Waffen SS - Leibstandarte AH - Freikorps - Beer Hall Putsch - Spartacist Revolution - Dürer

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This is a beautiful example of a propaganda leaflet that was produced by the British probably in the spring of 1941 and from planes over enemy lines. Unusual about this flyer is its complexity, providing plenty of information which tries to appeal to the reader’s reason rather than trigger a direct emotional response like fear or anger.

The Führer's Thoughts

about the Waffen SS

This text explains that the secret document that’s shown below, was recovered by British soldiers in Libya from the staff of the German 2nd Battery of the Artillery Regiment Nr. 75 in March of 1941. It explains the origins of the document is as follows:

An August 6, 1940 Hitler ordered that the Leibstandarte AH, which had stated out as his personal bodyguard unit, would be reorganized. At the same time he redefined the future task that the Waffen-SS would be responsible for. An overview of his intentions, in the form of this document, was distributed to Generals and Lieutenant Generals on September 11th of 1940 and marked as “top secret”. A half year later, in March of 1941, the document would be given to all Wehrmacht officers, however still marked as “Secret.”

The document contains Hitlers thoughts about the “Necessity of the Waffen-SS.” The leaflet states that for the first time Hitler’s true war aims are clear: He isn’t fighting for the defense of Germany, but rather for the creation of a new German Empire.

The responsibility of the Waffen SS in the new German Empire, according to Hitler, is fighting a national war within the new empire.

Question 1 in the Leaflet asks. Against whom should the Waffen-SS be fighting within the new Empire?

AH

“The eventual borders of the new Empire will not exclusively contain German populations with good intentions towards our authority. Therefor it will be necessary for Germany to maintain a national security police force that is capable of representing and defending Germany’s authority beyond its natural borders. Such an organization will proudly remain clean by never fraternizing with the proletariat or subversive intellectuals.”

Leaflet’s Answer to question 1 - Against the occupied populations of Europe specifically all European workers including those of German nationality.

The sleight of hand made by the leaflet is translating the political term used in the document “proletariat” to “workers” which has a different political, specifically communist, association. In so doing it looks back to the pre 1933, Weimar Republic, when right wing organizations and the communist KDP were fighting for the future of Germany. The struggle between left and right at this time was a fight to the death.

The communist propaganda associated the Nazis with fat cat industrialists, claiming the presence of widespread corruption. This AIZ magazine illustration from 1932 was created by famous photo montage artist John Heartfield and shows the supposed true meaning of the Hitler Salute. It says the little man asks for large contributions. Here another John Heartfield illustration shows the industrialist Thyssen. The caption reads, not a tool in the hand of God but rather a toy of hand of Thyssen. Another popular association was that of the church and its relationship to the Nazis. This one shows a German Bishop organizing Christians as legions for the Nazis.

Exactly 4 weeks after coming to power the Reichstag burned and the communists were blamed. This incident was used as a pretext for the freezing the civil liberties that had been insured during the democratic Weimar Republic and the official elimination of political opponents.

An important reason the Nazis won out over the communists is because they had been willing to cooperate with, at least temporarily, and incorporate the Junker military class, the industrialists, the church and even Weimar Republic politicians. The communists on the other hand believed uncompromisingly in the so-called dictatorship of the proletariat had been all but completely wiped out. Moderate Germans who had supported the liberal Weimar democracy, were much more numerous, and wouldn’t have identified with the “proletariat” working class.

The leaflet goes on to show this text written by Hitler in the captured document. It reads…

“Never again can regular Wehrmacht soldiers be put into critical situations where they could be asked to raise their weapons against Germans nationals within the Reich.”

Question 2, and its answer in the leaflet are. Why doesn’t Hitler want regular German soldiers to be active within the Reich? Because he can’t be sure that they will be willing to shoot German nationals.

F - This assertion seems more coherent. It lets the reader know that not only is the use of force against German nationals within the Reich possible, but that it is actively being prepared for. Also that it would be the Waffen SS and not the regular Wehrmacht soldiers that would be asked to do this.