English Translation

Minlsteralat Geheim CauE 13. OKT. 1943 Cb V e r m e r k on internal use about the meeting at RM Speer with StM Frank on Friday, 8.10.1943 at 12.30 in Berlin 4 A preliminary meeting at the Kaiserhof, at which StM Frankfurt, Minister Bertsch and Dr. Adolf participated. Minister Bertsch informed the content of his conversation with President Kehrl. Subsequently, the first letter from StM Frank regarding the new assignment of the Ministry of Armaments and War Production /RuK/ was discussed in detail at a cabinet meeting held a long time ago and agreed that it should remain in the form of §6 which has now been chosen in the Führer's decree. This fact was also communicated to the Führer and then the decree was made. This implies that the arguments of StM Frank were taken extremely seriously. Kehrl believed that, if possible, the question of autonomy should not be touched by the debate with StM Frankfurt, since it was to some extent like a red cloth in the case of Reich Minister Speer. Speer was determined to make an absolutely viable comparison with Frank, but to make such a arrangement which did not jeopardise the impact of his ministry and the swiftest implementation of his measures. StM Frank explained that under all circumstances precisely the political aspects - which are given by the constitutional special situation - must be dealt with in detail to the RM Speer, because if a mentality takes into account Speer one must also expect a mentality Frank in Berlin. Kehrl considers it achievable that the execution of the arms inspection and the newly assumed areas of responsibility of the RM Speer are combined in a single department under the direction of Bertsch, for example, which is to be led in personal union and is therefore available to the StM Frank as well as the Rm Speer. Thus the absolute involvement of the German StM is guaranteed. The debate with RM Speeř began this with friendly explanations and emphasized his interest in clarifying the open questions, which are mainly formal in nature, in direct debate. This would also be very easily possible, St.M.πM-196c/43g