Secret Cabinet Council (body)

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The Secret Cabinet Council was established by Adolf Hitler's decree of February 4, 1938 . According to the founding decree, he was supposed to advise Hitler on the conduct of foreign policy.

The Secret Cabinet Council never met, not even for a constituent session. It was created by Hitler as compensation for Neurath's removal from the post of Foreign Minister. At the same time, the purpose of advising Hitler on foreign policy mentioned in the decree made it clear that the Secret Cabinet Council could not have any effect. All members, especially the previous Foreign Minister Neurath, knew that Hitler did not allow any consultation, and above all, no consultation by committees.

Members

  1. Konstantin Freiherr von Neurath, who was deposed as Foreign Minister on the same day, became President
  2. Joachim von Ribbentrop, appointed Foreign Minister on the same day
  3. the Commander in Chief of the Air Force Hermann Göring
  4. the deputy of Hitler in his function as party chairman Rudolf Hess
  5. the Reich Minister Joseph Goebbels
  6. the head of the Reich Chancellery, Hans Heinrich Lammers
  7. the commander in chief of the army Walther von Brauchitsch
  8. the Commander in Chief of the Navy Erich Raeder
  9. the head of the OKW Wilhelm Keitel

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Decree on the establishment of a secret cabinet council in the Reichsgesetzblatt 1938 I p. 112 (online)
  2. ^ Rainer F. Schmidt : The foreign policy of the Third Reich 1933-1939 . Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2002. pp. 230 f. ISBN 3-608-94047-2 .