufacture never suffers from the work for new development, and neither must the new development be hampered by serial production. For you are fully aware how important it is to develop the new types. .It is always decisive that a plane which has been constructed, must be flown as soon , as possible. For not until it has been flown, and calculations with which it was flown are made, does a basis for further development really exist.
Gentlemen, if later on a history of the German Air Force and its development is written, the writer will call the step which General Udet made with regard to the Ju 88 and in which we followed him, a magnificent action undertaken by the German aviation technique. This is perfectly clear to me. This is why I ask you again to forget your personal ambitions for the benefit of this greatest task of all. You may well be proud, gentlemen, that today we are already in a position to entrust industry with such a task. For I hope I may be sure without any reserve that after adopting this system, even if you were sorry that you had to do it, you will work for it loyally, and that our work will not
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slacken or be hampered by some dislike on your part—to be careful in my expression. I hope I may rather be convinced that you will tell yourselves, well, I should have preferred a different way, but since the decision was made, there is only one thing: to take up this method with all the power and force at my command.
I mentioned already how glad I am to be able to express my deep satisfaction with what you have created up to now. What is it that we have brought about? We have succeeded in changing a small airplane industry which barely existed, with a few types, which was not in a position to keep step with modern development, which had to stop production altogether for some years, etc., into an efficient airplane industry of our very own without foreigft patents, foreign licenses, and by using exclusively tools of our own. And then came the reorientation which was completed in a single year, moreover the production of modern planes, produced now already in serial types. I believe, gentlemen, we can be proud of the way which the airplane industry has progressed, and this is just what entitles me to trust you and to request of you v/hat I had to request today.
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And finally one more thing. You will not be able to fulfill your duties unless you have a staff which collaborates enthusiastically, and workers who are fully prepared to assist in your task, and I beg of you, consider your workers your colleagues, men by whose intensified zeal alone you will be able to reach your goal. Provide me with this great joy as well, that I may be able to call the German airplane industry an example for the right treatment of the workers. We shall not be able to solve our great problems and to use all this capacity for work unless the worker feels that he is indeed valued at his full worth and treated as a member of the team. On the other hand, gentlemen, you must not close your eyes with regard to certain nihilistic plans if such should become evident. Less than anywhere else can we afford in the airplane industry to allow propaganda hostile to the state. For where does verbal propaganda end and action begin? True, if I address the forces, I have of course to deny every time that sabotage ever occurs. For if I did not do so, if I would allow such considerations to be seriously considered by the forces, I should shake and undermine all their confidence. The forces must not even start such considerations. But your duty gentlemen, is to take care of it that ideas of sabotage etc. disappear entirely from the brains of your personnel even should the individual not agree with our state of today. It is here that wb have to be very care-
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ful so that nothing can happen for this is where, as I said before, the confidence in your products stands or falls.
If I finally touch the problem of female labor, this is because I am of the opinion that we have to tackle the problem of female labor again in case of mobilization. Gentlemen, here you must use your brains. A woman is not a man, and it is not enough to say, instead of 500 men, I now employ 500 women, and at this or that place, a worker is a worker whether man or woman. You will have to calculate rather: if you have to lose in case of war this or that number of men, but may receive this or that number of women, you must today already make all preparations for making your factory suitable for female labor. Not in your industry but in another industry I noticed the other day the following: Owing to a reorientation 90 women, had been taken on. In the whole factory there was not a single lavatory for women. This isn't the thing. This may be a small matter, simply nobody thought of it, what does it matter? There are other things where we simply have to think of the difference. You must establish separate wash rooms and other things. One cannot simply put the women into the men's wash rooms. One has to acknowledge when women come to work, there must be preparations for them.
One thing is clear, in general you cannot ask as much from a woman as from a man. There are certain spheres where the opposite applies, but working in a factory is not one of them. Above all you must be clear on where you can use female labor at all, and where this would be impossible. Accordingly, you must make your arrangements in case of mobilization. This goes without saying. And I imagine that, if things like the one mentioned before are done right, the dreaded sudden decrease of work need not occur at all, and that I won't have to wait for months for the curve to go up again. Gentlemen, I think I have opened my heart enough. As to certain details you know already from the conference with Udet. I only need to know whether you (to General Udet) wish to add anything ('no') or whether everything has been discussed.
Gentlemen, I have still one thing to ask. I think it goes without saying that everything which I told you with regard to the political situation and preparations for mobilization has to remain entirely among ourselves. This goes without saying, and I need hardly add anything. I chose the participants for this address in such a way that I am entitled to trust entirely their discretion. I should not like to experience the same disappointment which I had when I invited the German industry to the Herrenhaus, when
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the contents of my speech were already known in a wider circle the same evening.
Later on I shall confer with some gentlemen in order to receive from them some information on certain things. The air tents industry is informed. The same applies in general to the airplane motor industry. Here the main task will be to produce Mercedes "GOIs" in large numbers. As to BMW I put great hopes on the future air * * * as an enormous step forward. Until then
the most intensified production of the present type has to be continued of course. Juno 211 also has to be produced with the great intensity. Moreover I hope that the motor industry too will not rest content with the fact that they have produced a good motor, but I ask them to prepare and further new developments.
Gentlemen, here again I should like to give some advice. In our branch, in aviation and production for the needs of an air force, you cannot attain much without some imagination. This is the sphere where many new developments and inventions can be expected to appear and where one has to reorientate oneself without end. I ask you not to shrink from new thoughts and not to say: but this is impossible! Rather you ought to travel into thin air over and over again, and tell yourselves: here it is, where there must be room for imagination, where my ideas must go on a long voyage. I hope, this is my private wish and dream, a miracle will happen. I still hope that I am shown some day a motor or a weapon or a plane or a bomb, the qualities of which will be fantastic. I still hope for something which has the same importance in the struggle with the enemy as had the needle gun in the war of 1870-71. If I had such a needle gun (to use a meta-' phor) against an enemy who has nothing but muzzle-loaders our advantage naturally would be great. With these remarks I wish to express my sympathy with boldness in experimenting. I still am not yet in the possession of the stratosphere bomber which overcomes space at a height of 25 to 30 km. This problem has not been solved yet in the sense that practical use is possible. I still am lacking rocket motors which would enable us to effect such flying. I still am missing entirely the bomber which, flies with 5 tons of explosives as far as New York and back. I should be extremely happy to have such a bomber so that I would at last be able to stop somewhat the mouth of the arrogant people over there. Thus you see, gentlemen, there is still a large field for your work, and what'.matters is only how high you aim, you will have success in the same proportion.
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R-140
Admiral Lahs answers in the name of the industry:
I want to thank you also for the remarks in which you acknowledge that we did our best. You, Field Marshal, today opened our eyes to the seriousness of the situation, and you gave us directives in those units and in that direction; and it will naturally be a matter of honor for us to march cheerfully that way. I am of the opinion that our airplane industry will be able tq fulfill it without any friction provided it gets the semi-fabricated goods and there will not be too much alteration of plans.