862.20/1129: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 28—2:25 p.m.]
294. Official information just received by the Military Attaché is to the effect that on or about October 10 the German army officially expands from 24 to 36 divisions, two new corps headquarters to be established at Hanover and Wiesbaden.
Forces in the Rhineland, former demilitarized zone, will be raised to 6 divisions or 70,000 men which is double the garrison established there last March. This may be the basis for certain of Léger’s remarks to Phillips (see Paris telegram No. 906 of September 22, 7 p.m.). However, it is stated here that this increase merely brings the German army strength in the district up to normal as compared with the rest of Germany.
As of November 1 the estimated strength of the German army, navy and air corps will be 700,000 with 1,400 first line airplanes according to the Military Attaché.
Further information of the Military Attaché and the Embassy in Rome indicates German-Italian military discussions were in progress in Rome, September 1 to 25. The purposes of the discussions are unknown but the composition of the German delegation, including German high officers of the Operations Section (war plans) and Economic Mobilization Bureau, evidencing that these discussions could scarcely have been routine. Kindly inform the War Department.
In addition to the above, Minister Frank,10 youth leader Schirach and 450 Hitler youth recently visited Mussolini in Rome on which occasions speeches were exchanged vaguely referring to mutual cooperation. There is as yet, however, no conclusive evidence of a definite German-Italian tie-up. At any rate Germany not over optimistic [Page 356] regarding Locarno is making every effort to increase her strength not only in the military but in the economic field as well both internally and externally.
Copies to London, Rome, Paris.
- Hans Frank, German Minister without Portfolio.↩