Schacht remained as Minister Without Portfolio until January 1943, when he was dismissed by Hitler. During the period from the time of his dismissal as President of the Reichsbank until the end of 1942, he continued to receive the full salary he had been paid as the President of the Reichsbank, and thereafter received a pension from the Reichsbank. As Minister Without Portfolio, he received a large salary from the Nazi Government and other emoluments of the office (3724-PS).
B. PRIOR TO 1933, SCHACHT ACCEPTED THE NAZI PROGRAM AND HELPED HITLER TO POWER.
Schacht met Goering for the first time in December 1930, and Hitler early in January 1931, at Goering’s house. He thought that Hitler was “full of will and spirit” and a man “with whom one could cooperate”. Thereafter, he actively supported Hitler’s accession to power (3725-PS; 3729-PS).
Schacht’s belief in the Nazi program and his undivided loyalty to Hitler are revealed in his letter to Hitler dated 29 August 1932, wherein he pledged continued support to Hitler after the latter’s poor showing in the July 1932 elections and proferred advice concerning electioneering tactics. The letter includes the following statements, inter alia:
“But what you could perhaps do with in these days is a word of most sincere sympathy. Your movement is carried internally by so strong a truth and necessity that victory in one form or another cannot elude you for long. * * *”
* * * * * *
“Wherever my work may take me in the near future even if you should see me one day within the fortress—you can always count on me as your reliable assistant.” (EC-457).
Subsequently, on 12 November 1932, he again wrote to Hitler, congratulating him upon his firm attitude and stating:
“I have no doubt that the present development of things can only lead to your becoming chancellor. * * * I am quite confident that the present system is certainly doomed to disintegration.” (EC-456).
The fact that Schacht was in complete accord with Hitler’s program is further shown by the following entry of 21 November 1932, in Goebbels’ diary: