RULE OF SWASTIKA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21396, 20 October 1934, Page 2 (Supplement)

RULE OF SWASTIKA

HITLER'S STORM TROOPERS, SPECTACULAR PARADE BROWN SHIRTS* SANCTUARY ¥ Adolf Hitler, now absolute monarch of Germany under the title " Fuehrer,'' renewed mutual assurances of loyalty with his "old loyal Storm Troopers " on September 9, when they paraded before him for the first time since the death of Captain Roehm in the Luitpold Arena at Nuremburg, says, the Morning Post. At the close of the ceremony, 200 new standards were coneecrated while artillery thundered. This parade was the central feature of the whole rally, and the arena is reserved for this purpose only. With the exception of two side tribunes in wood, it had been entirely rebuilt in the last year as the permanent central sanctuary of the Storm Troopers. On one side, rising above two grass banks' and decorated with golden garlands, was the tribune. At either end of it stood an enormous golden eagle on a swastika, the only elements in the design which had a certain aggressive vulgarity. Above the centre of the tribune hung : downwards three swastika flags, 30ft. or 40ft. long. Across the centre ran V broad stone path, 50yds. long, to the monument of honour, a stone block, on which lay an oak wreath wound with gold ribbon. Four ceremonial fires smoked and flamed about it. Monument of Honour Behind the monument of honour rises in the same grey stone as the tribune a portico of six lofty, perfectly plain arches. The whole arena had been returfed for the parade. The 120,000 Storm Troopers and Defence Squad men were drawn up on the sacred area at eight - o'clock in the morning, with their flagj and standards, awaiting the Leader. When the Leader had been greeted with a " Heil," the standard-bearers marched out of their ranks and across the arena to the monument of honour,, flanking it on either side. Herr Hitler, with the Defence Squad Leader, Herr . Himmler, on his right and the Storm Troop Chief of Staff, Herr Lutze, on his left, marched solemnly down the stone path. Last year he had been accompanied at this moment by Captain Roehm.

Herr Hitler and his two companions stood beside the wreaths for a/few minutes in solemn meditation,, while the standard-bearer held the " blood flag " of the 1923 Munich putsch above them. Herr Hitler then walked back between the ranks to the tribune, followed by the " blood flag" and all the standards, which were then massed before him. / In the past twelve months, Herr Hitler told the Storm Troopers, every position in the State had been conquered by the Nazis and would never be relinquished again. He had decided to hold this party rally only twelve months after the last for a special reason. A few months ago a black shadow had passed over the movement, and their opponents had believed that its days were numbered. "Solid Nazi Structure" This rally, said Herr Hitler, was held to prove three things. First., rthat the Storm Troopers had as little to do with the shadow as any other branch of the party organisation. Second, that Herr Hitler's relationship to his comrades was the same as it has been for the past fourteen years. Third, to show to their enemies that the party, the Storm Troops and the Defence Squads stood united behind the Nazi revolution, without a crack in their structure, as solid as the stone block on which he was standing. If any one were to sin against the spirit and meaning of the movement he would be sinning, in the first* place, against the Storm Troopers, and his sins would fall on his own head Only. After his speech, Herr Hitler " consecrated " 126 new Storm Troop standards and 75 new Defence .Squad standards by touching them with the " blood flag." As each standard was touched by the " blood flag," 12 guns were fired.' On the previous day, Herr Hitler reviewed the Hitler Lads and Lassies, 60,000 strong, under their leader, Herr Baldur Schirach, who is only 27 years old. Girl detachments in white blouses were arranged among: the brown shirts of the boys so as to form the four letters of the word " Saar." The Woman's Bole After reviewing the Hitler Youth detachments, Herr Hitler made a surprise to the 25,000 delegates of the Nazi women's organisation assembled in the Luitpold Hall. He was wildly applauded as he told them that the emancipation of women was a Jewish invention. The Nazi women's movement had only one point-rthe child. In the really good periods of German life, said the speaker, German women had never needed to be emancipated. Woman had only begun to revolt when man ceased to be confident about his own task. The world of man was the State, an eternal struggle and readiness to sacrifice himself for the community. The role of Woman was her her family, her children and her house. The woman's functions might seem smaller, but the man could, not fulfil his function properly unless the woman was fulfilling ners.