Frick also supported the military training program of the SA, for 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 to 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 [Auslandsdeutschen.] 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 of 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 degree dictated by the strong political and economic interests of the Reich.” (3258-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.