HITLER’S ARMY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 171, 15 April 1932, Page 11

HITLER’S ARMY

Storm Troops Banned GOVERNMENT DECREE "A Menace to the State” By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Berlin, April 18. A sensation has been caused by the issue of a decree, signed by President Hindenburg, Dr. Bruening, the Chancellor of the Reich, and General Groener, Minister of Defence, ordering the dissolution of Herr Adolf Hitler’s “storm troops,” numbering 400,000, on the ground that they are an illegal organisation, menacing the authority of the State. The decision was taken at a conference of Ministers of the Interior of the Federal States, over which Dr. Bruening presided, in consequence of the “storm troops’ ” repeated violations of the decree forbidding the wearing of party uniforms. It was alleged that the organisation was guilty of acts of terrorism against political opponents, and preparations for acts of high treason, as revealed by documents recently confiscated throughout Germany. Herr Hitler disavows responsibility for the consequences of disbandment, but the authorities are confident that the decree can be executed without strife. It is regarded as a heavy blow to Herr Hitler. Swift Police Action. Swift action followed the decree. The police closed thirty Nazi barracks in Berlin and seized all military material. The police are dealing similarly with

two hundred barracks throughout Germany. The Government declares that the Nazi detachments constitute a private army organised with military formation to the smallest detail. Though lacking heavy weapons, the forces are said to be capable of performing acts of violence and putting pressure on the population. The mere existence of such organisations, forming a State within a State, is considered a source of continual unrest and liable to create conditions similar to civil war.

The decree threatens imprisonment to persons attempting to carry on banned organisations. The police at Hamburg found the Nazi headquarters filled with tear gas, and were forced to break the windows before entering.

The police blocked nil roads leading to the “Brown House,” the Nazi central headquarters at Munich. Strong detachments raided the building. The decree was not enforced in Brunswick, whose Nazi Government alone opposed the suppression. The Nazis complain that the police exceeded their powers and searched political offices as well as barracks and seized election material. NO RESISTANCE (Rec. April 14, 11.20 p.m.) London, April 14. The “News-Chronicle’s” Berlin correspondent says that Herr Hitler took the suppression of his “storm troops” with lamb-like docility. While protesting against the President’s action, he hns decided to offer no resistance.