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PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF
DOCUMENT EC-373*
PROSECUTION EXHIBIT
416 |
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EXTRACTS FROM A SPEECH BY GENERAL THOMAS, CHIEF OF
THE MILITARY
ECONOMICS STAFF OF THE WEHRMACHT TO
THE REICH CHAMBER OF LABOR, 24 NOVEMBER
1936,
CONCERNING MILITARY ECONOMY AND
THE FOUR YEAR
PLAN |
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Chief
Military Economics Staff
Armed Forces
Office |
Berlin W 35, 24 November 1936
Bendlerstrasse 27 |
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Speech delivered on 24 November 1936 before the
Reich Chamber of
Labor |
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I have for two reasons acceded with particular pleasure to the wish
of Dr. Ley that I address the Reich Chamber of Labor on Military Economy:
1. The Reich Minister of War is particularly concerned that,
especially in your circle, the fundamentals of military economy should be known
and that you should acquire a picture of how the soldier views the connection
between Wehrmacht and economy.
2. I, as Chief of the Military
Economics Staff, desire to explain to you what tasks the German Labor Front has
to fulfill in military economy, having pointed out in an article in the
Wehrmacht number of the "Leipziger Illustrierten Zeitung" [Leipzig Illustrated
News], which will appear within the next few days, that the German Labor Front
has great tasks in this connection. |
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| * * * * * * * * * * |
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| Now what is military economy? |
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| Military economy is not a form of economy, it is not an
expression of untried ideas, it is not a one-sided affair of military
interests. Military economy is the designation indicating the direction for the
economic activity of all citizens. It is a political concept. It no
longer has anything whatsoever to do with theoretical doctrines of a bygone
economic science. It is not an epoch which can be succeeded by another, because
it expresses the expediency of all happenings in the economic sphere for the
interest of the life of the State, expediency perceived purely in the light of
reason. In the present situation, it is therefore best suited to promote and,
above all, also to safeguard the well-being of the State. It is military
economy in the comprehensive sense |
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* This document was
introduced in the Ministries case as Prosecution Exhibit 942. Further extracts
are reproduced in section VI B, volume XII, this series.
818 |
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