Three days after issuing the Firearms
Decree, Hermann Goering, Prussian Minister of the Interior, tells Prussian
police officials that he cannot expect policemen to act against the Communists
if they are afraid of disciplinary procedures for their actions
'The
responsibility lies with me alone … if you shoot, I have shot'
Goering is spearheading a drive to eradicate
the Nazi’s political opponents. A flurry of decrees are used to legitimise his
actions & those of his colleagues.
On the 2nd February Goering
bans all demonstrations throughout Prussia by Communists, having had their
offices searched the night before & 'incriminating evidence' found. On the
4th February the Decree for the Protection of German People is
issued - allowing for detention of up to 3 months for those engaged in armed
breaches of the peace, or acts of treason. Police powers are extended in order
to intimidate political opponents. On the 6th February Goering
issues a decree giving him virtually unlimited emergency powers in Prussia
On the 11th Goering creates
the post of Superior Police Leader West in Prussia, as a start in his campaign
to bring the police under control. A purge of the police starts. On the 17th
Goring orders Prussian police to cease surveillance of Nazis & associated
organisations; he also gives policemen the right to use firearms freely.
Two days after his speech to Prussian
police officials Goering sets up an auxiliary Prussian police force of fifty
thousand men, recruited from the SA, the SS & Stahlhelm. The police are
purged of Social Democratic party members & are set to attack the Communists; breaking
into party & trade union offices. Within 2 days the police have raided the
Communist Party HQ & claim to have found large amounts treasonable material
Already Goering is in conflict with
Franz von Papen, the conservative Minister-President of Prussia & Hitler’s
vice-Chancellor. This will not continue for long.
Bibliography
The Life & Death of Hermann Goering, Ewan Butler & Gordon
& Young, David & Charles 1989
The Coming of the Third Reich – Richard J Evans, Penguin 2004Nazi Aggression & Violence, Volume 4, International Military Tribunal, United States Government Printing Office 1946
Himmler Reichsfuhrer SS – Peter Padfield, Cassell 2001
The Devil’s Disciples – Anthony Read, Pimlico 2004
Little by little rights were eroded, state powers increased. We should know what to look out for... things like power to arrest people for what they say on twitter, for example, oh wait, the US has already brought that one in.
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