SS-Kampfgruppe „Binz“

Published in „Siegrunen“ Magazine - Volume XI, Number 2, Whole Number 64, Fall 1997

 

by Dr. Marcon Novarese

 

SS-Kampfgruppe „Binz“ was formed at the beginning of February 1945, following a request by the OB Sudwest, (Commander-in-Chief Southwest), that was made to the Höchste SS und Polizei Führer „Italien“, (Higher SS and Police Leader „Italy“), SS-Obergruppenföhrer Karl Wolff. The Kampfgruppe (Battlegroup), was authorized on 5 February 1945 and was known as the Regimentsgruppe or Kampfgruppe „Binz“ after the name of the commander, SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Franz Binz. Ostubaf. Binz was the former commander of SS-Pz.Gr. Rgt. 21/10.SS- Pz.Div. „Frundsberg“, who later went on to command the SS Grenadier Ausbildungs und Ersatz Btl. 35. He was decorated with the German Cross in Gold.

 

The Kampfgruppe was formed around two grenadier battalions from Waffen-Grenadier Rgt. der SS 81. The former Waffen- Füsilier Bataillon der SS „Debica“ was disbanded and used to form a new I./WGRdSS 81 which went into the Kampfgruppe. The old I./WGRdSS 81 was also disbanded and some of its troops were used to reinforce the new I./WGRdSS 81 and other elements within the battlegroup. The remaining personnel of the „old“I. /WGRdSS 81 were then used in the formation of a new Waffen- Füsiler Btl. der SS 29!

 

The second grenadier battalion in SS-KGr.“Binz“ was II. /WGRdSS 81. This was the former Battalion „degli Oddi“, (or „Vendetta“), that had fought on the Anzio Front between March and June 1944. Its banner was decorated with the Silver Medal of the RSI (Italian Social Republic), in November 1944.

 

The strength of the Kampfgruppe in February 1945 was 1,500 troops of all ranks and it was formed from the following elements:

 

Kampfgruppe Stab (Staff) with an SS Begleit Zug (Escort Platoon) from the SS Stabskompanie (Staff Company).

 

Nachrichten Zug (Signals Platoon) from the Waffen-Nachrichten Kompanie der SS 29.

 

Sanitäts Zug (Medical Platoon) from the Waffen-Sanitäts Kompanie der SS 29.

 

Versorgungstruppen (Supply Troops) with one Instandsetzungstaffel (Maintenance Staff) from the Waffen- Versorgungs Regiment der SS 29.

 

Waffen-Pionier Kompanie der SS 29 (Engineer Company) except for the Kompanie Depot Zug (Platoon).

 

LBataillon „Debica“/WGRdSS 81 with 3 companies, two fusilier

 

and one heavy weapons. (1.- 2. - 4. schwere).

 

n.Bataillon „Nettuno“/WGRdSS 81. with the same configuration as „Debica“. (5. -6.-8. schwere).

 

Schwere Waf fen Abteilung (Heavy Weapons Detachment) with a staff and the following elements:

 

One Gebirgs Geschütz Batterie (Mountain Artillery Battery) with 6 x 75mm mountain artillery pieces from LAbteilung/Waffen- Artillerie Rgt. der SS 29.

 

One Pak Batterie (Anti-Tank Battery) with 6 x 47mm Pak from the anti-tank companies of the 81. and 82. Waffen-Grenadier Regiments der SS, (officially these were Infanterie Geschütz Kompanie or Infantry Gun Companies).

 

One Flak Zug (Anti-aircraft Gun Platoon) with 3 x 20mm Flak from 4.Flak Kp./Waffen-Panzetjäger Abt. der SS 29.

 

From the few vehicles that it had available the Transport Kommandtur Mailand (Milan) dispatched 20 trucks from the Transport Columns XE., XH1. and XVII. to the Kampfgruppe.

 

The officers in charge of the Kampfgruppe were as follows:

 

Kampfgruppe Stab

 

Commander: SS-Ostubaf. Franz Binz.

 

Adjutant: SS-Ustuf. Emil Brugger, later SS-Ostuf. Franz Scharf. Italian Adjutant: Waf.-Ustuf. Renzo Pasinato.

 

Orderly Officer: Leutnant der Schutzpolizei Gmeiner.

 

Ia (1st Staff Officer): Hauptmann der Schp. Friedrich Noweck.

 

Ib (Logistics/Supplies): Waf.-Ustuf. Carlo Conrad.

 

Ic (Intelligence): Leutnant der Schp. Pfeffer.

 

IVa (Intendant/Maintenance): Leutnant der Schp.Anton Copar & Waf-Ostuf. Fulvio Fand.

 

IVb (Medical Officer): Waf.-Hstuf. Dr. Emilio Rimini, (CO of 3.Zug/HVP, (3rd Platoon/Main Dressing Station), Waf.San.Kp.d.SS 29.

 

Nachrichten (Signals) Officer & Commander of the SS Begleit Zug (Escort Platoon): SS-Ustuf. Bemd Heydeman. 3.Zug/Waf.-Nach.Kp.d.SS 29: Waf.-Ustuf. Antonio Passarello. Waf.-Pionier Kp.d.SS 29: SS-Hstuf. Rolf Lochmueller.

 

I.Btl. „Debica“: Waf.-Hstuf. Roberto Cantarella.

 

HBtl. „Nettuno“: Waf.-Stubaf. Remo Buldrini.

 

Schwere Waffen Abteilung: Waf.-Hstuf. Nereo Raccanelli. Gebirgs Schütz Batterie: Waf.-Ostuf. BLruno DelTOrso.

 

Pak Batterie: Waf.-Ustuf. Damiano Manzolini.

 

Flak Zug: Waf.-Rtffhr. Centi.

 

In March 1945, a Nachshub Lager, (Supply Camp) under Leutnant der Schutzpolizei Richard Jahn, was established in Travagliato near Brescia on the north side of the River Po. It was used to store fuel, trucks and weapons for the Kampfgruppe in case it had to retreat to the north of the River Po.

 

The Kampfgruppe „Binz“ had two main tasks: 1) To undertake anti-partisan actions and 2) To fight against the Anglo-American troops. It was placed under the orders of Armee Korps „Lombardia“ under General Jahn which came under the Armee „Ligurien“ under Maresciallo Graziani.

 

The staff of the Kampfgruppe was to relocate to Rivergaro, some kilometers to the south of Piacenza, while I./81 „Debica“ was to go to the southwest of Piacenza to control the important Road Nr.9 from Milan to Bologna and the Val d’Arda and the Val Nure, where important oil fields were found. The „Debica“ Battalion had the jobs of keeping the area with the oil depots free from the partisan formations and of organizing a line of resistance between Parma and Piacenza near the River Nure and Road Nr.9. II./81 „Nettuno“ was to be located to the south of Piacenza in Val Trebbia along Road Nr. 45 that ran from Piacenza to Genova on the Ligurian Sea. II./81 had the task of keeping this important road and the Appennine Mountain passes behind the positions of LI. Gebirgs Korps, free from the partisans.

 

The Heavy Weapons Detachment had to help the two infantry battalions during anti-partisan actions, while the engineer company, (Waf.Pio.Kp.d.SS 29), was to build up the line of resistance on the Nure River. It was reinforced by the engineer platoon of Oberfeldwebel Murrer from the IV.Pionier Lehr Bataillon, (a Wehrmacht engineer training battalion).

 

Kampfgruppe „Binz“ left the Como area by rail in three convoys on 7 Februaiy 1945 and arrived in the vicinity of Piacenza just to the south of the River Po between 8 and 9 February. During the course of Februaiy and March 1945, some additional units were put under the command of SS-Ostubaf. Binz bringing the strength of the battle-group to more than 2,500 men.

 

The units that were put under the command of SS-Ostubaf. Binz were the following:

 

Troops from the 630 Territorial Command of the GNR, (National Republican Guard) from Piacenza.

 

Troops from the XXVII⁰ Black Brigade from Parma.

 

H. Btl. „Mameli“/8 .(Bersaglieri)Regiment.

 

Btl. „Mantova“/V° Motorized Black Brigade „Quagliata“.

 

4.Kompanie/Panzer Abt. „Leonessa“ (GNR) with Italian Panzers M. 13 and Italian SPW AB.40.

 

Pionier Zug/IV. Pionier Lehr Btl.

 

III.Turk.Btl./162.Infanterie Division „Turkestan“ under Hauptmann Ecker, (added in April 1945).

 

Above: SS-Oberführer Jungkunz, commander of the 29. WGDdSS (Italy Nr. 1), in the summer of 1944 during the anti-partisan Unternehmen „Nachtigall“, (Operation „Nightingale“). He is near a road block of the WGRdSS 82 speaking with Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Karl Mayr.

 

 

Following 20 April 1945, SS-Ostubaf. Binz was designated the Kampfkommandant (Battle Commander) for Festung (Fortress) Piacenza, so all of the units in the Piacenza area were also put under his command.

 

From 10 February 1945 to 20 April 1945, Kampfgruppe „Binz“ was mainly engaged in anti-partisan actions. H./8J in particular had to fight strong partisan formations of the l° Divisione „Piacenza“ which had many deserters from the 162.1nfanterie Division „Turkestan“ and was reinforced by Anglo-American „missions“. 5th Company under Waf.-Ostuf. Aimone Ribolla manned the exposed stronghold of the battalion at Marsalia. The company was encircled at the end of February, but after two days it was able to break out from Marsaglia, taking all of its weapons with it.

 

On 4 March 1945, the partisans attacked the oil depots at Montechino and Gropparello which were defended by soldiers of the Panzer Abteilung „Leonessa“. After a day of fighting, Montechino was taken by the partisans and 2 officers and 30 men were captured. At Gropparello all attempts to drive off the partisans were rejected until the arrival of a column of I./WGRdSS 81 „Debica“ with two Assault Guns from „Leonessa“. The enemy was then defeated and by 5 March 1945, Montechino was also back under Italio-German control.

 

On 17 April, H./WGRdSS 81, with the support of Btl. „Mantova“ of the Black Brigade, attacked a strong partisan formation in Momeliano near the beginning of Val Trebbia (Trebbia Valley). During the fight, the Italian SS lost 17 killed and 30 wounded but forced the partisans to leave the town and retreat to the mountains. Among the dead was die platoon leader, Waf-Ustuf. der SS Domenico Gadaleta. It was a bloody fight as stated by the high number of deaths.

 

Between 10 February and 20 April 1945, Kampfgruppe „Binz“ had about 40 deaths and 100 wounded in addition to some 50 deserters, many of whom were from the Heavy Weapons Detachment. Among the dead was Leutnant der Schutzpolizei Gmeiner, Orderly Officer in the Kampfgruppe Staff who was killed in a partisan ambush on 26 March. He had been leading a platoon searching for the Kampfgruppe IVa (Maintenance Officer), Leutnant der Sch. Anton Copar who had been captured by the partisans near Rivergaro. However he was later released with three other Italian SS members during a prisoner exchange.

 

Following the beginning of the Ango-American offensive at the start of April 1945, Kampfgruppe „Binz“ received orders from Armee Korps „Lombardia“ to keep open the important passage across the River Po just to the north of Piacenza. To assist in this objective, IL/WGRdSS 81 was given the job of stopping access to the south of Piacenza to the partisans who had been dislocated in the Val Trebbia. I./WGRdSS 81 „Debica“, supported by the Heavy Weapons Detachment, was relocated to near Salsomaggiore to the southeast of Piacenza in the direction of the Parma Front to the east The Engineer Company had to finish fortifying the resistance line on the Nure River.

 

On 23-24 April, I./81 „Debica“ had a brief fight with Brazilian units before retreating to the resistance line on the Nure. After SS- Ostubaf. Binz was designated the Kampfkommandant of Fortress Piacenza, all of the units in the area were put under his control.

 

Piacenza remained firmly in Italio-German hands until 28 April 1945, so many of the soldiers of the LLGebirgs Korps were able to cross the River Po.

 

On 26 April 1945, Ostubaf. Binz ordered both I./81 and H/81 to retreat to Piacenza, but after rumors developed that U.S. troops were advancing from Parma, I./81 was sent instead to Montale to the southeast of Piacenza along Road Nr.9. The Italian SS battalion was reinforced by some 47mm anti-tank guns and 4 Panzer M.13’s from the „Leonessa“ Panzer Abteilung. „Debica“ took up positions along the road with 1st Company under Waf.- Ostuf. Giorgio Giorgi on the left, 2nd Company under Waf.-Ostuf. Luigi Romeri on the right and the 4th Heavy Weapons Company under Waf.-Ostuf. Francesco Udeschini with the M.13 Panzers about one kilometer behind the other company positions.

 

When the U.S. troops arrived near the „Debica“ positions, the Italian SS soldiers opened fire; 1st Company was particularly heavily engaged. After a brief fight, 6 Sherman tanks from the 1st U.S. Armored Division were destroyed by the 47mm anti-tank guns and by Panzerfaust (Bazookas) and one „Dingo“ with 1 officers and 5 GI’s were captured. In the process, the Italian SS had some fatalities. Among those killed were Waf.-Ostuf. Giorgio Giorgi (1st Co. CO), Waf.-Ustuf. Dario Cammurati and SS- Rottenführer Josef Lukas from the SS Escort Platoon. Also one of the M.13 Panzers was destroyed and the tank commander, Leutnant Rinetti of the GNR „Leonessa“ Panzer Abteilung was killed. The U.S. troops were forced to retreat some kilometers to the south.

 

Waf.-Uscha. Antonio Lo Buono was killed after being captured by U.S. soldiers and this was witnessed by other Italian SS men captured with Lo Buono. Following the battle at Montale, the U.S. advance on Road Nr.9 was halted but other U.S. troops were advancing in a northwesterly direction on the north side of the River Po.

 

II./WGRdSS 81 was able to repell all of the partisan attacks towards Piacenza, so until 28 April 1945, the passage on the River Po was still in Italio-German hands. It was then that SS-Ostubaf. Binz ordered all of the units of the Kampfgruppe to concentrate in Piacenza and retreat to the north of the River Po. An initial column was formed from II./81 and the rest of the Italian and German units in Piacenza. I./81 „Debica“ formed a second column and started its retreat after all of the other units of the Kampfgruppe had crossed the river.

 

The retreat was conducted towards the northeast in an effort to try and contact the rest of the 29th SS Division and other Italian SS battle-groups on the Tonale Pass near South Tyrol. However enemy air activity was very intense and this inflicted casualties among the retreating Kampfgruppe troops.

 

 

Above: The „soldbuch „of a Waffen-Scharführer der SS from Italian SS Sturmbrigade in May 1944 who served with the Replacement Company „Hiemer“ on the Anzio Front.

 

On 29 April, I./WGRdSS 81 „Debica“, reinforced by some tanks from the Panzer Abteilung „Leonessa“, reached Sant’Angelo Lodigiano some kilometers to the south of Milan. The town was in the hands of partisans so the Italian SS troops had to attack it. After a brief fight, Sant’Angelo was secured and more than 300 RSI soldiers that had been captured by the partisans were liberated.

 

On 30 April, the main column of the Kampfgruppe was encircled by U.S. troops from the 1st Armored Division near Gorgonzola to the east of Milan and most of the Italian SS soldiers were forced to surrender. SS-Ostubaf. Binz with part of the Kampfgruppe staff were able to avoid capture and escape to South Tyrol where they had to surrender at the beginning of May near Lake Kerrer.

 

The second column with the rest of the „Debica“ Battalion, about 100 SS troops with two trucks and one tank in total, met a „never ending“ American column from the 34th U.S. Infantry Division. After a meeting between Waf.-Hstuf.Cantarella, the commander of „Debica“, and some U.S. officers, it was decided to disband the column. Cantarella went with the U.S. officers into a small village where the partisans had a headquarters. The Italian SS troops laid down their arms in exchange for a „safe conduct“ agreement allowing them to return to their homes! Thanks to this unusual agreement, the „Debica“ survivors thus avoided capture and a year of imprisionment in the Coltano POW Camp where all of the other Italian SS soldiers were concentrated. Before surrendering however, Waf.-Hstuf. Cantarella ordered the destruction of the battalion banner, which was then burned by the Legionnaires.

 

* * * * *

Paracelsus (1943)

Directed by: G. W. Pabst

Written by: Kurt Heuser

Based on: “Der König der Ärzte“ by Pert Peternel

Produced by: Fred Lyssa for Bavaria Filmkunst GmbH

Cinematography: Bruno Stephan

Edited by: Lena Neumann

Music by: Herbert Windt

Production company: Bavaria Film

Distributed by: Deutsche Filmvertriebe

Release date: 12 March 1943

Running time: 104 minutes

Country: Germany

Language: German

 

Starring:

 

Werner Krauss: Paracelsus

Annelies Reinhold: Renata Pfefferkorn

Harry Langewisch: Pfefferkorn

Mathias Wieman: Ulrich von Hutten

Fritz Rasp: Magister

Peter Martin Urtel: Johannes (as Martin Urtel)

Herbert Hübner: Count von Hohenreid

Josef Sieber: Bilse, Paracelsus’ servant

Rudolf Blümner: Froben

Harald Kreutzberg: Fliegenbein

Hilde Sessak: Waitress

Franz Schafheitlin: Erasmus von Rotterdam

Victor Janson: Mayor

Karl Skraup: Surgeon

Erich Dunskus: Innkeeper

 

Paracelsus is a 1943 German drama film directed by G. W. Pabst, based on the life of the 16th-century physician Paracelsus.

 

Plot

 

Central Europe at the beginning of the 16th century. The Basel physician Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, known as Paracelsus, who was traveling through the country, stopped in a free imperial city. His healing methods, precursors of holistic medicine, were viewed with suspicion by his medical colleagues and were a thorn in their side. Unlike them, for whom the medical teachings of the faculties are sacred and irrefutable law, he develops his own theories in medicine based on practical experience, research, and findings. For him, the human being as a whole is at the forefront of his observations and analyses, and with his resulting treatment methods, Paracelsus has achieved remarkable success in the late Middle Ages.

 

When he succeeds in healing the bookseller Froben, who had been given up by all doctors, his teachings are on everyone’s lips. The people respect and appreciate him, and accordingly, the number of his enemies among conventionally practicing physicians rises rapidly. Among them is the merchant Pfefferkorn: he resents Paracelsus for closing the city gates to prevent the impending arrival of the plague. Envy and resentment towards Paracelsus grow stronger and stronger, and his powerful opponents accuse him of charlatanism. Above all, the previously leading physician of the imperial city, the Magister, who had just wanted to amputate poor Froben’s leg before Paracelsus intervened and saved him from the backward quack, matures into his worst enemy. For after this success, Paracelsus has replaced the Magister in his position.

 

It is therefore very convenient for his opponents that Paracelsus’ closest colleague, the ambitious famulus Johannes, uses one of his teacher’s untested elixirs in an unauthorized attempt to cure a patient without Paracelsus’ knowledge. Froben, who is treated with the elixir, falls ill again and dies as a result. Paracelsus’ opponents now see their chance to get rid of their hated colleague once and for all. They have the innocent doctor imprisoned, even though Paracelsus has long been regarded as a savior by the common people, the townspeople. With the help of the juggler Fliegenbein, one of Paracelsus’ successfully treated patients, the misunderstood doctor is able to escape from prison. Paracelsus goes back on his travels and, living in complete modesty, continues to heal the sick people he encounters on his journeys. Paracelsus even turns down an offer from the emperor to become his personal physician at court. From now on, he wants to serve only the common people.

 

Poster&Postcards Collection – The IV Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1936

 

 

 

 

The Reich in Photos – The New Reich Chancellery in Berlin – Part I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Die Deutsche Wochenschau – Newsreel No. 640, 10 December 1942

 

1. Italy.

 

Rome, Mussolini addresses the Fascist Parliament, assuring them of Italy’s desire to fight side by side with Germany.

 

2. Germany.

 

Berlin Sports Palace.

 

– Reich Minister Goebbels speaks at a fascist rally about the goals and upcoming work during the four-year plan.

 

– The audience consists of workers and soldiers.

 

3. Southeast Asia.

 

The sphere of influence of the United States in Asia.

 

– Military operations of Japanese and American troops in the Pacific since December 1941 (diagrams, geographical maps).

 

– Fighting in Singapore.

 

– Japanese infantry in the jungle.

 

– Firefight with the British, Japanese at the gun.

 

– Japanese soldiers walking through mud.

 

– Trucks crossing a river.

 

– Soldiers with guns on the road.

 

– Japanese planes bomb military targets in Singapore.

 

– British and Australian prisoners of war.

 

– Shelling of Singapore’s fortifications.

 

– British Lieutenant General Arthur Percival surrenders the fortress of Singapore on 15 February 1942.

 

– Japanese soldiers on the streets of Singapore, views of the city.

 

– Japanese attack on the island of Celebes, Japanese planes in the air bombing British positions.

 

– Airborne troops landing in the city of Manado.

 

– Japanese infantry advancing deep into the island.

 

Map, operations against the Aleutian Islands.

 

– Japanese ships are moving north.

 

– Japanese soldiers in boats, they are on the islands, a detachment with a Japanese flag is approaching.

 

– Transport ships and seaplanes in the harbour.

 

– Attack by American bombers, explosions.

 

– Fragments of the battle.

 

– Ceremonial formation of Japanese troops.

 

– Japanese planes and ships on the march.

 

4. USSR. Eastern Front.

 

Members of construction groups joining Hitler’s army take an oath.

 

– Young soldiers swear allegiance to the Führer.

 

– Most of them, while still in construction groups, managed to prove themselves as combat soldiers.

 

– The young men stack their shovels in pyramids and march.

 

– Roll call begins for the Reich labour service units that participated on the front lines.

 

– Ceremony of decorating the banner with honorary ribbons and tassels.

 

5. USSR. Military operations south of Lake Ilmen.

 

Massive raid by German bombers on Soviet positions.

 

– Pilot in the cockpit.

 

– Grenadiers and tanks of the SS troops before the offensive, SS-Sturmbannführer Otto Baum, Knight’s Cross recipient with Oak Leaves and Swords, on the front line with soldiers.

 

– Offensive, capture of a village.

 

– A column of captured Soviet soldiers is led through the village.

 

6. USSR, central section of the Eastern Front.

 

In areas of major defensive battles.

 

– Snow-covered trenches.

 

– Tankers in reserve paint their tanks white.

 

– The daily life of German soldiers on the front lines.

 

– Drying laundry, distributing food.

 

– Soldiers chop wood and carry it to the bunker.

 

– Soldiers’ mess hall.

Why We Wear a Uniform

 

Source: SS Leitheft, No. 10, 1937

 

Uniforms were once a sign of recognition. In ancient times, uniforms were given to men in the same way as their thinking was influenced. They were ‘stuffed’ into them, and this expression already carries the bitter taste of constraint.

 

Today, it is worn as a sign of spiritual attitude. The only thing that counts is the will and the action of the men wearing the jacket, not the look or the fashion. For this reason, the simple feldgrau uniform is more valuable than the gold-laden dolman of a hussar.

 

The heroic struggle of our soldiers against an enemy world gave the feldgrau jacket its letters of nobility. It symbolises forever the memory of the misery and death that befell millions of Germany’s finest fighters under rolling fire and in tank battles, on the silt fields of Flanders and on the icy expanses of Russia, on the grey “no man’s land”. They were men ready to accept death, united in victory and comradeship, heroic loners standing by their last machine gun.

 

Every man who wears the jacket has a duty to this tradition. It thus became the expression of the soldiers at the front, of the will of national defence. Adolf Hitler, the corporal of the Great War, made it the honorary garment of the new national army.

 

Similarly, the brown shirt will always be the honorary garment of the National Socialist fighter – a constant reminder of the sacrificial spirit of all the anonymous men and women who followed the Führer with sacred loyalty, driven by one constant idea: Germany! Germany, you must live, even if we must die. This spirit of sacrifice and loyalty, of comradeship and desire for freedom, firmly unites every wearer of the brown shirt. We recognize that we wear the brown shirt and the black jacket in the same spirit as these fighters.

 

The uniform implies a disciplined attitude.

 

It is no longer necessary to tell a National Socialist today that we make no distinction between service and private life. We are constantly in the service of our people. A National Socialist must therefore never let himself go. The SS must also, in civilian life, act as if he were on duty, as if he were wearing the black uniform, the honorary garment of his Führer.

 

The uniform therefore implies a duty. It must also be worn with the deepest conviction that it will become an honourable distinction for its wearer.

 

But the uniform also implies physical qualities. It should be worn by healthy men and not by weaklings. That is why in all units that wear a uniform, physical exercise is cultivated. Under the uniform, the man without attitude becomes the caricature of the soldier and thus makes the troop ridiculous.

 

The notions of soldier, defence and activity are linked to the uniform. Being a soldier implies the notion of duty. The uniform demands that the wearer is always aware that he or she has great duties to fulfil. Wearing a uniform requires the ability to fight with conviction for the idea that made us put it on. It is an expression of comradeship, perseverance and loyalty. He who thinks like this when he wears it and hangs his way of thinking with his jacket on his hanger is not only endangering his personal appearance. He harms the group to which he belongs. For the individual is nothing – perhaps a name that is forgotten three days later. The uniform wearer, on the other hand, symbolises an idea, even if his name is unknown.

 

The uniform demands from its wearer a total refusal to compromise. It tolerates no hesitation. It demands action’.

 

The wearer of the uniform is the focus of all eyes. When unforeseen events occur, the masses will turn to him, feeling that he knows what needs to be done. The civilian can afford to fail: no one will draw general conclusions. The soldier who fails undermines the respect of all those who wear the same jacket. He who wears the uniform is always placed at a higher level of responsibility, he is in any case a leader, an elected official. Our education must therefore aim to ensure that one day our young people wear the uniform out of conviction, and are not simply “stuck” in it. Young people must be aware that the uniform, in National Socialist Germany, has become the expression of all those who come together because they are of the same species. The grey jacket of the People’s Army, the brown shirt and the black uniform are the honorary garments of men who are ready to fight for the National Socialist Reich and an eternal Germany.

 

So that’s why we wear the uniform. A lot of people probably respected the black jacket at first because it looks good. They took pride in it and were satisfied. But gradually they realised that it also imposed duties, which we accepted voluntarily and out of conviction. One can perhaps follow the rules of an association, even devoting oneself twice a week to its objectives, but certainly not a world view. The black jacket implies that the wearer must act every day and every hour as a soldier of National Socialism. Every action on our part will therefore be observed, compared and judged. The value of an idea represented by the wearer of the uniform is judged by his behaviour

 

We must win the confidence of our fellow citizens by our thoughtfulness, for we do not want to impose our world view on the people, but to persuade them of its rightness. He who wears the uniform experiences National Socialism in advance. And our task is to spread our world view ever more widely in the community until it is understood.

 

We want to be respected and to judge the value of National Socialism by our attitude.

 

That’s why we wear a uniform.

 

V.J. Schuster