A wholesale reconstruction of the Cabinet, the Diplomatic Service, and the Army Command has been accomplished by Herr Hitler which is dramatic in its thoroughness and perhaps in its final implications.
Herr Hitler himself takes over the command of the armed forces and the conduct of foreign affairs, and thus, in effect, becomes head of the State, Minister of War, and Minister of Foreign Affairs simultaneously.
In the big sweep which was announced late to-night Field Marshal von Blomberg retires from the War Ministry and from active service altogether.
Von Fritsch Goes Too
What is perhaps a still bigger surprise is that General von Fritsch, Commander-in-Chief of Germany╒s land armies, retires too.
Further, Baron von Neurath withdraws as Foreign Minister, and his place is taken by Herr von Ribbentrop, Ambassador to the Court of St. James and Envoy Extraordinary of the Nazi Government.
The diplomatic changes announced to-night include the recall of the present German Ambassadors to Tokio, Rome, and Vienna, as well as of the Ambassador to London.
In addition Herr Hitler has set up a secret Cabinet Council, a consultative body whose function is described as being to advise him in the direction of German foreign policy.
General Goering is created a field marshal, but has no new functions.
Finally, the Reichstag has been summoned for a special session on February 20.
In a special command to the armed forces Herr Hitler announces that henceforward the supreme command of all three branches will be exercised directly by himself. The central direction of the armed forces (╥Wehramt╙) passes under the direct command of Herr Hitler. The direction in the War Ministry becomes henceforward the Oberkommando, or Supreme Command, and functions directly under Hitler as his own military staff.
The head of the Oberkommando or former Wehramt, which was the body providing the apparatus for the administration of the affairs of the Army, Navy and Air Force, is General von Keitel, who is also given the rank of Cabinet Minister.
Von Ribbentrop╒s Status
General von Fritsch╒s successor as Commander-in-Chief of the Army is General Brauchitsch, Admiral Raeder remains Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, and Field Marshall Goering retains the Commandership-in-Chief of the Air Force as well as being Air Minister, Prussian Premier, and Reichsmaster of the Hunt.
At the head of the newly created secret Cabinet Council is placed Baron von Neurath, who becomes Hitler╒s senior adviser. Herr von Ribbentrop will be Von Neurath╒s subordinate in rank in the Cabinet Council, despite the former╒s portfolio as Foreign Minister. The other members of the Council are Field Marshall Goering; Herr Hess, Hitler╒s deputy; Dr. Goebbels, Propaganda Minister; Dr. Lammers, of the Reich Chancellery; General Brauchitach, Admiral Raeder, and the Chief of the Oberkommando, General Keitel.
Putting the Army in Its Place
The significance of the changes in the Government and general administration are clear and need little emphasis. The great role that the Army once played in German politics seems to be ended.
If a group of higher officers who were supposed to share the critical attitude of General von Fritsch towards the Nazi regime hoped to gain political advantage out of Marshal von Blomberg╒s marriage they have failed. So far as there are objections in the Army to the marriage as such, these objections have been met by the retirement of the Marshal, but nothing has been allowed to go farther.
On the contrary, Herr Hitler has skilfully and boldly used the occasion to extend his power in a remarkable manner, which gives him a position strongly resembling that of Mussolini. Hitler╒s position, in fact, appears to be even greater than Mussolini╒s, since in Germany there is no monarchy.
The Army, in short, is shown to be subordinate to the Nazi party. The position at the beginning of 1938 has changed sensibly from that of the summer of 1934, following the great ╥clean-up╙ of June 30 of that year. The difference in the political strength of the Army then and now is the measure of the success and the strength with which the Nazi party has consolidated itself in the Reich.
