 On 20 April 1937 Jeschonnek was promoted to "Oberstleutnant" (lieutenant colonel), entered the Ministry of Aviation ("Reichsluftfahrtministerium") as Chief of Branch 1 of the General Staff.Jeschonnek was a protégé of Walther Wever chief of staff in the "Oberkommando der Luftwaffe" (High Command of the Air Force).Wever designated him as his successor and Chief of the Luftwaffe Operations Staff in case of mobilisation in 1936.