Archive/File: imt/nca/nca-02/nca-02-15-criminality-04-05 Last-Modified: 1996/12/28 In addition, intensive campaigns were conducted to persuade the public to purchase and read "Der SA-Mann," and various is- [Page 151] sues were posted in public places so that the general public might read them. "Der SA-Mann" itself contained several photographs showing particular issues posted upon street bulletin boards. There are also several photographs showing advertising displays, one of which reads as follows "Der SA- Mann belongs in every house, every hotel, every inn, every waiting room, and every tore" (page 3 of the issue of 31 October 1936). (3050-A-E-PS) In view of such widespread publicity for the objectives and methods of the SA, it is inconceivable that volunteers for membership did not know of the criminal character of this organization. (4) Fostering of Militarism. In the final phase of the SA in the conspiracy -- its participation in the preparation for aggressive warfare -- the SA was again employed to inculcate a particular Nazi ideology into the minds of the German people. It was the function of the SA to prepare Germany mentally for the waging of an aggressive war. At all times, and especially during the period from 1933-39, SA leaders emphasized to SA members the duty and responsibility of creating and fostering a militaristic spirit throughout Germany. In 1933, Hitler established the so-called SA sports program and at that time, according to Sturmfuehrer Bayer in his pamphlet "The SA," "the SA was "commissioned to obtain an increase of and preservation of a warlike power and a warlike spirit as the L expression of an aggressive attitude ". (21 68- PS) In 1937, Hitler renewed the so-called sports program and then declared the program to be a means "for the fostering of a military spirit" among the German people. The Organization Book of the Party is to the same effect. The function of the SA is characterized as follows: "While the political organization of the NSDAP has carried out the political leadership, the SA is the training and education instrument of the Party for the realization of the world-philosophical soldier-like attitude. "Consequently, the young German in the SA is being inculcated in the first instance from the stand-point of world philosophy and character, and trained as the bearer of National Socialist armed will." The contents of a number of articles designed to serve as war propaganda material may be gained from their titles, which are very graphic. A number of articles relate to the Nazi Lebensraum philosophy: [Page 152] Article entitled: "The German Living Space," 5 January 1935, p. 13. Article entitled: "Folk and Space A Geopolitical View," 27 April 1935, p. 13. Article entitled: "The Enlargement of our Living Space," 25 April 1936, p. 10. Article entitled: "Our Right, Our Colonies," 10 October 1936, p. 15. Article entitled: "Our Right for Colonies," 18 December 1937, p. 7. Article entitled: "Space and Folk," 14 October 1938, p. 3. Article entitled: "Colonies for Germany," 2 January 1937, p. 4. This article reads in part as follows: "The German Ambassador in London, Herr von Ribbentrop, recently, on occasion of a reception in the Anglo- German Fellowship *** has renewed, in a speech which aroused great interest, the unretractable claim of Germany for the restitution of its colonies which had been snatched away. "Shortly thereafter the Reichsbank president and Reich Minister of Economics, Dr. Schacht, published in the English magazine, 'Foreign Affairs,' a detailed article on the German colonial problem. *** "For the rest Dr. Schacht laid out the categorical demand that Germany must, in order to solve its raw materials problem, get colonies, which must be administered by Germany, and in which the German standard currency must be in circulation." The next group consists of articles condemning the Versailles Treaty: Article entitled: "What is the Situation regarding our battle for Equal Rights?" 7 April 1934, p. 4. Article entitled: "The Dictate of Versailles," 30 June 1934, p. 15. This article reads in part as follows: "*** The dictate of Versailles established the political, economical and financial destruction of Germany in 440 artfully -- one could also say -- devilishly devised paragraphs; this work of ignominy is a sample of endless and partly contradictory repetitions in constantly new forms. Not too many have occupied themselves with this thick book to a great extent, for one could only do it with abomination ***" [Page 153] Article entitled: "The Unbearable Limitations of our Fleet," 7 July 1934, p. 15. Article entitled: "Versailles after 15 years," 19 January 1936, p. 13. This article reads in part as follows: "This terrible word 'Versailles,' since a blind nation ratified it, has become a word of profanity for all those who are infatuated in the spirit of this enormous production of hatred. The Versailles dictate is German fate in the fullest sense of the word. Every German stood up under the operation of this fate during the past 15 years. Therefore, every last German must also grasp the contents of this dictate so that one single desire of its absolute destruction fills the whole German Volk." Article entitled: "How about Germany's fight for Equal Rights?" 16 March 1935, p. 1. Article entitled: "Through Adolf Hitler's Acts: Free from Versailles," 30 January 1937, pp. 12-13. Article entitled: "Versailles will be Liquidated," 13 February 1937. This article reads in part as follows, p. 4: "The National Socialist Movement has again achieved a victory, for upon its flag since the beginning of the fight stands: The liquidation of the Versailles Treaty. For this fight the SA marched year after year ***" A third group consists of articles describing preparations for war allegedly being carried on by other nations: Article entitled: "Military Training of the English Youth" (showing pictures of Eton students wearing traditional Eton dress -- tall hats and frock coats -- marching with rifles), 26 January 1935, p. 14. Article entitled: "The Army of the Soviet Union" (with pictures of self-propelled artillery and tanks. One picture bears the quotation "The Artillery of the Red Army is already extensively motorized"), 16 March 1935, p. 14. Photograph of Russian Artillery bearing the notation "Soviet Russian Heavy artillery on maneuver," 16 March 1935, p. 1. Article entitled: "Armies of Tomorrow" (discussion of anticipated developments in motorized and mechanized warfare. One section of the article is devoted to "plans of foreign countries with respect to motorized armies"), 30 March 1935, p. 14. [Page 154] Article entitled: "The Red Danger in the East," 4 April 1936,p. 13. Article entitled: "The Red Army Today," 4 April 1936, p. 13. Article entitled: "Russia prepares for World War," 29 August 1936, p. 10. Article entitled: "Red Terrorism Nailed Down," 19 June 1937, p.7. Cartoon bearing title "Stalin Wants World Revolution," 26 February 1938, p. These lists of articles are not exhaustive. These articles are merely typical of many in similar vein which appear throughout the issues of "Der SA-Mann." (5) The Training of German Youth for Aggressive Warfare. The important responsibility of training the youth of Germany in the technique of war, and of preparing them physically and spiritually for the waging of aggressive warfare, was delegated to the SA. Hitler characterized this task of the SA in these words: "Give the German Nation six million perfectly trained bodies in sport, all fanatically inspired with the love for the Fatherland and trained to the highest offensive spirit and a National Socialist State will, if necessary, have created, an Army out of them in less than two years." (15-PS) The military character of the SA is demonstrated by its organizational structure (2168-PS). As appears from the SA organizational chart, (Chart Number 8) it was organized into units closely corresponding to those of the German army. The organizational scheme consisted of divisions, regiments, battalions, companies, platoons, and squads. In addition, there were special units and branches, including cavalry, signal corps, engineer corps, and medical corps. There were also three officer training schools (2168-PS). SA members wore distinctive uniforms adapted to military functions, bore arms, and engaged in training, forced marches, and other military exercises. These facts are disclosed in photographs and articles in "Der SA-Mann". SA members, moreover, were governed by general regulations which closely resemble service regulations of an armed force (2820-PS). According to these regulations, "discipline and obedience are the foundations as strong as steel for each military unit." These regulations further provide for punishment for disobedience. The punishments provided demonstrate the militaristic character of the SA. They include the following: [Page 155] Reprimand in private; Reprimand in presence of superiors and announcement thereof at formations; Prohibition of right to wear the service uniform; House arrest; Arrest and confinement in jail; Demotion in rank; Prohibition of right to carry weapon. (2820-PS)
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