dtufail/nuremberg-trials-corpus huggingface dataset:
for collaboration with the Wehrmacht in specialized military training was utilized to the utmost: "In the course of this development also special missions for military betterment (program) were placed on the SA. The Fuehrer gave the SA the cavalry and motor training and called SA Obergruppenfuehrer Littmann as Reich Inspector with the mission to secure the * * * recruits and requirements for the German Wehrmacht through the SA. In close cooperation with parts of the Wehrmacht special certificates were created for the communication, engineer and medical units which, like the cavalry certificate of the SA, are valued as statement of preference for employment in said units." (3215-PS) The specialized training given SA members, in accordance with the requirements of technical branches of the Wehrmacht, is described by SA Sturmfuehrer Bayer as follows (2168-PS): "* * * On one side the young SA man who enters the armed forces (Wehrmacht) from his branch, comes prepared with a multitude of prerequisites which facilitate and speed up training in technical respects; while on the other side those very soldiers, having served, who return out of the armed forces into the SA keep themselves, by constant practice, in a trained condition physically and mentally and impart their knowledge to their fellows. "Thus they contribute a considerable portion to the enhancement of armed strength (Wehrkraft) and armed spirit (Wehrgeist) of the German people." (2168-PS) And, with respect to the mounted or cavalry SA- " * * * the SA each year is able to furnish many thousands of young trained cavalrymen to our Wehrmacht * * * At present the SA cavalry has at its disposal 101 cavalry units in whose schools, year in and year out, young Germans who are obligated for military service receive the training which fits him for entrance into a section of troops which is of their own choosing." (2168-PS) The close relationship between the SA and the Wehrmacht is shown throughout the issues of "Der SA-Mann", which contain a number of articles on military training written by Wehrmacht officers. The same relationship is shown in many photographs. For example, in the issue of 1 May, 1937, at page 4, there is a
between the SA and the Wehrmacht is shown throughout the issues of "Der SA-Mann", which contain a number of articles on military training written by Wehrmacht officers. The same relationship is shown in many photographs. For example, in the issue of 1 May, 1937, at page 4, there is a picture of a Wehrmacht formation drawn up in front of an SA building with SA officers and men in the Background. The picture is entitled- "Day after day the closed formations of the Wehrmacht march in Wurzburg to the subscription places of the SA for Thanksgiving to the nation in order to announce its close relation with the SA, and to express thanks to the Fuehrer for making the Reich capable of defense." Page 2 of the issue of 27 January, 1939, contains a photograph of the SA Chief of Staff, Lutze, addressing a group of SA men. The photograph bears the caption, "We will be the bridge between the Party and the Wehrmacht." Page 3 of the issue of 3 February, 1939, reproduces a photograph of General von Brauchitsch and Chief of Staff Lutze reviewing an SA unit. The close cooperation between the Wehrmacht and the SA, and the significance of the SA military training program is shown by the fact that service in the SA was considered as military service under the Conscription Law of 1935. The Organization Book of the Party declared that- "Equally significant is a suitable education and training which the SA has accomplished within the yearly classes, and which have satisfied their arms obligation." (3220-PS) And an article in "Das Archiv" declared- "It was announced that conscripted SA men and Hitler Youths can fulfill their military conscription in the SA Regiment Feldherrnhalle whose Commander is General Field Marshall SA Obergruppenfuehrer Goering. The Regiment for the first time was employed as Regiment of the Luftwaffe in the occupation of the Sudetenland under its Fuehrer and Regimental Commander SA Gruppenfuehrer Reimann." (3214-PS) There was never any misunderstanding among SA men as to the reasons which lay behind their military training program. They were preparing for war and knew it. The purpose of the socalled "Sports Program" was announced time after time in articles in "Der SA-Mann." For example,
Reimann." (3214-PS) There was never any misunderstanding among SA men as to the reasons which lay behind their military training program. They were preparing for war and knew it. The purpose of the socalled "Sports Program" was announced time after time in articles in "Der SA-Mann." For example, the introduction to an article entitled, "The War of Tomorrow," which appeared in the issue of 6 July, 1937, at page 12, declared: "By decree of the Fuehrer of 18th March, 1937, the SA Sport Badge was declared as a means for the aggressive training of the body, for the fostering of a military spirit, for the retaining of military efficiency and thereby as a basis for German military power. * * * "* * * In the following article an attempt is made to occupy every SA fuehrer, who does not have the opportunity due to their profession or many-sided SA services, with questions concerning military policy and modern war direction, to give him an overall view of facts, teachings, opinions and beliefs which today are not without decisive influence upon the military policy, upon the character of the coming war and upon the modern national defense." D. Participation of the SA in Warfare. It would be natural in view of the above quotation, to expect the SA to have been used as a striking force in the first steps of the aggressive warfare launched by Germany, and as a basis for so-called Commando Groups. Such was the case. SA units were among the first of the Nazi military machine to invade Austria in the spring of 1938. This fact was proudly announced in an article appearing in "Der SA-Mann" for 19 March, 1938, at p.10, entitled, "We were the First!" Similarly, the SA participated in the occupation of the Sudetenland (3214-PS). It was announced that conscripted SA men and Hitler Youths could fulfill their military conscription duty in the SA Regiment Feldherrnhalle, commanded by General Field Marshall SA Obergruppenfuehrer Goering. The regiment was employed for the first time as Regiment of the Luftwaffe in the occupation of the Sudetenland, under its Fuehrer and Regimental commander SA Gruppenfuehrer Reimann. SA participation in the occupation of the Sudetenland is also shown by an affidavit of Gottlob
Goering. The regiment was employed for the first time as Regiment of the Luftwaffe in the occupation of the Sudetenland, under its Fuehrer and Regimental commander SA Gruppenfuehrer Reimann. SA participation in the occupation of the Sudetenland is also shown by an affidavit of Gottlob Berger, a former officer in the SS who was assigned to the Sudeten-German Free Corps (3036-PS). Berger declares- "* * * 1. In the fall of 1938 I held the rank and title of Oberfuehrer in the SS. In mid-September I was assigned as SS Liaison Officer with Konrad Henlein's Sudeten German Free Corps at their headquarters in the castle at Dondorf outside Bayreuth. In this position I was responsible for all liaison between the Reichsfuehrer SS Himmler and Heinlein and, in particular, I was delegated to select from the Sudeten Germans those who appeared to be eligible for membership in the SS or VT (Verfuegungs Truppe). In addition to myself, liaison Officers stationed with Heinlein included an Obergruppenfuehrer from the NSKK, whose name I have forgotten, and Obergruppenfuehrer Max Juettner, from the SA. In addition, Admiral Canaris, who was head of the OKW Abwehr, appeared at Dondorf nearly every two days and conferred with Heinlein. "2. In the course of my official duties at Henlein's Headquarters I became familiar with the composition and activities of the Free Corps. Three groups were being formed under Henlein's direction: One in the Eisenstein area, Bavaria, one in the Bayreuth area; one in the Dresden area, and possibly a fourth group in Silesia. These groups were supposedly composed of refugees from the Sudetenland who had crossed the border into Germany, but they actually contained Germans with previous service in the SA and NSKK [Nazi Motor Corps] as well. These Germans formed the skeleton of the Free Corps. On paper the Free Corps had a strength of 40,000 men. Part of the equipment furnished to Heinlein, mostly haversacks, cooking utensils and blankets, were supplied by the SA." (3036-PS) The adaptability of the SA to whatever purpose was required of it is demonstrated by its activities subsequent to the outbreak of the war. During the war the SA continued to carry out its military training program, but
utensils and blankets, were supplied by the SA." (3036-PS) The adaptability of the SA to whatever purpose was required of it is demonstrated by its activities subsequent to the outbreak of the war. During the war the SA continued to carry out its military training program, but it also engaged in various other functions: "The General of the SA, Wilhelm Schepmann, gave further orders to increase the employment of the SA in the homeland war territories because of the requirements of total war employment. This was done in numerous business conferences with Fuehrers of the SA-Divisions. "As a result of these conferences, as well as of measures already carried out earlier for the totalization of the war employment, the SA now has placed 86 per cent of its main professional Fuehrer Corps at disposal at the Front even though the war missions of the SA have increased in the fields of pre-military training, the SA penetration into new territorial parts of the Reich, the air war employment, the State and national guard etc., during war time. "The SA as a whole has given at present an even 70% of its nearly million members to the Wehrmacht." (3219-PS) The SA even extended its activities into Poland: "By command of the General of the SA, the 'SA-Unit General Government' was established, the command of which was taken over by Governor-General SA Obergruppenfuehrer Dr. Frank." (3216-PS) An affidavit of Walter Schellenberg, bureau chief in the RSHA, reads as follows: "* * * From the beginning of 1944 on the SA also participated in many of the functions which had previously been entrusted only to the SS, SIPO and Army, for instance the guarding of concentration camps, the guarding of prisoner of war camps, the supervision over forced laborers in Germany and occupied areas. This cooperation of the SA was planned and arranged for by high officials in Berlin as early as the middle of 1943 * * *." (3232-PS) E. Special Responsibility of Goering for the SA Program. Hermann Goering participated in the conspiracy in his capacity as an SA member and leader. In 1923, Goering became Commander of the entire SA. A few months later Goering participated in the so-called Munich
as the middle of 1943 * * *." (3232-PS) E. Special Responsibility of Goering for the SA Program. Hermann Goering participated in the conspiracy in his capacity as an SA member and leader. In 1923, Goering became Commander of the entire SA. A few months later Goering participated in the so-called Munich Putsch. SA troops participated with him in this action. Goering's intention to employ the SA as a terroristic force to destroy political opponents is shown by a speech made by him on 3 March, 1933, at a Nazi demonstration in Frankfurt Am Main (1856-PS). Goering spoke as follows: "Certainly, I shall use the power of the State and the police to the utmost, my dear Communists! So you won't draw any false conclusions by the struggle to the death in which my fist will grasp your necks, I shall lead with those down there. Those are the Brown Shirts." (1856-PS) The importance of the SA under Goering in the early stages of the Nazi movement is shown by a letter written to Goering by Hitler (3259-PS): "My dear Goering: "When in November 1923 the Party tried for the first time to conquer the power of the State, you as Commander of the SA created within an extraordinarily short time that instrument with which I could bear that struggle. highest necessity had forced us to act, but a wise Providence at that time denied the success. After receiving a grave wound you again entered the ranks as soon as circumstances permitted as my most loyal comrade in the battle for power. You contributed essentially to creating the basis for the 30th of January. Therefore, at the end of a year of the National Socialist Revolution, I desire to thank you wholeheartedly, my dear Party Comrade Goering, for the Great values which you have for the National Socialist Revolution and consequently for the German people. "In cordial friendship and grateful appreciation. "Yours, "(s) Adolf Hitler!" (3259-PS) Although Goering did not retain command of the SA, he at all times maintained a close affiliation with the organization. This is shown by the photographs of Goering participating in SA activities which have been mentioned previously. In 1937, Goering became Commander of the Feldherrnhalle Regiment of the SA This was the Regiment which was employed
SA, he at all times maintained a close affiliation with the organization. This is shown by the photographs of Goering participating in SA activities which have been mentioned previously. In 1937, Goering became Commander of the Feldherrnhalle Regiment of the SA This was the Regiment which was employed in the occupation of the Sudetenland. (3214-PS) LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE STURMABTEILUNG (SA) Document Description VOl. Page Charter of the International Military Tribunal, Article 9........ I 6 International Military Tribunal, Indictment Number 1, section IV (H); Appendix B......... I 29,72 Note: A single asterisk (*) before a document indicates that the document was received in evidence at the Nurnberg trial. A double asterisk (**) before a document number indicates that the document was referred to during the trial but was not formally received in evidence, for the reason given in parentheses following the description of the document. The USA series number, given in parentheses following the description of the document, is the official exhibit number assigned by the court. *392-PS Official NSDAP circular entitled "The Social Life of New Germany with Special Consideration of the German Labor Front", by Prof. Willy Mueller (Berlin, 1938). (USA 326)......... III 380 *787-PS Memorandum to Hitler from Public Prosecutor of Dresden, 18 June 1935, concerning criminal procedure against Vogel on account of bodily injury while in office. (USA 421).......... III 568 *1395-PS Law to insure the unity of Party and State, 1 December 1933. 1933 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p.1016. (GB 252)............. III 978 *1721-PS Confidential report of SA Brigadefuehrer, November 1938, concerning destruction of Jewish property. (USA 524)............. IV 214 1725-PS Decree enforcing law for securing the unity of Party and State, 29 March 1935. 1935 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I, p.502.......... IV 224 *1759-PS Affidavit of Raymond H. Geist. (USA 420)......... IV 288 *1856-PS Extract from book entitled "Hermann Goering - Speeches and Essays", 3rd edition 1939, p.27. (USA 437).......... IV 496 *1893-PS Extracts from Organization Book of the NSDAP, 1943 edition. (USA 323)............. IV 529 *2168-PS Book by SA Sturmfuehrer Dr. Ernst Bayer, entitled
IV 288 *1856-PS Extract from book entitled "Hermann Goering - Speeches and Essays", 3rd edition 1939, p.27. (USA 437).......... IV 496 *1893-PS Extracts from Organization Book of the NSDAP, 1943 edition. (USA 323)............. IV 529 *2168-PS Book by SA Sturmfuehrer Dr. Ernst Bayer, entitled "The SA", depicting the history, work, aim and organization of the SA. (USA 411).......... IV 772 2260-PS Settlement of Relationship between NSDAP and Stahlhelm (Steel Helmets) published in National Socialist Party Press Service release, 21 June 1933........ IV 933 *2354-PS Extracts from Organization book of NSDAP, 5th, 6th and 7th editions, concerning SA. (USA 430) (See Chart No. 17)......... IV 1091 *2383-PS Ordinance for execution of decree of Fuehrer concerning position of the Head of Party Chancellery of 16 January 1942, Published in Decrees, Regulations, Announcements. (USA 410)......... V 9 *2407-PS Order concerning the Roehm purge and appointment of Lutze as Chief of Staff, published in Voelkischer Beobachter, 1934. (USA 412)....... V 82 *2471-PS Pamphlet No. 12 in a series entitled "here Speaks the New German". Speech made in January 1936 by Victor Lutze, Chief of Staff of SA, subject: "The affairs and Tasks of SA". (USA 413)........ V 211 2532-PS Extract from The Third Reich, by Gerd Ruehle............ V 268 *2660-PS Distribution Plan for Gaue, Kreise, and Ortsgruppen, from The Bearers of Sovereignty, 2nd Issue, 3rd Year, February 1939. (USA 325)....... V 365 *2760-PS Extract from Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler, 1933 edition. (USA 256)........... V 396 *2820-PS General Service Regulations for the SA of the NSDAP, published in Munich, 12 December 1933. (USA 427)......... V 456 *2821-PS Memorandum from Supreme SA Headquarters, 19 March 1934, concerning organization of the SA and collaboration between Wehrmacht and SA. (USA 431)....... V 458 2822-PS Letter from the Reich Military Ministry, 26 May 1933, suggesting that an SA branch and Reich Defense Council be united......... V 459 *2823-PS Memorandum of SA Headquarters, January 1934, concerning assignment of Wehrmacht officer to Training Division of SA. (USA 429)......... V 459 *2824-PS Extract from book entitled "Concentration Camp Oranienburg". (USA
1933, suggesting that an SA branch and Reich Defense Council be united......... V 459 *2823-PS Memorandum of SA Headquarters, January 1934, concerning assignment of Wehrmacht officer to Training Division of SA. (USA 429)......... V 459 *2824-PS Extract from book entitled "Concentration Camp Oranienburg". (USA 423)......... V 461 **3036-PS Affidavit of Gottlob Berger on the composition and activity of the Heinlein Free Corps in September 1938. (Objection to admission in evidence upheld.) (USA 102)....... V 742 **3050-A-E-PS Excerpts from The SA Man. (USA 414; USA 415; USA 416; USA 417; USA 418) (Referred to but not offered in evidence.)........... V 777 *3054-PS "The Nazi Plan", script of a motion picture composed of captured German film. (USA 167).......... V 801 *3211-PS Goebbels to the SA, 17 October 1935, from The Archive, Vol. 19, October 1935, p.939. (USA 419)....... V 928 3212-PS Excerpt from The Archive, Vol. 34, January, 1937, p.1452.......... V 929 3213-PS Excerpt from The Archive, Vol. 50, May 1938, pp.156-157........... V 929 *3214-PS Excerpt from The Archive, Vol. 55, October 1938, p.1069. (USA 432)..... V 930 *3215-PS Excerpt from The Archive, Vol. 60, March 1939, p.1834. (USA 426)...... V 930 *3216-PS Excerpt from The Archive, Vol. 97, April 1942, P.54. (USA 434)......... V 933 3217-PS Excerpt from The Archive, Vol. 97, April 1942 p.54............... V 933 3218-PS Excerpt from The Archive, October 1933, pp.482-485............... V 934 *3219-PS Excerpt from The Archive, Vol. 125, August 1944, p.367. (USA 433)...... V 934 *3220-PS Excerpt form Organization Book of NSDAP, 1943 edition, p.358. (USA 323)........ V 935 *3221-PS Affidavit of William F. Sollman, 26 October 1945. (USA 422)........... V 936 *3232-PS Affidavit of Walter Schellenberg, 26 November 1945. (USA 435)......... V 937 *3252-PS Extract from book Hermann Goering, The Man and his Work, by Eric Gritzbach, 1937. (USA 424)........ V 957 *3259-PS Extract from book Hermann Goering, The Man and His Work, by Eric Gritzbach, p.69. (USA 424).......... V 1007 *D-44 Circular, 25 July 1933, referring to publications of SA activities. (USA 428)......... VI 1024 Affidavit F Affidavit of Josef Dietrich, 20-21 November
(USA 424)........ V 957 *3259-PS Extract from book Hermann Goering, The Man and His Work, by Eric Gritzbach, p.69. (USA 424).......... V 1007 *D-44 Circular, 25 July 1933, referring to publications of SA activities. (USA 428)......... VI 1024 Affidavit F Affidavit of Josef Dietrich, 20-21 November 1945.......... VIII 631 L-198 State Department Dispatch by Consul General Messersmith, 14 March 1933, concerning molesting of American citizens in Berlin........ VII 1026 L-199 Newspaper clippings from Berliner Tageblatt, 29 March 1933, regarding boycott action......... VII 1034 Statement IX My Relationship to Adolf Hitler and to the Party, by Erich Raeder, Moscow, fall 1945......... VIII 707 Statement XIII Outline of Defense of Dr. Robert Ley, written in Nurnberg Prison, 24 October 1945......... VIII 749 **Chart No. 8 Organization of the SA. (Enlargement displayed to Tribunal.)......... End of VIII *Chart No. 17 Foreign Organization of the NSDAP. (2354-PS; USA 430)......... End of VIII Chapter XV Part 3 Contents Chapter XV Part 5
5. THE SCHUTZSTAFFELN (SS) In the early weeks of the trial, there appeared in a newspaper circulated in Nurnberg an account of a correspondent's visit to a camp in which SS prisoners of war were confined. The thing which particularly struck the correspondent was the one question asked by the SS prisoners: Why are we charged as war criminals? What have we done except our normal duty? The evidence which follows will answer that question. It will show that just as the Nazi Party was the core of the conspiracy, so the SS was the very essence of Nazism. For the SS was the elite group of the Party, composed of the most thorough-going adherents of the Nazi cause, pledged to blind devotion to Nazi principles, and prepared to carry them out without any question and at any cost. It was a group in which every ordinary value was so subverted that today its members can ask, what is there unlawful about the things we have done? In the evidence of the conspirators' program for aggressive war, for concentration camps, for the extermination of the Jews, for enslavement of foreign labor and illegal use of prisoners of war and for the deportation and Germanization of inhabitants of conquered territories, in all this evidence the Name of the SS runs like a thread. Again and again that organization and its components are referred to. It performed a responsible role in each of these criminal activities, because it was and indeed had to be a criminal organization. The creation and development of such an organization was essential for the execution of the conspirators' plans. Their sweeping program and the measures they were prepared to use and did use, could be fully accomplished neither through the machinery of the government nor of the Party. Things had to be done for which no agency of government and no political party even the Nazi Party, would openly take full responsibility. A specialized type of apparatus was needed-an apparatus which was to some extent connected with the government and given official support, but which, at the same time, could maintain a quasi-independent status so that all its acts could be attributed neither to the government nor to the Party as a whole. The SS was that apparatus. Like the SA, it was one of the seven