Kammala jumla mai zuwa: A ranar 30 ga Agusta, 1939, nan da nan kafin barkewar Yaƙin Duniya na Biyu, Hitler ya nada Keitel a cikin mutum shida na Majalisar Ministocin Tsaro na Reich wanda aka kafa don yin aiki a matsayin "gwamnatin yaki". Bayan da Jamus ta ci Faransa a yakin Faransa a cikin makonni shida, Keitel ya bayyana Hitler a matsayin "babban shugaban yaƙi a kowane lokaci". Keitel ya gudanar da shawarwari na
Yarjejeniya ta Faransa, kuma a ranar 19 ga Yuli 1940 an daukaka shi zuwa "Generalfeldmarschall" (Field Marshal).