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   Nazi Conspiracy and Aggression, Volume Two, Chapter XIV
                        WILHELM FRICK

                                                  [Page 666]

E. FRICK'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR AGGRESSIVE
WAR.

Frick wholeheartedly supported the conspirators'
preparations for war. It was his position that:

     "Germany would observe her. international undertakings
     only so long as it suited Germany's interests to do
     so." (385-PS)

Frick, as Reich Minister of the Interior, was

     "The 'civilian' defense minister and as such cooperated
     prominently *** in the important field of 'defense
     legislation' and thereby in the development of ***
     Germany's armed forces." (3119-PS)

Frick's Ministry had a division entitled "Armed Forces and
Reich Defense" (3303-PS).

(1) Rearmament and reinstitution of military service. Frick
took a leading part in Germany's rearmament in violation of
the Versailles Treaty. He drafted the basic laws on military
service. These include the law of 16 March 1935
reintroducing universal military conscription (1654-PS); the
decree of 6 March 1936

                                                  [Page 667]
                                                            
extending military and labor service to German citizens
abroad; the decree of 16 June 1938 extending the military
service law to Austria (1660-PS); and the decree of 30 April
1940 extending the Military Service Law to the incorporated
eastern territories (see 3043-PS; 1589-PS; 388-PS, item 20).

Frick also supported the military training program of the
SA, the financing of which his Ministry of Interior was
called upon to supply funds (1850-PS).

Additional evidence that Frick contributed to Germany's
rearmament for aggressive war is contained in a secret
order, 25 July 1933, from the Supreme Command of the SA on
the subject, "Publications of the SA." This order states
that several days before 25 July 1933 the Reich Ministry of
the Interior at the request of the Foreign Office gave
strict instructions to all Reich authorities that the most
severe control was to be exercised over all publications
which might give other countries an opportunity construe
German activities as infringements of the Versailles Treaty
(D-44).

(2) Fifth column activities abroad. In further preparation
for the aggressive wars planned by the conspirators, Frick
used his power, prestige, and funds as Minister of the
Interior in order to command support for the organization of
a Fifth Column abroad among foreign nationals of German
ancestry. In a circular of 24 February 1933 issued less than
a month after the conspirators had taken over the government
of Germany, Frick ordered all State governments to support,
especially financially, the organization work of the League
for Germandom Abroad among the

     "30 million Germans in foreign countries [Auslands-
     deutschen] outside of the present contracted borders of
     the Reich [who] are an integral part of the entire
     German people." (3258-PS)

Frick at a later date stated even more clearly the true
purpose this German Fifth Column he was helping to organize
abroad. In his speech at the twentieth annual meeting of the
official German Foreign Institute held in Stuttgart, on 11-
15 August 1937, Frick stated that

     "the new Germany has recognized that its attention and
     devotion to the welfare of the millions of Germans who
     have not the fortune to owe political allegiance to
     Germany, but who are condemned to live abroad, are not
     merely a matter of natural sympathy and solidarity, but
     are in a higher
     
                                                  [Page 668]
                                                            
     degree dictated by the strong political and economic
     interests of the Reich." (258-PS)

(3) Organization of civilian agencies for war. Frick's
principal contribution to the war preparations of the Nazi
conspirators lay in his role as General Plenipotentiary for
the Administration of the Reich. He occupied this position
as a member of the Reich Defense Council, beginning on 21
May 1935 (2978-PS).

In this capacity, Frick had complete authority over

     "the uniform direction of the nonmilitary
     administration with the exception of the economic
     administrations."

He was given control over the Ministries of Interior,
Justice, Education, Churches, and the Office for Spatial
Planning, in order to direct their entire planning
activities in preparation of war (2986-PS; 2194-PS). This
was Frick's responsibility during the more than 4 years that
elapsed before the actual launching of the conspirators'
first aggressive war.

As General Plenipotentiary for the Administration, Frick was
a member of the so-called Three-Man Committee, with Schacht,
later Funk (Economy), and Keitel (OKW). This small group,
which was empowered to legislate by decree on all matters
relating to war preparedness, represented during these
decisive years, from 1935 to 1939, a compact, powerful body
in which could be concentrated the conspirators'
preparations for war (2986-PS; see also Section 3, chapter
XV on the Reich Cabinet).

In a speech made on 7 March 1940 at the University of
Freiburg, Frick admitted the significant part he played in
the preparations for war and as a member of the triumvirate
created by the secret Reich Defense

     " *** The organization of the nonmilitary national
     defense fits organically into the entire structure of
     the National Socialist government and administration.
     This -state of affairs is not exceptional, but a
     necessary and planned part of the National Socialist
     order. Thus, the conversion of our administration and
     economy to wartime conditions has been accomplished
     very quickly and without any friction -- avoiding the
     otherwise very dangerous changes of the entire
     structure of the State.

     The planned preparation of the administration for the
     possibility of a war has already been carried out
     during the peace. For this purpose, the Fuehrer
     appointed a Plenipotentiary General for the Reich
     Administration and a Plenipotentiary General for the
     Economy. The Plenipotentiary
     
                                                  [Page 669]
                                                            
     General for the Administration was placed in charge of
     the coordination of the nonmilitary administrations,
     with the exception of the Administration of Economics."
     (2608-PS)


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