(), effectively stripping all independent transport-related trade associations and non-governmental organizations of their influence. The apex of this process occurred at a cabinet meeting on January 30, 1937. Adolf Hitler declared the "Law for the Reorganization of Relations between the Reichsbank and the Reichsbahn", effectively placing the bank and railroads under the regime's direct authority. Ostensibly the law's purpose was to eliminate "foreign influence" from key national infrastructure; in reality it was about the dismissal of remaining Jews and political opponents, as well as the filling of positions with reliable Nazis. During the meeting Hitler also used the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the seizure of power to offer a Golden Party Badge to those ministers who were still not NSDAP members. Transport Minister Paul Freiherr von Eltz-Rübenach, a devout Catholic, explicitly declined the award to protest the rising conflict between the government and the Church. Hitler was outraged and Eltz-Rübenach was immediately forced to resign, becoming a "suspect person" closely monitored by the Gestapo. Reichsbahn General Director Julius Dorpmüller was then appointed Transport Minister and its Board of Directors was transferred to the RVM on February 2, 1937. The Ministry grew enormously in size and existing department heads were given the rank of Ministerial Director. A further adjustment to Ministry occurred under the Reichsbahn Act of July 11, 1939, wherein the Transport Minister retained the role of Director General of the National Railway by the simple virtue of his office. Dorpmüller now controlled the entire national infrastructure, but saw himself as an apolitical technocrat and did not join the Nazi Party even though it would have been advantageous to do so. The chancellery later ordered his induction into the party and he was informed of the fact by the party treasurer. World War II The Transport Ministry's structure and leadership changed only slightly during the war. A new railway construction department E VI was established in 1939 under Willy Meilicke, split off from department E II. In 1940 it was further reinforced by a second building department, E VII, as the expansion of the Reich and wartime demands reached their peak. After the forced retirement of maritime State Secretary Gustav Koenigs in 1940, his responsibilities were transferred to Paul Wülfing von Ditten. The Department of Maritime and Inland Shipping was split into Economic (full name in ) and Naval divisions. On 4 November 1939, one month after the