Top Secret
To be transmitted by officer only
Minutes of a Conference on 23 May 39
| Place: The Fuehrer’s Study, New Reich Chancellery. | |
| Adjutant on duty: Lt.-Col. (GSC) Schmundt. | |
| Present: | The Fuehrer, Field Marshal Goering, Grand Admiral [Admiral of the Fleet] Raeder. Col. Gen. [General] von Brauchitsch, Col. Gen. Keitel, Col. Gen. Milch, Gen. (of Artillery) [Lt. General] Halder, Gen. Bodenschatz, Rear Admiral Schniewind, Col. (GSC) Jeschonnek, Col. (GSC) Warlimont, Lt.-Col. (GSC) Schmundt, Capt. [Army] Engel, Lt. Comdr. Albrecht, Capt. [Army] v. Below. |
| Subject: | Indoctrination on the political situation and future aims. |
The Fuehrer defined as the purpose of the conference:
| 1. | Analysis of the situation. |
| 2. | Definition of the tasks for the armed forces arising from the situation. |
| 3. | Exposition of the consequences of those tasks. |
| 4. | Ensuring the secrecy of all decisions and work resulting from these consequences. |
Secrecy is the first essential for success. The Fuehrer’s observations are given in systematized form below.
Our present situation must be considered from two points of view: (1) the actual development of events between 1933 and 1939; (2) the permanent and unchanging situation in which Germany lies.
In the period 1933-1939, progress was made in all fields. Our military situation improved enormously.
Our situation with regard to the rest of the world has remained the same.