The Reich Government (2065)
I merged some of Ken’s notes with work I am doing to layout the overall structure of the Reich in 2065. I am not sure how much of this will actually appear in the final work of the book (if there is one) but it is an interesting endeavor all the same. This is a work in progress.
Leadership
Reichschancellor (Führer): Maximillian Bourke
Führer was the unique name granted by Hitler to himself, in his function as Vorsitzender (chairman) of the Nazi Party. It was at the time common to refer to party leaders as Führer, with an addition to indicate the leader of which party was meant. The Führer is considered the source of power in Germany, similar to the Roman emperors and German medieval leaders, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
After Hitler’s appointment as Reichskanzler (Chancellor of the Reich) the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act which allowed Hitler’s cabinet to promulgate laws by decree. Not long after that, Hitler and his cabinet decreed a law that merged the office of the president with that of Chancellor. This law was approved by a referendum on 19 August.
Hitler used the title Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Chancellor”) but it quickly shortened for simplicity to Führer inclusively referencing him as the leader of the Nazi party as well as the German people and the German state. Soldiers swear allegiance to “Führer des deutschen Reiches und Volkes” (Leader of the German Realm and People) or later to “Führer des Großdeutschen Reiches” (“Leader of the Greater German Realm”). Hitler also referred to himself as Führer der Nation (Leader of the Nation).
One of the Nazis’ common political slogans was Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer or One People, One Empire, One Leader. Still seen on on countless holo-posters, public ad-displays and Netz publications as well as heard constantly on broadcasted and Netz-streamed speeches and rallies. The slogan emphasizes the absolute control of the party over practically every sector of German society and culture. The Führer’s word was absolute! However, the Führer has a narrow range of influence, primarily diplomatic and the military. The Führer subordinates routinely interpret his will to fit their own interests.
Maximillian Bourke …
Reich Deputy Chancellor: Holger Kronthaler
Office of the Reich Chancellery (Detlev Sternhell)
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Office of the Party Chancellery (Elmar Hackenholt)
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Reich Offices
Office of the Reich Natural Resources (Joachim Wank)
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Office of Homeworld Development (Rupprecht von Rosenbaum)
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Office of the Reich Bank (Louis Klengel)
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Office of Reich Treasury (Heiner Seyler)
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Office of Population Management (Watte Jaarsma)
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Office of Stellar Development (Ieldert Kuperus)
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Ministers
Reich Foreign Ministry (Simon von Bärwald)
The Foreign Ministry is responsible for maintaining diplomatic relations with the Empire, and the RSI, as well as the various colonies of the solar system. All Reichs ambassadors report to this office. The Foreign Minister may also meet with foreign heads of state on behalf of the Führer.
Reich Ministry of Interior (Rudolf Biel)
This ministry is responsible for the appointment of Gauleiters (party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP), as well as control and inspection of public utilities, housing, engineering and construction. It also theoretically controls the Kriminal Polizei (Kripo) and the Ordnungs Polizei (Orpo: regular city, rural, and border police), although in actuality these are subject to the SS. Civil Service jobs relating to the Interior Ministry include: housing, construction,and utilities inspectors; civil engineers; construction workers; Kriminal or Order Police,and immigration officers.
Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda (Markus Wirz)
Also known as the RMVP, this powerful office controls all forms of printed and broadcast media, as well as all forms of art and entertainment. The Ministry also runs the official news agency DNB (Deutsche Nachrichtenburo) , which in turn regulates all other news coverage. Civil Service jobs relating to this Ministry include: news coverage and broadcast personnel; arts and entertainment inspectors; and editors. There are 8 Divisions with the RMVP:
Division I: Administration/Legal
Division II: Mass rallies, Reichs Youth and Racial matters
Division III: Broadcast and Netz Media
Division IV: Deutsche Nachrichtenburo (DNB) – the National Press
Division V: Films and film censorship
Division VI: Art, music, and theatre
Division VII: Counter-propaganda, both foreign and domestic
Division VIII: Public Pacification, Mind Alteration, and Mood Programming
Reich Ministry Of Post And Communications
This Ministry operates the postal service and regulates all public communications companies, such as Siemens Telefunken, and AEG Telefunken. By controlling this organ it is a simple matter for government agencies to spy on its citizens. It is the Ministry behind the development of the Netz and the conversion of all communication mediums to it.
Commission of Public Netz Management (Malte Schwefel)
A special branch of the Ministry Of Post And Communications, this branch is in charge of the levels of security, and who can access those levels of the Netz.
Reich Ministry of Justice (Hildebrandt Neufeld)
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Reich Ministry of Finance (Kleis Jansen)
The Ministry of Finance is responsible for the collection of taxes and other revenue for the Reich. The main offices of the Ministry are as follows:
RFA (Reichsfinanzamt)
The notorious tax collection office. RFA agents are well known for their thoroughness and ruthless methods of dealing with fraudulent or delinquent tax payers, and have even been known to conduct armed raids on occasion.
RZD (Reichszolldienst)
The Reichs Customs Service inspects transports and cargo entering or exiting all Reichs territories. They even have a fleet of small System patrol craft for boarding and searching starships in space. In cases of a national emergency the Führer may assign control of these RZD vessels and personnel to the OKN (Naval High Command).
Geldshutzpolizei
Geldshutzpolizei are special uniformed police responsible for the guarding and transfer of currency and precious minerals for the Reich. This also includes shipments from the Reichsbank to other banks, which actually overlaps with the Ministry of Economics.
Reich Ministry of Economics (Eppe Blok)
Coordination of businesses, banking, government loans, and the production of currency are responsibilities of the Ministry of Economics. Its primary offices are:
The Reichsbank
The Reichsbank is the central bank for the Third Reich. It handles a mixture of both government and private financial affairs including: the printing of currency; control of foreign exchange; manipulation of rates and tariffs; financing for government Ministries; commercial and mortgage loans; maintaining accounts for the military, SS, and other government offices; storage of the nation’s gold reserves; and regulation of all private and savings banks.
In 1939, all commercial and mortgage banks were nationalized and placed under the direct control of the Reichsbank. Those banks which only offer personal loans and savings accounts were left in private hands, but still regulated by the government.The Reichsbank’s gold reserves increased dramatically during the War of Unification, as billions of Reichsmarks in gold was looted from occupied territories. Most of the reserves from the Bank of England, and other nations vanished in the chaos and found its way to Berlin. Bars were melted down and re-cast to bear the Reichsbank imprint and the retroactive date 1938. However, rumors still abound of a missing portion of the gold from Fort Knox, that was hidden away by the Americans shortly before the occupation.
Economics Advisory Council
This council is made up of selected representatives of the more importantbanks and businesses in the Third Reich. Its function is to advise the FUhrer and Minister of Economics on economic policy.
Reich Ministry for Agriculture (Bauwe Wierda)
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Reich Ministry of Labor (Deedsje Smeding)
The Ministry of Labor regulates most general labor occupations, determines wages for all professions, and settles disputes between management and labor.
Reich Ministry for Education and Public Instruction (Halbert Zwart)
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Reich Ministry for Science (Dr. Bonte Van Der Hoek)
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Reich Ministry of Space and Aviation (Engbert De Hoop)
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Reich Ministry for Ecclesiastical Affairs (Dr. Hildegard Algra)
The Ministry of Ecclesiastical Affairs, otherwise known as the Ministry of Church Affairs. It continues the difficult task of mediating between the anti-Christianity leaders with in the Reich and the Reich Church, as well as stress the religious aspect of the Nazi ideology. In tune with the policy of Gleichschaltung, this Ministry also was tasked to subjugate the churches of the Reich and the occupied territories and subordinate them to the greater goals decided by the Führer.
Reich Ministry of Transport (Izak Schilstra)
The Ministry of Transport is responsible for documentation of domestic freight,and safety inspection and construction dealing with ground or air transportation.
Commission of Planetary Transit (Jurne De Beer)
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Commission of Orbital/Interplanetary Transport (Godert Meester)
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Commission for Stellar Navigation (Dr. Abram Bakker)
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Reich Ministry of Colonial Development (Rimmelt Koopman)
The Ministry of Colonial Development coordinates the activities of government, business, and private citizens in the exploration, settlement and exploitation of newly discovered worlds. It also handles many of the other Ministries duties, until local offices and government can be established. Some of the more important offices are:
Reichskommission flur Erforschung und Erweiterung (RKEE)
The Reichs Commission for Exploration and Expansion handles all of the basic scientific exploration of space, operating its own fleet of exploratory vessels and personnel. It locates, maps, surveys, and provides all types of important scientific data to the government and military. Additionally it works to establish experimental colonies.The board of directors for the RKEE includes: the Deputy Minister of Colonial Development,an adjutant for the Commander-in-Chief of the Grenzkorps; an SS adjutant from the RKFDV; an SS adjutant from the RSHA; numerous scientists; representatives from Krupp,IG Farben, Transsternen Fracht-(TSF), DEST, and reps from other mining firms.
Reich Ministry of Health and Human Resources (Dr. Sappe Kramer)
This is the government office regulating medicine; the medical, rescue,and related professions; health and fitness; nutritional information, and inspection of restaurants and food processing centers. All hospitals are run by the government, but doctors are allowed private practice under close scrutiny. They also in charge of various Eugenics policies, immunizations, and related policy administration.
Reich Ministry of Armaments (Dr. Frauke Van Veen)
The Ministry of Armaments coordinates the development of weapons and weapons systems, issues defence contracts, and provides important construction work for the military. Dr. Van Veen is the first woman assigned to this ministry.
Its two primary offices are:
Armaments Council
A council of representatives from the large corporations that handle defence contracts. It is meant to be a forum for coordinating the activities between these corporations, so that they can all work together. This seldom happens. The usual representatives are from: Krupp AG; Siemens AG; IG Farben; Messerschmit; Baumann Industries; Bollenbach Labs; Banilov Cronauer; Ost Ind.; Kellar Munitions; Eicher Kreigsmaterielen; Waffen Fabrik Mauser-Werke AG; Deutsche Waffen und Munitions Fabriken(Luger); and AEG.
Organization Todt (OT)
This semi-military organization, named for Dr. Fritz Todt (its first director), is responsible for the construction of important military facilities such as roads, bases and training camps. It is not however controlled by the Wehrmacht, and all of its personnel are civilians.
Military
ReichMarshall: Wilhelm Krauser
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Wehrmacht – Armed Forces
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Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW) – Armed Forces High Command
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Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces – Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel
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Chief of the Operations Staff – Colonel General Alfred Jodl
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Heer – Army
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OKH – Army High Command
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Army Commanders-in-Chief
Colonel General Werner von Fritsch (1935 to 1938)
Field Marshal Walther von Brauchitsch (1938 to 1941)
Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler (1941 to 1945)
Field Marshal Ferdinand Schörner (1945)
Kriegsmarine – Navy
OKM – Navy High Command
Navy Commanders-in-Chief
Grand Admiral Erich Raeder (1928-1943)
Grand Admiral Karl Dönitz (1943-1945)
General Admiral Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (1945)
Luftwaffe – Airforce
OKL – Airforce High Command
Reichsluftschutzbund (Air Force Auxiliary)
Air Force Commanders-in-Chief
Reich Marshal Hermann Göring (to April 1945)
Field Marshal Robert Ritter von Greim (April 1945)
Abwehr – Military Intelligence
Rear Admiral Konrad Patzig (1932-1935)
Vice Admiral Wilhelm Canaris (1935-1944)
Waffen-SS – Nazi Party military branch