Minutes of a military conference on Goering's war economy organization (Oldenburg), including seizing raw materials and "important concerns" as part of military operations

Rue Ic
Berlin, March 1, 1941 [stamp] TOP SECRET
5 copies, 1st copy
Re: Oldenburg
Memorandum
Conference at Office Chief, General of the Infantry Thomas on February 28, 1941
Present: General of the Infantry Thomas Colonel Becht Lt. Col. Luther
911
Lt. Col. Matzky .
Major von Gusevius Major von Payr Major Huch Captain Emmerich Captain Dr. Hamann
The general ordered that a broader plan of organization be drafted for the Reich Marshal.
Essential Points:
1. The whole organization to be subordinate to the Reich Marshal. Purpose: Support and extension of the measures of the four-year plan. ..
2. The organization must include everything concerning war economy, excepting only food, which is said to be made already a special mission of State Secretary Backe.
3. Clear statement that the organization is to be independent of the military or civil administration. Close cooperation, but instructions direct from the central office in Berlin.
4. Scope of activities to be divided in two steps:
a. Accompanying the advancing troops directly behind the front lines, in order to avoid the destruction of supplies and to secure the removal of important goods.
b. Administration of the occupied industrial districts and exploitation of economically complimentary districts.
5. In view of the extended1 field of activity, the term war economy inspection is to be used preferably, instead of armament inspection.
6. In view of the great field of activity, the organization must be generously equipped and personnel must be correspondingly numerous.
The main mission of the organization will consist of seizing raw materials, and talcing over all important concerns. For the latter mission reliable persons from German concerns will be interposed suitably from the beginning, since successful operation from the beginning can only be performed by the aid of their experiences (for example, lignite, ore, chemistry, petroleum).
After the discussion of further details, Lt. Col. Luther was instructed to make an initial draft of such an organization within one week.
Close cooperation with the individual sections in the building is essential. An Officer must still be appointed for Wi. and Ro, with whom the operational staff can remain in constant contact. Wi is to give each section chief and Lt. Col. Luther a copy of the new plan regarding Russia.
I3I7-PS
Major General Schubert is to be asked to be in Berlin the second half of next week. Also, the 4 officers who are ordered to draw up the individual armament inspections are to report to the Office Chief at the end of next week.
(signed) Hamann
Distribution:
Staff 1st Copy
Rue 2nd Copy
Lt. Col. Luther 3rd Copy
Planning 4th Copy
Supply 5th Copy