“1. _The National Minister of War and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces_, General Field Marshal von Blomberg, opened the 12th meeting of the Reichs Defense Committee by expressing thanks for the work accomplished and pointing out in principle the necessity of a preparation for a total mobilization with emphasis on the most important measures to be taken at this time. (Among others; mobilization schedule, legal basis, preparations in the demilitarized zone.) He further indicates the assignment of the national resources (_Reichsressort_) to finance its measures for preparation of the Reichs defense out of its budget.
“2. The _chairman_ of the _Reichs Defense_ Committee, Lieutenant General Keitel, states:
“In today’s and future meetings of the Reichs Defense Committee a cross section of the general situation concerning all matters of the national defense is presented. The picture of the situation does not appear in the reports of the meetings.
“The open discussion of State secrets before our large committee gives the special obligation to the chairman of the Reichs Defense Committee of pointing out its _secrecy_.
“Today’s sessions takes place under the auspices of the restoration of the State authority in the demilitarized zone.
“The difficulties of the economic situation, which are presented today, must be mastered.” (_EC-407_)
This Working Committee was still functioning in 1939. The Mobilization Book for Civil Administration of 1939 states, in part (_1639-A-PS_):
“D. _Terms for Mobilization Preparations by the Civil Administration._
“The acceptance of all new measures in the Mobilization Book for Civil Administration must be requested from the Chief of the Reich Defense Committee (Department of State Defense in the Armed Forces High Command).” (_1639-A-PS_)
The composition of the Working Committee was redefined by the Secret Law of 1938 as follows (_2194-PS_):
“_The Reich Defense Committee_ [_Reichsverteidigungsausschuss_] (RVA):
“(1) The Reich Defense Committee is the working Committee of the RVR. It prepares the decisions of the RVR, sees to their execution, and secures collaboration between armed forces, chief Reich offices, and party.
“(2) Presiding is the chief of the OKW. He regulates the activity of the committee and gives the directions to the GBV and GBW and to the Reich ministries not subordinated to them and to the chief Reich offices according to the decisions of the RVR, which directions are necessary for securing their uniform execution.