“In conclusion, the correspondent asked whether the German Air Force will be capable of repelling attacks on Germany. General Goering replied to that exactly as follows:
“The German Air Force is just as passionately permeated with the will to defend the Fatherland to the last as it is convinced, on the other hand, that it will never be employed to threaten the peace of other nations.” (2292-PS)
Since they had gone as far as they could on rearmament and the secret training of personnel, the next step necessary to the conspirators’ program for aggressive war was a large-scale increase in military strength. This could no longer be done under disguise and camouflage, and would have to be known to the world. Accordingly, on 16 March 1935, there was promulgated a law for universal military service, in violation of Article 173 of the Versailles Treaty. That law appeared in the Reichsgesetzblatt, Title I, Vol. I, 1935, page 369. The text of the law itself provides:
“In this spirit the German Reich Cabinet has today passed the following law:
“Law for the Organization of the Armed Forces of March 16, 1935.
“The Reich Cabinet has passed the following law which is herewith promulgated:
“Section 1.
“Service in the Armed Forces is based upon compulsory military duty.
“Section 2.
“In peace time, the German Army, including the police troops transferred to it, is organized into: 12 Corps and 36 Divisions.