Before a concerned von Brauchitsch could answer, he had carried on. “You have brilliantly combined the duties of President of this Council and Defence Minister for nearly six years. Perhaps as Chancellor, your burden could be lightened by appointing a new Defence Minister? This way, we, your colleagues, would be reassured that such a new minister would have the benefit of your experience and knowledge, and our country’s defence will remain in good hands.” Von Altendorf sat back in his seat and waited for a reaction.
After only a moments silence it was Albert Speer who spoke first. “I fully support the idea.” He had nothing further to say.
Then everyone started speaking at once. This soon stopped, as over the years they had learned to be patient and allow others to say their piece. It was however, apparent that everybody was in favour of the idea.
Von Brauchitsch had sat there, silently considering the matter. He was now sixty five years old, and lately had started to feel the pressure of his work. The idea of a new appointee as Defence Minister was sound. He himself could remain as a guiding hand to the Council, as well as to a new Defence Minister.
He thanked von Altendorf for his kind words and proposal. He asked why he had decided on the title of Chancellor? Was there not a risk of people associating it with Adolf Hitler?
Von Altendorf answered. “I do not believe so. While Hitler was officially Chancellor, he always preferred the title of Fuhrer, and that is how he came to be known. In any case I always connect the word Chancellor with the name of one of Germany’s greatest statesmen, Otto von Bismark, Chancellor for almost twenty years before the end of the last century. He was a man described as ‘the undisputed world champion at the game of multilateral diplomatic chess’. He unified Germany and kept the peace in Europe through his adroit diplomacy”.
What could von Brauchitsch say? He was flattered and pleased to be compared to the great ‘Iron Chancellor’. Von Bismarck, like himself, was no respecter of politicians. A well-known quote of his was, ‘People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, OR BEFORE AN ELECTION’.
He accepted von Altendorf’s proposal. He would officially retire from the army and accept the post of Chancellor of Germany.
Now they were here today, he in his capacity of German Chancellor for the first time. Two more ministers had been appointed to ease the huge burden of Albert Speer’s varied portfolios. Surprisingly one of them, the new Health Minister, was a woman. The newly appointed Defence Minister was also present.
The eleven person Governing Council now consisted of:
Walther von Brauchitsch — Chancellor
Werner von Altendorf — Foreign Affairs
Albert Speer — Interior, transport, industry, energy
Albert Kesselring — Aviation
Ludwig Beck — Intelligence services
Erich von Mannstein — Defence
Ludwig Erhard — Economics & finance
Julius Buch — Justice
Hans Dietrich — Agriculture
Karl Dortmund — Education
Hildegard Klein — Health
The Chancellor declared the meeting open.
The first item for debate was a request by the USA that Germany once and for all, defines its attitude towards the concept of the United Nations. Since the idea had originally been floated by the United States, the German position had been one of disinterest, despite American pressure to join the proposed body. Von Altendorf suggested that the time had come to officially decline the invitation, but at the same time state they would be willing to co-operate with the body ‘where deemed appropriate’. The German position could be reviewed in future years after the United Nations had had the opportunity to prove its worth.
Nobody on the Governing Council had any enthusiasm for participating in what they regarded as ‘another ineffectual League of Nations talk shop that would allow second and third rate countries with inept or corrupt governments, and with inflated opinions of their own worth, an inordinate say and influence on world affairs’.
It was left to the Foreign Ministry to respond diplomatically. If the Americans took exception to this rebuff, it was their affair.
The Minister for Industry informed the council that the car manufacturer, Volkswagen, had produced over one hundred thousand vehicles the previous year. Considering its Nazi politically motivated, (and financially unfeasible) origins in 1937, the company had overcome great obstacles to become the success story it now was. Volkswagen believed their sales and exports would continue to expand dramatically. Another German success story.
Mercedes Benz were also producing record numbers of motor cars and trucks. Exports to the United States in particular, were climbing sharply.
The smallest of the motor manufacturers, BMW, were now increasing sales rapidly, but from a low base. Their motorcycles were still in great demand worldwide.
The Aviation Minister, as always, gave an enthusiastic report on the industry.
The Focke-Wulf Starflight airliners were being produced at the rate of three hundred a year. The forecast was that the volume of sales would sustain this rate for perhaps another two years before starting to taper off. Most of the Alliance countries had also ordered the military version of this aircraft.
The Focke-Wulf engineers were confident that the prototype of the new jet airliner, the Komet, would have its first test flight before the middle of next year, a year ahead of schedule. A truly commendable achievement.
The same company had recruited some highly qualified and experienced personnel, some of them from Britain, to re-energise its moribund helicopter business. They were designing a helicopter that would challenge the American Sikorsky, currently the best in the world.
The Messerschmit factory was also working at full capacity producing the ME262. This wonderful jet fighter was now used by twelve air forces, and sought after by other countries. Messerschmit had also initiated research into a vertical take-off and landing jet fighter. But this was not expected to produce significant results for some years.
Junkers, working in co-operation with the British, would soon have finished a prototype of their high altitude medium bomber/photo reconnaissance jet aircraft. It would use the same Rolls Royce engines that the Komet would have. It’s design specifications were, a speed of nine hundred and fifty kilometres per hour, and an operational ceiling of over fifteen thousand metres. It would fly higher than any other aircraft in the world. Making it impossible to intercept. The first flight was expected early next year.
Junkers were also working on a design for a short/medium haul, twin engine jet powered airliner. Potential sales for this should make it an economic proposition.
And the smallest of the German aircraft manufacturers, Dornier, had designed a new seaplane. However, while it should enable the company to survive in the short term, the Minister personally thought it was unlikely to be a great commercial success.
General Beck advised that his spies had picked up a rumour that one of Stalin’s closest advisers, Nikita Khrushchev, had proposed to Stalin a summit meeting with Germany with a view to ending the distrust between the two countries. His motives appeared to be that he saw this as leading to lower spending on Soviet defence, thus allowing more money to be spent on industrial renewal.
The outcome of this was, as yet, unknown.
“In South Africa, my source within the new Nationalist Government tells me that they are about to approach us about re-equipping their armed forces. I am sure everybody here is aware of some historical animosity between the English and Dutch speaking citizens of that country. The National Party government was recently elected mainly by the Dutch speakers, and now, probably out of spite more than anything, they are about to snub Britain and buy equipment from ourselves. I have already informed General von Mannstein so that he can prepare himself and his officers.”