DIFFERING IDEALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1936, Page 4

DIFFERING IDEALS

NAZI GUARDS AND ARMY

ATTEMPT TQ END FRICTION

The holding by high officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force of a series of conferences in Berlin, in which they are said to have been joined from time to time by representatives of the S.S. (Nazi black-uniformed Guards) and S.A. (Brown Shirt) commands, has given rise to lively speculation, states "The Times."

The Press is completely silent on the subject, and the officers have come and gone about their business with complete discretion. Private observers recall, however, that just a year ago a great gathering of military, paramilitary, and party functionaries assembled on short notice in the Prussian State Opera House. Its object, as stated at the time, was to demonstrate the national unity of the new Germany in face of "lying" reports of friction among its leaders, which had appeared, or were to appear, in the foreign Press. There is reason to suppose that the present conferences have been dealing less dramatically with the causes of frictions which are known still to exist between- the armed forces and the forces, such as the S.S. and S.A., more directly identified with the National:Socialist movement. There is no suggestion that the stability of the regime is immediately threatened. It may well be, however, that in the interests of stability it is necessary to arrive at clear and definite understandings about spheres of competence and authority. This again seems to raise the question whether in the totalitarian State the Army can at once be a non-political force and claim that the political forces should be subordinate to it. So far, it is understood, no conclusions have been reached, and the conversations are to be continued. PROFESSIONAL JEALOUSY. It is natural that the Army should keep a watchful eye on the S.S., which provides Herr Hitler with a bodyguard and flying' columns for use in v tho event of-internal revolt. The standing S.S. forces have been stated to number 12,000, divided into four regiments stationed in different parts of Germany. To all appearances they! are magnificently trained. They are armed with rifles, machine-guns, armoured cars, and, it has been stated, anti-aircraft guns. Recently there have been reports that their numbers have been increased to about 16,000, and that they have artillery and signal units. There are also between 200,000 and 300,000 unarmed , reserves. Their commander, under Herr Hitler, is Herr Himmler, who is also head of the State Secret Police. They are the elect of the NationalSocialist movement and upholders of its principles in the most radical form. As the internal bulwark of the State, which in its National-Socialist shape is almost religion with them, it is conceivable that they are dissatisfied with their status in relation to the Army, which conceives its duty to be limited to the defence of the frontiers. From all accounts all the notice the Army takes of the S.S. and S.A., apart from checking their numbers, is to return their salutes. The professional and social jealousies to which this gives rise are common talk in Berlin. ARMY AND POLITICS. It may be supposed, therefore, that if the Army is insisting that the question of authority must be decided in its favour the party argue that the ambiguous position of the Army in the National-Socialist State must be cleared up. Of the various organisations through which young Germans are to be moulded into complete National-Socialists, the armed forces alone are not politically active. The idea that at one stage of their training youth may find themselves in a haven for political "free-thinkers" is likely to disturb the party. The nonpolitical old soldiers' association, the Soldatenbund, which the armed forces obtained from Herr Hitler after giving, up the Stahlhelm, is also thought to be a subject of dissatisfaction in the party. While double membership of S.S. or S.A. and Soldatenbund is provided for, it is possible to regard the Soldatenbund as a retreat provided by the armed forces for ex-members who wish to escape pressure on them to become politicians. The S.A., which has been steadily declining in prestige and possibly numbers as well, is said to regard the Soldatenbund with some concern. There is speculation, therefore, whether one outcome of the conversations will not be a decision to include political propaganda in the training of the soldier. The introduction of political councils has also been spoken of. Concessions of that kind would no doubt pave the way for final arrangements recognising the ermy's preeminence over all other1 armed forces without involving it directly in responsibility for the internal security of the National-Socialist State. At the same time the army will no doubt regard suspiciously any proposals likely immediately or in the long run to compromise its position of relative independence of the Government of the day. It has occupied this position by virtue of the tradition that historically the army has been the one stable factor in the life of Germany.