Die Fahne Hoch: Three Biographies of Horst Wessel by Antelope Hill Publishing

Die Fahne Hoch: Three Biographies of Horst Wessel by Antelope Hill Publishing

Author:Antelope Hill Publishing
Format: epub


Publicity Trip to Frankfurt on the Oder

In order to spread the idea of the power and inner strength of National Socialism in the Reich and especially in the larger cities, the regional leadership had arranged a promotional trip to Frankfurt on the Oder by the Berlin and other SA standards. Late one fine May evening Standard 4, to which Horst Wessel’s storm belonged, gathered in Hoppegarten. After a two-hour night-march, the Brownshirts were loaded into trucks and taken to their destination. With satisfaction, Staf²⁸ Breuer noticed that only a few of his crew were missing. And these few had—unfortunately—valid excuses for their absence. Some were ill, others were in jail, and one had been beaten up by communists the day before and was seriously injured.

They arrived in Trebbin in the fresh cool May morning, where they were given breakfast by a friendly landowner.

Then they marched to the assembly point, which was not far from the town of Frankfurt. There the standards met and formed a stately procession, which must have been impressive. The people of Frankfurt were to see for themselves what the brown SA actually was and what it meant.

The procession set off and marched in impeccable order through all the districts of the city. It was a joy. Courage, confidence, and faith in the ideals they had chosen for themselves as Germans shone from the eyes and expressions of the brave Brownshirts during this march through the streets of Frankfurt. The many hundreds marched through the streets in steady step with the roaring sound of rousing songs above the columns.

The tight order that prevailed in all the storm squadrons must have left a pleasant impression. In order not to call this into question and not to give any opportunity for jostling, which could easily degenerate into brawls, the OSAF had given counter-orders: “No one is to leave the hall and the garden of the headquarters, which are a little out of the way.”

However, after a short time, word reached the leaders that a squad of SA men had been involved in a scuffle with communist members, which was threatening to escalate. Firearms were used by both sides. The police force was unable to break up the parties.

This was bad news that could ruin the exquisite impression created by the publicity stunt.

The OSAF immediately summoned his staff to investigate the matter and advise appropriate action. It soon turned out that crews from Storm 1 had gone into the city to look around before the order was announced. On their peaceful stroll, they had then come across the reds, and after a brief exchange of words, the scuffle began.

For the OSAF, the story became most unpleasant. He had vouched to the authorities for peace and order, and now there were disturbances. He knew from experience that it was not easy to break up such a fight. It had to be Storm 1 to be involved in this nasty business. When the people of the other storm detachments of Standard 4



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