The glaring contradictions between the various statements issued by Nazi leaders is further exemplified by the sharp difference between an official communique issued by Chancellor Hitler and a most inciting speech broadcast by Minister Goering from the radio station at Essen.
Hitler’s communique, an evident attempt to prevent chaotic Nazi activities from creating the impression abroad that the Hitler Government was unable to maintain order, came in reply to an appeal addressed to him by Dr. Frederick von Winterfeld, chairman of Dr. Alfred Hugenberg’s National party, in which he referred to “arrests, domiciliary searches and suspensions of civil servants from office by unauthorized members of organizations.”
“It is attempted to embroil the Party and Germany with foreign countries by molesting foreigners travelling in autos displaying foreign flags,” declares Hitler in the opening paragraph in his communique.
“From this day onward,” proceeds the statement, “the National Government holds the executive power throughout the whole of Germany. Consequently, the course of the national uprising will be planned only from above. Only in cases where opposition is offered to the directions issued from above, or when attacks are made on individuals, or men marching in column, is opposition to be immediately smashed.” The statement concludes with the characteristic Nazi phrase, “Comrades do not allow yourselves to be diverted from our slogan, ‘The extermination of Marxism’.”
In striking contrast to Hitler’s appeal is the incitement broadcast by Minister Goering at Essen, soon after he had received the leaders of the Central Union of the German Citizens of the Jewish Faith in Berlin, and assured them of legal protection of life and property. At Essen, Goering declared, “there is tremendous excitement because of the temporary closing
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
