German Bight
On 30 May 1942, as leader of Germany’s largest seaport, Kaufmann was named "Reichskommissar" (Reich Commissioner) for Overseas Shipping. As such, he shared in the responsibility for supplying overseas elements of Germany’s "Wehrmacht", such as the "Afrika Korps". On 24 August 1942 he was additionally named as Reich Defense Commissioner for the Northern Coast (German Bight). On 16 November 1942, the jurisdiction of the Reich Defense Commissioners was changed from the "Wehrkreis" to the Gau level, and he retained control only over Gau Hamburg and the German Bight.