“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):