Defense Economics—and—Armament Office [Wehrwirtschafts— und Ruestungsamt]
Az. Stab I a Nr. 1134/40
Berlin, 31 May 1940 To Gen Qu (General Headquarters) through VO Major Dr. Just
I. In the enclosure is forwarded a map on which are marked the boundaries for the economic teams anticipated in France. The territorial distribution of economic teams has followed the same principles as were used in the creation of the teams for Belgium and Holland. The boundaries are established according to the economic structure of the districts. In them are located individual industrial concentrations which will be the main fields of work for the teams. Since the whole area without exception had to be divided up the working areas of the individual teams appear relatively large, however the working power of the teams will not be visibly influenced thereby, since only a few additions lie outside the industrial centers.
The boundaries are and must be established for the above named reasons without regard to later commitment of main field commands [Oberfeldkommandanturen] and/or sections of the AOK (Army High Command).
II. It is requested that the economic teams be instructed to send their reports directly to Gen Qu and at the same time to Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Wirtschaft Ruestungsamt. The purpose of the commitment of the economic teams is the most rapid instruction of the OKW/Wi Rue Amt concerning existing raw materials which must be brought—trainload after trainload—to fin-
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ishing plants in the occupied territories and in the Reich, according to the requirements of manufacturing programs.
The experiences of the last three weeks have shown that the channels prescribed for this purpose have entirely failed. So far, except for a single message which reached the OKW directly, the OKW has received no report from the economic teams. This situation must be changed as quickly as possible by the forwards administrative posts, without consideration of possible questions of competence but from the purest material viewpoint, all the more as the life expectancy of the military government in Belgium, as also that of Holland, may be of short duration.
I.A.
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TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT II6I-PS
Date: Date Unknown
Total Pages: 1
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-II6I
HLSL Item No.: Unknown