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VOL. 90 NO.2 DUTY • JUSTICE • CHARITY • TOLERANCE MARCH/APRIL 2017 pleted the General Staff Officer Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Next, he spent two years in the German TRADOC man- aging the German Army Foreign Liaison Organization before moving to the German Ministry of Defense to work in the Army Operations Coordination Cell. After battalion command, he served as the Chief tactics instructor at the Artillery School in Idar-Oberstein. Starting in 2010, he served as a Chief of Concept Development & Experimentation (CD&E) in the Bundeswehr Transformation Center and then as a Chief CD&E in the Directorate of Scientific Support and Interoperability in the Bundeswehr Planning Office. His operational assignments include: service as a Battle Captain for the French Multinational Division- South in Mostar, Bosnia as the Operations Officer for the Chief of Staff in the German Multinational Brigade - South in Prizren, Kosovo; as the J5 Policy Chief for HQ KFOR in Pristina, Kosovo and most Lieutenant Colonel Michael Breuer, German Army Liason recently as the Military Assistant for the Chief of Staff Resolute Officer at West Point Military Academy is the 98th Support Mission, Kabul, Afghanistan. Founderʼs Day Banquet Guest and Speaker His awards and decorations include the Golden Cross of National Council 98th Anniversary Honor of the Bundeswehr, Silver Cross of Honor of the Bundeswehr, Bundeswehr Bronze Foreign Duty Medal-SFOR, Founder’s Day Banquet Bundeswehr Bronze Foreign Duty Medal-KPOR, Bundeswehr Silver Foreign Duty Medal-KFOR, Bundeswehr Bronze Foreign Join us as we celebrate our 98th year of existence at the Duty Medal-RSM, Service Medal for Oder River Flood Control Founders Day Banquet, May 21, 2017 1:00-6:00 p.m. at the Mission, Medalha doo Pacificador (Brazil), NATO Former Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, Franklin Square, NY, for a fes- Yugoslavia Medal, NATO Kosovo Medal, NATO Non-Article 5 tive dinner enhanced by the musical entertainment of John Medal NATO Afghanistan Medal, German Armed Forces Weber. We are proud and honored to announce that our guest Proficiency Badge (Gold with numerical device “20”), German speaker will be Lt. Colonel Michael Breuer. He is the German Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge and French Commando Army Liason Officer to the US Military Academy at West Point. Entrainement. Lieutenant Colonel Breuer is married to the for- Founders Day honors our founders, Patron and military service mer Andrea Piers. people. His bio is as follows: Join us for Founders’ Day! The menu is: Hors d’ouvres, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Breuer, a native of seasonal melon with Black Forest Ham and berries and a salad Duesseldorf Germany, joined the Army in 1983 as a conscript is included. The main course choices include Strip Loin of Beef, with Signal Training Company 1/3 in Buxtehude, Northern Traditional German Sauerbraten, Loin of Pork, Chicken Cordon Germany. After two years of service, he was accepted as an offi- Bleu and Broiled Salmon. Beer, wine soda, dessert, coffee/tea cer candidate with the 205th Tank Battalion. He completed are included. There will be a cash bar for other liquor. The 98th Officer training and two tours as an Armor platoon leader Anniversary Gala tickets are $100 per person and children under before serving as a Tank Company Commander and later as a 12 are $50 per child. Please make Brigade S3 for the 42nd Armored Brigade and as Brigade S3 for check payable to Steuben Society of the 37th Light Infantry Brigade. America and mail to Elyse Land, P.O. After language training and a country orientation he com- Box 777, Levittown, NY, 11756. We PERMIT #12 PAID US POSTAGE PLEASE SUPPORT THE CENTENNIAL CLUB BULK RATE need your support for this important THIRD CLASS

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www.steubensociety.org Steuben Society of America Suite 217 One South Ocean Ave. NY 11772 Patchogue, ADDRE REQUE MARCH/APRIL 2017 THE STEUBEN NEWS Page 2 Yorkville, New York City: Germantown of Yesteryear by Daniel Schwarz Germantown, German the test of time. For a great authentic Broadway and Sauerkraut Boulevard German meal and Gemütlichkeit, The were terms associated with East 86th Heidelberg Restaurant (1648 2nd Ave, Street in Manhattan, New York City. between 85th and 86th Street) with wait- This 2-way street, the size of an ers and waitresses in Tracht (German cos- Avenue was the main artery of tumes – Lederhosen and Dirndls) can’t be Yorkville, an Upper East Side beat. Directly next door (1654 2nd Ave.), German neighborhood. there is Schaller & Weber, a German gro- The rough boundaries of cery/butcher that continues to gives kids Yorkville were from 79th to 96th a slice of cold cut to try. Street, and Lexington Ave to the East Still serving the faithful, a River. As German speaking immi- Protestant church that has German ser- grants arrived in NYC from Europe mons on Sundays is Zion St. Mark’s during the 1930’s into the 60’s, this Evangelical Lutheran Church (339-341 was the magnet of the Big Apple for East 84th Street). There is also a Catholic them. They could assimilate into church, St. Joseph’s Church of Yorkville American culture yet have the securi- (404 East 87th Street), with a strong Henry E. Steinway Unitʼs Annual Sauerbraten Dinner. Member ty and familiarity of Teutonic culture, German heritage. This is where German Bill Ports offers some home-brewed German beer. See story shopping, dining, and entertainment. born Pope Benedict XVI visited for an on page 5 Beginning in the 1960’s ecumenical service in 2008. Ehnis Deli. The main import food market was the Bremen Yorkville began to change drastically. Annually on the third Saturday in House. Rent control that was initiated during September since 1957, The German- German restaurants with fancy German motif WW2 was still in effect, and American Steuben Parade can be seen entrances welcomed their guests to their below street level Landlords were fighting a losing bat- marching on 5th Ave from 68th Street and Biergartens/Bierstube. In the evenings, German music tle with incomes vs. cost of doing ending at 86th Street. This parade cele- could be heard outside as one walked by. Usually it was an business. As a result, tenement hous- brates the German-American heritage and accordion player, or perhaps a zither player, and many ing and rooming houses were being traditions, and honors the contribution of times a vocalist could be heard yodeling. These restaurants sold to land developers. General von Steuben who helped included names such as: the very large Hofbrau Haus, The They either renovated them America win the Revolutionary war. Rheinland Bar, Jägerhaus, Rudi & Maxl’s Brauhaus, Little for condos, or tore down these his- Parade marchers, as well as some Casino Bar, The Corso, Little Findland, Platzl Restaurant, toric brownstone buildings to con- spectators wear their trachten proudly, Berlin Bar, Bavarian Inn Restaurant & Bar, and a few more struct high rise apartments/condos. and marching bands, colorful floats, and on the Avenues such as The Heidelberg Restaurant. For The residents moved to other bor- various German clubs and organizations additional good and inexpensive eating, one cannot forget oughs or even the suburbs such as proudly display their banners as they The Linden Bar, The Ideal Café, and the very popular non- Long Island. The rents started rising march and wave along the parade route. German Horn & Hardart, an automat/cafeteria. unreasonably for the German busi- Traditionally, the celebrating after the For other entertainment such as dancing, there was nesses, and they also were forced out parade took place on 86th street in the the Lorelei Dance Hall, and the Yorkville Casino. There of Yorkville. many restaurants and Bierstube. Now, was no gambling there, but two very large ballrooms in Today, there are only a few they celebrate at the huge after party in this multi-story entertainment venue. It was also called businesses left, but they have stood Central Park. Gloria Palast, perhaps named after the famous one in If one takes a stroll down memory Berlin, Germany. On the ground level, there was a movie The Rheinland Bar on 86th Street theater “Yorkville Deutsches Theatre” that showed produced this music promotion printed lane or more specifically 86th Street German language movies. During WW2, besides a movie, in the early 1950ʼs showing an from 1st Ave to Lexington Ave, the accordion player. visual impact of German businesses they also showed news reels of the war, and the theater was was impressive. For those that wanted packed because no one had TVs yet. to purchase some German/Austrian For athletic competitions, educational activities, pastries or to enjoy afternoon Kaffee and social gatherings there was the German Turn Verein und Kuchen, there was Café Geiger, Hall on the corner of 85th Street and Lexington Ave. They Kleine Konditorei Café & Restaurant, even had a German Ratskeller restaurant called Hans Café Hindenburg, Café Wienecke, and Jäger’s. others. Now one can drive up 86th Street and just wonder Also, other German bakeries and maybe hear echoes of German speaking immigrants included Kramer’s Pastries on 2nd and visitors that enjoyed this bubble of Teutonic culture Ave, and Bauer’s Bakery on Lexington that no longer exists. Yorkville of yesteryear served its Ave, both near 86th Street. Their dis- need, and now is a chapter in the history of the Big Apple. play windows were always full of This article is reprinted with permission from the enticing baked goods and seasonal April/May 2016 issue of The German Citizen Newspaper, chocolates such as piles of foil Buffalo, NY. wrapped Easter eggs, or foil wrapped Dan, a native of Yorkville, NYC, presently lives in Santa Clauses. Only Elk Candy on Hamburg, NY, and is treasurer of the Samuel Helm Unit 86th Street could compete with them. 144 of Buffalo, NY. If you have comments or questions, Besides Schaller & Weber, a compet- contact Dan at [email protected] ing butcher was Karl Ehmer, and Karl MARCH/APRIL 2017 THE STEUBEN NEWS Page 3 The Life & Works of Hannah Arendt: instead described herself A German-American Political Theorist who as a political theorist Tackled Totalitarianism, Human Rights, because her work centers on the fact that "men, not Immigration and the Refugee Crises Man, live on the earth and inhabit the world.” "In an ever-changing incomprehensible world, the masses She escaped had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe Europe during the everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and that Holocaust, becoming an nothing was true. ... Mass propaganda discovered that its audience American citizen. Her was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and works deal with the did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every nature of power and the statement to be a lie anyhow. The totalitarian mass leaders based subjects of politics, their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under direct democracy, such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic authority and totalitari- statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given anism. The Hannah Hannah Arendt (circa 1930ʼs Germany), a German- irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in cyni- Arendt Prize is named in Jewish refugee who later became an American citi- cism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they her honor. zen, was an influential political theorist of the 20th century would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a Arendt was born lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical clever- into a secular family of German Jews in asking him to deny that he was ness." Linden (now a part of Hanover), the daughter attracted to National Socialism. "Before mass leaders seize the power to fit reality to their of Martha (born Cohn) and Paul Arendt. She Heidegger wrote back to her that he lies, their propaganda is marked by its extreme contempt for facts as grew up in Königsberg (renamed Kaliningrad did not deny the rumors, and merely such, for in their opinion, fact depends entirely on the power of man when it was annexed to the Soviet Union in assured her that his feelings for her who can fabricate it." 1946) and Berlin. At the University of were unchanged. Arendt was pre- "Equality of condition, though it is certainly a basic require- Marburg, she studied philosophy with Martin vented from being seen with ment for justice, is nevertheless among the greatest and most uncer- Heidegger. Arendt's family was thoroughly Heidegger because she was Jewish. tain ventures of modern mankind. The more equal conditions are, the assimilated and she later remembered: "With Perhaps a shunnng of what made her less explanation there is for the differences that actually exist us from Germany, the word 'assimilation' who she was and her lover’s procliv- between people; and thus all the more unequal do individuals and received a 'deep' philosophical meaning. You ity towards radical right wing nation- groups become." can hardly realize how serious we were about alism set her on a journey to better "The ideal subject of totali- it.” understand how whole groups of tarian rule is not the convinced Arendt came to define her Jewish people could come to embrace such Nazi or the dedicated commu- identity negatively after encountering anti- an ideology at the expense of moral- nist, but people for whom the semitism as an adult. She came to greatly ity and social justice. She had been distinction between fact and identify with Rahel Varnhagen, a 19th-centu- researching the roots of anti- fiction, true and false, no ry Prussian hostess who desperately wanted Semitism for some time before longer exists." ------Hannah to assimilate into German culture, only to be attracting the attention of the Arendt, “The Origins of rejected because she was born and had grown Gestapo and being briefly impris- Totalitarianism” up Jewish. Arendt later wrote about oned by them in 1933. Johanna "Hannah" Arendt Varnhagen that she was "my very closest That year, Arendt left (October 1906 - December woman friend, unfortunately dead a hundred Germany for Czechoslovakia and 1975) was a German-born years now." then Geneva, where she worked at Jewish American political the- According to Hans Jonas, her only the League of Nations before leaving orist. Though often described German-Jewish classmate, Arendt embarked for Paris, befriending the Marxist lit- as a philosopher, she rejected on a long and highly problematic romantic erary critic and philosopher Walter that label on the grounds that relationship with Heidegger, for which she Benjamin, her first husband's cousin. philosophy is concerned with was later criticized because of Heidegger's While in France, she worked to sup- "man in the singular" and support for the Nazi Party when he was rector port and aid Jewish refugees. In at the University of Freiburg. As a university 1937, she was stripped of her ABOVE: A book about Arendt by Richard H King student, Arendt was very excited to be taught German citizenship. In 1940, she “Arendt in America” BELOW: A biopic made in 2013 by the married Heidegger whom she fell in married the German poet and starring Barbara Sukowa depicted Arendt covering the love with and had an affair with. Marxist philosopher Heinrich Eichmann trial and her theories behind “the banality of Their relationship was marred with Blücher, a founding member of the evil.” break-ups and during one episode, Arendt KPD who had been expelled due to moved to the University of Heidelberg, where his work in the Conciliator faction. in 1929 she completed her dissertation under Later that year, after the German mil- the existentialist philosopher-psychologist itary occupation of northern France, Karl Jaspers; her thesis title was “Der the Vichy regime began deporting Liebesbegriff bei Augustin: Versuch einer foreign Jews to internment camps in philosophischen Interpretation (de) ("On the the unoccupied south of France, and concept of love in the thought of Saint she was interned in Camp Gurs as an Augustine: Attempt at a philosophical inter- "enemy alien." pretation).” In 1929, in Berlin, she married Arendt was able to leave Günther Stern, later known as Günther Gurs after a few weeks and left Anders. They divorced in 1937. France in 1941 with her husband and In 1932, Arendt was deeply troubled her mother, traveling via Portugal to by reports that Heidegger was speaking at contʼd next page National Socialist meetings, and wrote to him MARCH/APRIL 2017 THE STEUBEN NEWS Page 4 Arendt at Bard College in Annandale-on- and conform to mass Contʼd from previous page Hudson, New York. opinion without a critical evaluation of the conse- the United States. They relied on “The Origins of Totalitarianism” quences of their actions visas illegally issued by the American Arendt's first major book was and inaction. She was diplomat Hiram Bingham, who aided written and titled “The Origins of sharply critical of the roughly 2,500 Jewish refugees in this Totalitarianism” and is perhaps her way the trial was con- way. Varian Fry, another American most quoted book (see quotes at top of ducted in Israel. She also humanitarian, paid for their travel and this article), which traced the roots of was critical of the way helped obtain the visas. Stalinism and Nazism to both anti- that some Jewish lead- Upon arriving in New York, Semitism and imperialism. In it, ers, notably M.C. Arendt became active in the German- Arendt argues that totalitarianism was Rumkowski, acted during 2006 German stamp honoring Jewish community. From 1941 to a "novel form of government," differ- the Holocaust. Hannah Arendt 1945, she wrote a column for the ent from other forms of tyranny in that This caused a considerable refugee upheavals in the first half of German-language Jewish newspaper it applied terror to subjugate mass controversy and even animosity the 20th century along with her own Aufbau. From 1944, she directed populations rather than just political toward Arendt in the Jewish commu- experience as a refugee fleeing Nazi research for the Commission of adversaries. nity. Her friend Gershom Scholem, a Germany. She argued that as state European Jewish Cultural The book was opposed by major scholar of Jewish mysticism, governments began to emphasize Reconstruction and in that capacity some on the left on the grounds that it broke off relations with her. Arendt national identity as a prerequisite for traveled to Europe after the war. presented the two movements as was criticized by many Jewish public full legal status, the number of In 1950, Arendt became a nat- equally tyrannical. She further con- figures, who charged her with cold- minority resident aliens increased uralized citizen of the United States. tends that being Jewish was not the ness and lack of sympathy for the vic- along with the number of stateless The same year, she started seeing operative factor in the Holocaust, but tims of the Holocaust. Because of this persons for whom no state was will- Heidegger again, and had what the merely a convenient proxy. lingering criticism, neither this book ing to legally recognize. The two American writer Adam Kirsch called Totalitarianism in Germany was, in nor any of her other works were trans- potential solutions to the refugee a "quasi-romance" that lasted for two the end, about terror and consistency, lated into Hebrew until 1999. problem, repatriation and naturaliza- years with the man who once had not only about eradicating the Jews. Arendt's essay “On Violence” tion, both proved incapable of solv- been her mentor, teacher and lover. “The Human Condition” distinguishes between violence and ing the crisis. Arendt argued that As she settled into her new (1958), is arguably her most influen- power. She maintains that, although repatriation failed to solve the role as an American citizen, she tial work. Arendt differentiates politi- theorists of both the Left and Right refugee crisis because no govern- served as a visiting scholar at the cal and social concepts, labor and regard violence as an extreme mani- ment was willing to take them in and University of Notre Dame, University work, and various forms of actions; festation of power, the two concepts claim them as their own. When of California, Berkeley, Princeton she then explores the implications of are, in fact, antithetical. Power comes refugees were forcibly deported to University, and Northwestern those distinctions. Her theory of polit- from the collective will and does not neighboring countries such immigra- University. In 1959, she was named ical action, corresponding to the exis- need violence to achieve any of its tion was deemed illegal by the the first female lecturer at Princeton. tence of a public realm, is extensively goals, since voluntary compliance receiving country, and so failed to She also taught at the University of developed in this work. Arendt argues takes its place. As governments start change the fundamental status of the Chicago from 1963 to 1967, where that, while human life always evolves losing their legitimacy, violence migrants as stateless. Attempts at she was a member of the Committee within societies (religion, family, becomes an artificial means toward naturalizing and assimilating on Social Thought, The New School work, culture, ethnicity, etc), political the same end and is, therefore, found refugees also had little success. This in Manhattan, Yale University, where life, has been intentionally construct- only in the absence of power. was primarily due to resistance from she was a fellow, as well as the Center ed by only a few of these social struc- Bureaucracies then become the ideal both state governments and the for Advanced Studies at Wesleyan tures as a space for individuals to birthplaces of violence since they are majority of citizens, since both tend- University (1961-62, 1962-63). achieve freedom through the construc- defined as "rule by no one.” ed to see the refugees as undesirables Though Arendt was a Zionist tion of a common world. These con- Her posthumous book, “The who threatened their national identi- activist in theory both during and ceptual categories, which attempt to Life of the Mind” (1978, edited by ty. Resistance to naturalization also after World War II, after the war's bridge the gap between ontological Mary McCarthy), remained incom- came from the refugees themselves conclusion, she made it clear she and sociological structures are sharply plete. During Arendt's tenure at the who resisted assimilation and favored the two state solution of a delineated. New School, in 1974, she presented a attempted to maintain their own eth- Jewish-Arab federation in Palestine, “Men in Dark Times” and graduate level Political Philosophy nic and national identities. Arendt rather than a purely Jewish state, as a “Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report class entitled, "Philosophy of the contends that neither naturalization means of both addressing Jewish on the Banality of Evil” Mind". Her last writing focused on nor the tradition of asylum were statelessness and avoiding the pitfalls Her collection of essays, the mental faculties of critical think- capable of handling the sheer num- of nationalism. “Men in Dark Times,” presents intel- ing, will and conscience. ber of refugees. Instead of accepting She was elected a fellow of lectual biographies of some creative Human rights, or the Rights of some refugees with legal status, the the American Academy of Arts and and moral figures of the 20th century, Man as they were commonly called, state often responded by denaturaliz- Sciences in 1962 and a member of the such as Walter Benjamin, Karl are universal, inalienable and pos- ing minorities who shared national American Academy of Arts and Jaspers, Rosa Luxemburg, Hermann sessed simply by virtue of being or ethnic ties with stateless refugees. Letters in 1964.[22][23] Broch, Pope John XXIII and Isak human. In contrast, civil rights are Source: wikipedia.org and Arendt was instrumental in the cre- Dinesen. Her reporting of the Adolf possessed in virtue of belonging to a goodreads.com ation in 1974 of Structured Liberal Eichmann trial in 1961 for The New political community. More info: hannaharendtcenter.org Education (SLE) at Stanford Yorker, evolved into another book, Arendt's primary criticism of University. She wrote a letter to the “Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on human rights is that they are in ten- president of Stanford to persuade the the Banality of Evil” (1963). In it, she sion with civil rights which is dis- university to enact Mark Mancall's coined the phrase "the banality of pensed by the state. She argued that vision of a residentially-based evil" to describe the phenomenon of since there is no political authority UNITS...WE NEED above that of sovereign nations, state humanities program. Eichmann. YOUR NEWS! Arendt died in New York City She raised the question of governments have little incentive to on 4 December 4, 1975, at age 69, of whether evil is radical or simply a respect human rights when such poli- Interested in writing for a heart attack. She was buried along- function of thoughtlessness, a tenden- cies conflict with national interests. The Steuben News? side her husband, Heinrich Blücher, cy of ordinary people to obey orders Arendt's analysis draws on the Submit your article to the editor MARCH/APRIL 2017 THE STEUBEN NEWS Page 5

Chairman’s Message: The purpose of the Steuben Society of America is to educate the public about matters of interest to Dear Steuben Brothers and Sisters, American citizens of German descent and their families, to encourage their participation in civic By the time you are reading this column,the winter affairs and to perpetuate and enhance the understanding of the contributions made by such citizens to the development of the United States should be almost over and Spring about to begin. I am awaiting the warmer weather and the events and chal- lenges ahead. Our immediate programs include the New The Steuben News VOL. 90 NO. 2 MARCH/APRIL 2017 York State and National Council Election. We are counting EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES: One South Ocean Avenue, Suite 217, Patchogue, NY 11772 PHONE: 631-730-5111 on the support and participation of the delegates. We are EDITOR & ART DIRECTOR: Christine Lynn Harvey STEUBEN NEWS COMMITTEE: Ilse Hoffmann, Peter Hoffmann, Marilyn Harvey, Elyse Land, Robert Land E.O., Barbara DeOliveira looking forward to the 98th Anniversary of Founders Day STEUBEN NEWS CONTRIBUTORS: Dr. Don Heinrich Tolzmann, Siegfried Bette, George L. Glotzbach, at the Plattduetsche Park Restaurant at Franklin Square NY Richie Odorfer, Mary Helen Jones, Charlotte & Hans Arndt, Dr. Ann Marie Fuhrig on May 21, 2017. There are details in this issue. This is a major fundraiser for Subscriptions are $25 per year and are fulfilled by third class mail. The Steuben News is the official publication of The Steuben Society of America. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Steuben News or the Steuben Society of the National Council and we need your support. America.We reserve the right to refuse, edit or excerpt submissions; we do not guarantee the return of manuscripts or photos unless provided a SASE. We are honored to have Lt Col Michael Breuer as our keynote speaker. Please see his biography in his issue. The National Council Picnic will be Obituary for Helmut Seidler resulted in the replacement of booked soon. The Parks Department starts booking summer events in mid Helmut J. Seidler of White Germany's Imperial government with March. Hopefully this year, the picnic will be as successful as last year. The Plains passed away on February 6th a republic. The revolutionary period Steuben News wants to hear of any special events in your unit, your lives and 2017. He was born on May 25th lasted from November 1918 until the on your trips to Germany. Please feel free to send pictures and write about your 1929, in NYC, to the late Alfred and establishment in August 1919 of a events to share with the other member across the country. With Spring Johanna Seidler. Predeceased by his republic that later became known as approaching, the weather gets milder, and there will be more Steuben events. I younger brother Manfred. He was the Weimar Republic. wish you and your family a Blessed Easter and a wonderful Spring Season. raised and educated in the former The roots of the revolution Fraternally yours, lay in the German Empire's defeat in Bob Land OST/Pommern Region of Germany. Re-entered the US in 1946 and set- the First World War and the social tled in White Plains. He was married tensions that came to a head shortly to his devoted and beloved wife, thereafter. The first acts of revolution Rosa, for 66 years and was the loving were triggered by the policies of the father of Christa Schmitz and Fred German Supreme Command and its Seidler. Cherished Opa of Andrea lack of coordination with the Naval (Jared) Matesic and Jessica Schmitz. Command. In the face of defeat, the He was honorably discharged from Naval Command insisted on trying to the Air National Guard in 1955 hav- precipitate a climactic battle with the ing served for 7 years and was owner British Royal Navy in October 1918. of Karl Ehmer Quality Meats in New The battle never took place. Instead Rochelle, NY for 27 years possessing of obeying their orders to begin the ultimate dedication to his cus- preparations to fight the British, tomers through his long hours and German sailors led a revolt in the hard work. He carried on his German naval ports of Wilhelmshaven on Henry Steinway Sauerbraten Dinner traditions as an honorary member of October 29, 1918, followed by the by Randall J. Ratje Bavarian Club Edelweiss of Kiel mutiny in the first days of Westchester and the Steuben Society. November. On Sunday, January 29th, the Henry E. Steinway Unit, No. 66, of Many Steuben Society These disturbances spread the Patchogue, New York, held its annual Sauerbraten Dinner. This year's din- Brothers and Sisters join us in spirit of civil unrest across Germany ner was highlighted by the music of Bud and Linda Gramer which was expressing to the Seidler family sin- and ultimately led to the proclama- enjoyed by everyone from the smallest children to our most senior mem- cere condolences and prayers for tion of a republic on November 9, bers. The Sauerbraten, prepared by the Lakoma Deli, was nicely compli- Helmut's well-deserved eternal rest. 1918. Shortly thereafter, Emperor mented by home brewed German-style beer provided by our Brother Bill Helmut's generosity and support of Wilhelm II abdicated his throne and Ports. Thanks to income from the dinner and raffle the Steinway Unit will all German-American activities in fled the country. be able to continue its scholarship program. Thank you to everyone who Westchester over more than 50 years The revolutionaries, inspired supported the event. are exemplary und will never be for- by socialist ideas, failed to hand over ********** HENRY E. STEINWAY UNIT #66 gotten. The Steuben Society of power to Soviet-style councils as the MOURNS THE LOSS OF SISTER ELLIE LAUPER America also owes him thanks for Bolsheviks had done in Russia, support of Unit, State, and National because the leadership of the Social Council celebrations, as well as pub- Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) We were saddened to learn of the recent passing of our dear sister, lic affairs and conventions. I person- opposed their creation. The SPD Ellie. She was a faithful and active member before being confined to her ally owe Brother Helmut undying opted instead for a national assembly home due to the pain of arthritis. thanks for bringing me into the that would form the basis for a par- She had served as Treasurer of the Steinway Unit for a number of Society in 1972. It was life-changing liamentary system of government. years, opened her home for officers meetings, and was always willing to for me to serve as Westchester Fearing an all-out civil war in chauffeur members to Mt.Vernon for the annual Memorial Service at the County District Chair and since 1982 Germany between militant workers Wartburg, as well as into Manhattan for the Erick Kurz Memorial Lectures as National Secretary. Last, but not and reactionary conservatives, the at Fraunces Tavern, or to Founders Day no matter the destination.. least, my family always appreciated SPD did not plan to strip the old She also contributed her skills in proof-reading for Steuben News. the quality meats from Karl Ehmer German upper classes completely of Predeceased by her husband, Howard, she was a retired high school that Helmut prepared and served up their power and privileges. Instead, it teacher, girl scout leader, and Brookhaven Hospice volunteer. proudly with great skills. sought to integrate them into the new She enjoyed conversing in the German language, reading and book ---Ilse Hoffmann and Sons social democratic system. discussions, music, swimming, and extensive travel. Funeral services were In this endeavor, SPD leftists held, but the Society was not notified. It was only through a telephone sought an alliance with the German message that the number had been disconnected, that I learned of her pass- The German Revolution Supreme Command. This allowed the ing. A moment of silence was observed at the January Unit meeting. army and the Freikorps (nationalist I considered her my friend, another of the losses of brothers and sisters of 1918-1919 militias) to quell the communist who have passed from this earthly life, but will never be forgotten. The German Revolution or Spartacist uprising of in January --- submitted by Priscilla Ratje, Henry E. Steinway Unit #66 November Revolution (German: Novemberrevolution) was a civil 1919 by force. The same alliance of conflict in the German Empire at the end of the First World War that Contʼd Next page MARCH/APRIL 2017 THE STEUBEN NEWS Page 6 larly because they viewed the who became one of the most outspo- Russian Empire as the most reac- ken opponents of the war, initially tionary and anti-socialist power followed the line of the party that his in Europe. In the first days of father, Wilhelm Liebknecht, had August, the editors believed cofounded: he abstained from voting themselves to be in line with the and did not defy his own political late August Bebel, who had died colleagues. However, a few days the previous year. In 1904, he later he joined the Gruppe declared in the Reichstag that the Internationale (Group International) SPD would support an armed that Rosa Luxemburg had founded defence of Germany against a on August 5, 1914 with Franz foreign attack. In 1907, at a party Mehring, Wilhelm Pieck, and four convention in Essen, he even others from the left wing of the party, promised that he himself would which adhered to the prewar resolu- "shoulder the gun" if it was to tions of the SPD. From that group Soldiers behind a barricade during the Spartacist uprising fight against Russia, the "enemy emerged the Spartacus League of all culture and all the sup- (Spartakusbund) on January 1, 1916. political forces succeeded in sup- numerous co-operative societies (for pressed.” In the face of the gener- On December 2, 1914, pressing uprisings of the left in other example, apartment co-ops, shop co- al enthusiasm for the war among Liebknecht had voted against further parts of Germany, with the result that ops, etc.), and other organizations the population, which foresaw an war bonds, the only deputy of any the country was completely pacified directly linked to the SPD and the labor attack by the Entente powers, party in the Reichstag to do so. by late 1919. Elections for the new unions, or else adhering to Social many SPD deputies worried they Although he was not permitted to Weimar National Assembly were held Democratic ideology. Other notable might lose many of their voters speak in the Reichstag to explain his on January 19, 1919. The revolution parties in the Reichstag of 1912 were with their consistent pacifism. In vote, what he had planned to say was ended on August 11, 1919, when the the Catholic Centre Party (91 seats), addition, the government of made public through the circulation Weimar Constitution was adopted. the German Conservative Party (43), Imperial Chancellor Theobald of a leaflet that was claimed to be the National Liberal Party (45), the von Bethmann-Hollweg threat- unlawful: SPD and the World War Progressive People's Party (42), the ened to outlaw all parties in case “The present war was not In the decade after 1900, the Polish Party (18), the German Reich of war. On the other hand, the willed by any of the nations partici- Social Democratic Party of Germany Party (14), the Economic Union (10), chancellor cleverly exploited the pating in it and it is not waged in the (SPD) was the leading force in and the Alsace-Lorraine Party (9). anti-Russian stance of the SPD to interest of the Germans or any other Germany's labour movement. With At the European congresses of procure the party's approval for people. It is an imperialist war, a war 35% of the national votes and 110 the second Socialist International, the the war. for capitalist control of the world seats in the Reichstag elected in SPD had always agreed to resolutions The party leadership and market, for the political domination 1912, the Social Democrats had asking for combined action of the party's deputies were split on of huge territories and to give scope grown into the largest political party Socialists in case of a war. Following the issue of support for the war: to industrial and banking capital.” in Germany. Party membership was the assassination of Archduke Franz 96 deputies, including Friedrich Because of high demand, this around one million, and the party Ferdinand in Sarajevo, the SPD, like Ebert, approved the war bonds leaflet was soon printed and evolved newspaper (Vorwärts) attracted 1.5 other socialist parties in Europe, organ- demanded by the Imperial gov- into the so-called "Political Letters" million subscribers. The trade unions ised anti-war demonstrations during ernment. There were 14 deputies, (German: Politische Briefe), collec- had 2.5 million members, most of the July Crisis. After Rosa Luxemburg headed by the second party tions of which were later published whom probably supported the Social called for disobedience and rejection leader, Hugo Haase, who spoke in defiance of the censorship laws Democrats. In addition, there were of war in the name of the entire party out against the bonds, but never- under the name "Spartacus Letters" Crowds of Germans outside the Reichstag as the new as a representa- theless followed party voting (Spartakusbriefe). Republic was announced tive of the left instructions and raised their As of December 1916, these wing of the party, hands in favor. were replaced by the journal the Imperial gov- Thus, the entire SPD fac- Spartakus, which appeared irregular- ernment planned tion in the Reichstag voted in ly until November 1918. This open to arrest the party favour of the war bonds on 4 opposition against the party line put leaders immedi- August 1914. Two days earlier, Liebknecht at odds with some party ately at the onset the Free Association of German members around Haase who were of war. Friedrich Trade Unions had already agreed against the war bonds themselves. In Ebert, one of the to refrain from labour strikes and February 1915, at the instigation of two party leaders demands for higher wages for the the SPD party leadership, since 1913, trav- duration of the war. It was with Liebknecht was conscripted for mili- elled to Zürich those decisions by the party and tary service to dispose of him, the with Otto Braun the unions that the full mobilisa- only SPD deputy to be so treated. to save the party's tion of the German Army became Because of his attempts to organise funds from being possible. objectors against the war, he was confiscated. Haase explained the deci- expelled from the SPD, and in June After Germany sion against his will with the 1916, he was sentenced on a charge declared war on words: "We will not let the of high treason to four years in the Russian fatherland alone in the hour of prison. While Liebknecht was in the Empire on 1 need!" The Emperor welcomed army, Rosa Luxemburg wrote most August 1914, the the so-called "truce" of the "Spartacus Letters". After majority of the (Burgfrieden), declaring: "Ich serving a prison sentence, she was SPD newspapers kenne keine Parteien mehr, ich put back in jail under "preventive shared the general kenne nur noch Deutsche!" ("I no detention" until the war ended. enthusiasm for the longer see parties, I see only war (the "Spirit of Germans!"). 1914"), particu- Even Karl Liebknecht, MARCH/APRIL 2017 THE STEUBEN NEWS Page 7 The Soul of Germany ters messenger on the western front, the communists by choosing a bright Jewish merchant who dragged Goering Chapter XX he amazed his superiors with his red banner with a daring black into her house, treated his wounds, and swastika in the center. hid the high ranking Nazi from the The Darkest Chapter in courage and ability to survive all the dangerous missions he volunteered to In 1923, when Germany was police. Ludendorff was questioned and Germany’s History perform. As the war lingered on, he being torn apart by an oppressive released, but Hitler was given a year in By Richie Odorfer and his surviving comrades of 1914 French occupation and catastrophic jail for his part in what became to be Adolf Hitler was appointed experienced difficulties dealing with inflation, General Ludendorff, a hero known as the “Beer Hall Putsch.” chancellor of Germany at 8:30 p.m. on the low morale of the new recruits. of the Great War conspired with Mein Kampf, (My Battle) was a January 30, 1933, during a private cer- Corporal Hitler would get furious Hitler on a plan to seize Bavaria, and book written by Hitler while in prison, emony led by the President of upon hearing talk of pacifism, and then march on “Berlin – to save in which he outlined his basic beliefs. Germany, Paul von Hindenburg. often got into fistfights with the Germany.” On the eve of the planned Upon his release from jail in 1924, he Once Hitler’s political victory “slackers.” Many new soldiers uprising (Putsch), the Fuehrer made found the Nazi Party is disarray, but had been made public, Berlin’s Nazi despised Hitler’s patriotism, but the one of his greatest speeches, an ora- within two years, he had it running district leader (Gauleiter) Dr. Josef older ones admired him more than torical masterpiece to an assembly smooth again. By 1926, party member- Goebbels quickly took over the radio ever. At the 1916 Battle of the Somme, of thousands meeting in one of ship totaled almost 50,000 nationwide. stations of Germany, to give the people he suffered a serious thigh injury from Munich’s largest beer halls, the Hitler knew that his best weapon was a first hand report of all the action that an exploding shell, and during the Burgerbraukeller. his voice, as did Bavarian authorities, filled Berlin’s streets. What the worried 1917 Battle of Ypres, food supplies With that speech, he won who banned the Fuehrer from making nation heard was martial music and the were so low, that his regiment had to thousands of “soldiers” for the next speeches until 1927. endless repetition of “Sieg Heil,” hour eat cats and dogs to survive. Hitler’s day’s coup. The national anthem was The next year Hitler’s voice after hour, as torch-carrying Nazis and bravery did not go unnoticed, for he roared out by the crowd at the close won his party 810,000 votes, then, two their supporters marched around the won many military awards, including of the rally, but Hitler’s rantings had years later in 1930, 6,371,000 Germans Chancellery cheering their Fuehrer, the coveted Iron Cross First Class, a made so many people “emotionally voted for the Nazis, who won 18% of who returned the Fascist salute to them very rare honor fo a corporal to wrought they could not even Reichstag seats, becoming the second from the chancellery window. receive. He was nominated for that sing….Someone next to a state largest party in Parliament after the Germany’s new leader was award by his Battalion Adjutant, Hugo police official turned and said, ‘The socialists. Before he spoke at a rally, born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau, Gutman, who was Jewish. In 1918, only thing missing here is the psy- Hitler would enter the hall after a herald Austria to a stern father, but his mother Hitler was blinded by an Allied poison chiatrist.” Essential to the coup’s shouted out “Heil Hitler.” Then fol- was very kind to him, and he loved her gas attack, and spent weeks in a success was an agreement Hitler had lowed by an entourage, while a band greatly. Young Adolf enjoyed a happy Munich hospital recovering. His sight extorted by gunpoint that night from played rousing music, he would stand at childhood, playing games with his returned, but, upon hearing of Bavaria’s three highest state offi- the podium amid deafening cheers and friends, his favorite was “Cowboys and Germany’s surrender in November cials: that they cooperate with the foot stomping by the assembly. Indians.” Like most of his teachers and 1918, he lost his vision again. Nazis in taking over Bavaria. But Seconds after that uniformed classmates, Hitler’s loyalty was not While in the Munich hospital, once the officials were able to stormtroopers marched down the aisles with the multi-ethnic Austrian- he kept up with the latest news of the escape from the Burgerbraukeller at carrying flags and glittering standards Hungarian Empire. That German day there, usually depressing news, an unguarded moment, they repudi- resembling those carried by the Roman speaking Austria would once again be especially for Germany and his ated their oaths previously made legions. Hitler usually spoke for two a part of Germany captivated young beloved state of Bavaria. Upon his under duress. So, the next day when hours, drinking as much as 20 small Adolf’s dreams. release from the hospital, Hitler the stormtroopers moved against the bottles of mineral water to keep his Hitler’s first most serious worked as an agent for the German Bavarian state buildings they were voice strong. A piece of ice was always ambition in life was to become an Army, investigating groups that might met with resistance. kept at the rostrum for cooling his artist. But although he possessed some be subversive or violent prone. While Feeling betrayed over the hands. He began speaking slowly, then artistic talent, his painting skills did not attending a Munich right-wing politi- Bavarian leadership not surrender- gesticulate and jump back and forth meet the high standards required for cal party meeting composed of only ing the state as promised, Hitler led excitedly, letting the words explode entry into Vienna’s Academy of Fine seven members, Hitler decided to join several thousand supporters from the from his mouth. He spoke clearly to the Arts. However, Hitler’s architectural it. Shortly afterwards, he became its beer hall into the heart of Munich. audience, using easily understood talent amazed the art professors, yet, leader, and changed its name to the Large crowds lined the streets cheer- phrases. they couldn’t convince him to enter National Socialist German Workers ing on the marchers, waving flags President Hindenburg it seems that field of study. So, at age 24, Adolf Party – or Nazi for short. Ads were and singing patriotic songs. The rev- didn’t have a choice on January 20, decided to move to Munich, Germany, cleverly placed in Munich newspapers olutionaries were singing, “O, 1933 but to appoint the Nazi leader thus fulfilling an even greater dream. announcing its meetings for the pur- Germany High in Honor” when they chancellor. A Catholic, socialist and for- He departed from the Vienna poor pose of increasing membership, and approached Munich’s Odeonplatz, mer general, among others who had house he had stayed for three years, on October 16, 1919, seventy people where a cordon of state police stood held the chancellorship previous to which was financially supported by a showed up. Hitler electrified the audi- ready to block them. Hitler and Hitler, could not form a coalition to Jewish philanthropist, carrying all his ence with his emotional appeal, Ludendorff were in the front line of govern Germany. Depression year 1932 possessions in one small battered case. explaining how the Reich lost the war the march that afternoon of had proved one of the toughest for the His mates watched with regret as he set because of traitors on the homefront November 9, 1923. German people. It seemed things off for Germany in May 1913. They blaming Jewish bankers and those in A violent confrontation couldn’t have gotten worse. were sorry to see him leave and one foreign governments who severely erupted immediately between the Chancellor Hitler formed a recalled, “We lost a good comrade with punished Germany after WWI as well two groups. In the confusion, shots mixed coalition cabinet of Nazi and him, he understood everyone and as the communists. were fired by both sides, resulting in democratic party members. During his helped whenever he could.” As membership increased, the deaths of four policemen and 18 first full month in office, a Dutch com- One year later, the Great War party meeting locations moved to Nazis. Ludendorff continued walk- munist set fire to the Reichstag provid- broke out in Europe. Hitler had been larger and larger halls. Within three ing fearlessly into the line of fire, ing the Nazis an excuse to round up rejected by the Austrian military for years, thousands of people had joined while Hitler had his arm broken 3,000 Communist Party members, 81 of medical reasons. Stricken with tuber- Hitler’s party, and he was popularly upon being forced to the pavement them Reichstag deputies, thus destroy- culosis at age 16, he had been judged called Fuehrer (leader). Street parades by his bodyguard amid salvos of ing the Reds voting power in too weak to bear arms. But Bavarian and outdoor rallies became popular gunfire. The first leader of the Parliament. King Ludwig III accepted Hitler’s Nazi activities in the early 1920s, stormtroopers, Herman Goering, Some historians now say this request for permission to join the making them a part of the Munich was shot down with a bullet in the was a false flag operation concocted by Bavarian Army. Serving as a headquar- scene. Hitler challenged the red flag of thigh. On the scene was the wife of a Contʼd next page Page 8 THE STEUBEN NEWS MARCH/APRIL 2017 Soul of Germany unsurprisingly, ignored both the boy- Germany’s street scene had calendar of events Contʼd from previous page cott and even the menacing become so peaceful since Hitler’s Please email your calendar items to: rise to power, whenever the SA [email protected] 1-2 months prior to the Nazis to seize control of the stormtroopers posted in front of the acted violently in public the dis- your event. government because the Dutch stores - so Hitler’s boycott decree turbance was not only noticeable, communist turned out to be men- was over in just days. it was out of place. President 3/25 1:00-4:00 pm. JP Zenger Unit Fundraiser, tally retarded. Whether he was Village Lanterne, Lindenhurst, NY $32 pp Freedoms Lost Hindenburg warned his chancel- co-erced or just picked as a patsy, Phyllis 516-457-2687 lor that if Rohm’s SA continued no one will ever know. He was Dr. Joseph Goebbels was its illegal assaults and persecu- soon executed after the fire. appointed Propaganda Minister in 5/21 1-6:00 pm Steuben Society 98th Anniversary tions, he intended to hand over & Foundersʼ Day Banquet, Plattduetsche Park In March, Hindenburg May, and under his direction all anti- the government to the army. Restaurant, Franklin Square, NY 516-567-6565 was persuaded by his chancellor Nazi activity was forbidden, thus, Hitler in the meantime was to hold new elections. Hitler Germans lost their freedom of informed that the SA leader schemed for a 2/3’s Nazi majori- speech, press and assembly. The believed Hitler was getting “too ty, because only with that win- trade unions were abolished, to be ing in 90% of the German voters approving of Hitler soft,” and was plotting to merge ning percentage could the replaced by a government run succeeding Hindenburg as president. Germany’s four the SA with the army and attempt Enabling Act pass the Reichstag. agency called the Labor Front. The highest military leaders were summoned before their a coup. The Fuehrer acted quick- Although the act was meant to be next month, the Social Democratic Fuehrer to repeat this oath: “I swear before God to ly to trap Rohm and ranking SA just temporary, it would give a Party (socialists) was disbanded, and give my unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler…the men targeted as dangerous, by chancellor dictatorial powers, many of its leaders were imprisoned. Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and I inviting them to a “conference” which would fulfill Hitler’s The remaining political par- pledge my word as a brave soldier to observe this oath to be held at Bad Wiesse in dream of seizing the government ties were ordered to break up, or vol- always, even at the risk of death.” Before the end of Bavaria. legally. In the course of the spe- untarily did so. Germany then degen- that historic day, every German soldier had taken the On the night of their cial election, the Fuehrer con- erated into a totalitarian state, and same oath. arrival at the resort, Hitler’s ducted himself very moderately. the Reichstag became just a rubber German Catholic bishops had also taken an “guests” were taken into custody In March 1933, it seemed stamp for Hitler. There were few oath of allegiance to Hitler a month earlier, by order of then later shot to death like wild everyone was for Hitler. Many protests, only blind obedience and Pope Pius XI. In a Nazi concordat with the Vatican, pigs in their prison cells. Those great industrialists had donated trust in the Fuehrer’s decisions. whereby the Nazis promised to grant complete free- invited but who didn’t appear at generous amounts of marks to the You see, living conditions dom to Catholic confessional schools in Germany, the the spa were hunted down and Nazi campaign, mostly out of had improved so greatly since Hitler bishops were ordered to take the oath: “In the per- also killed. The bloodbath lasted their fear of communism. But he had taken office in January, that the formance of my spiritual office…and in the interest of from June 30 until July 2, 1934. also received support from citizens hardly noticed that they the German Reich, I will endeavor to avoid all detri- Hundreds were killed. Hitler took church leaders, the old German were no longer a free people. He had mental acts which might endanger it.” advantage of the confusion by royal families, influential writers ended the bloody street fighting, The Third Reich, as Hitler’s dictatorship was eliminating some of his enemies, and musicians. Hitler even had removed the beggars and gave lodg- called, gave the 45 year old Fuehrer more power than such as former Chancellor some Jewish support: the Jewish ing to the homeless, and cleaned up any medieval emperor had ever dreamed of possess- Streicher. National Union not only advocat- the degenerate “red light” districts. ing. Charlemagne’s First Reich lasted from 800 to On July 13, 1934 Hitler ed the Fuehrer’s ban on the entry Hitler tackled the unemployment 1806. The Second Reich, an imperial Prussian calmed the nation, delivering one of the Eastern Jewish peddler problem by creating work projects, dynasty, ruled 1871 to 1918. of his most brilliant speeches in class, they also supported his new and he even got credit for ending the Some German-Jews having fled the Reich which he promised that law and government. war reparations. returned to Germany unable to adjust abroad. They order had been permanently When the vote was Demonstrating his hatred of wished to believe Hitler would change his anti- restored. Even the German counted, however, only 288 the Versailles Treaty, Hitler decided Semitic mindset now that he achieved his dictatorial General Staff endorsed Hitler’s Nazis were elected to the 647 to withdraw Germany from the aim. Heinrich Heine, a 19th century German-Jewish bloody action, quietly accepting member Reichstag. But in any League of Nations. Before he did so, poet who had been exiled from Germany wrote long- their colleague Schleicher’s mur- case, Hitler found enough cronies however, he requested permission ingly then: “Thinking of Germany in the night, I am der. in the Parliament to pass the from the citizenry. A plebiscite took robbed of sleep. Germany, distant love of mine. From The fall of the Weimar Enabling Act on March 23, 1933. place on November 12, 1933 giving far away I seem to hear night-watchman bugles, soft Republic. “Mein Kaiser, mein Hindenburg, like other the Fuehrer a 95% approval rating. and clear. Night-watchman songs are sweetly ringing, Vaterland,” were the last words democratic leaders wanted to Britain’s Lord Allen of Hurtwood and far off nightingales are singing.” spoken by President Paul von believe the chancellor when he told the House of Lords at that time: Hindenburg on his death bed, promised them that the special “…we are compelled to admit that Cont’d Next month August 2, 1934. Hitler’s cabinet powers were just temporary. we and other nations during the last met at once to pass a law com- In April 1933, Zionist fifteen years have not handed out to bining the offices of president activists around the world Germany that full measure of wise CENTENNIAL CLUB DONOR: and chancellor. Seventeen days protested against the anti-Semitic and fair play which the country mer- We Thank later, a plebiscite was held result- Nazi government, and held mass ited when it threw out from its own Mr. Jerry Fischer, Baton Rouge LA land the regime which made the demonstrations in Paris, London, Henry E. Steinway Unit members dancing to the music of Bud and Linda Gramer war.” New York and Warsaw calling for at the Annual Sauerbraten Dinner an economic war on Germany. By June 1934, membership Hitler responded to in the stormtroopers had risen to Zionism’s declaration of a trade nearly four million men. Ernst war by instituting a boycott of Rohm, the group’s leader, perceived Jewish owned businesses in enemies of Nazism everywhere, and Germany. The German people, had instructed his men to be aggres- sive in suppressing dissenters. But

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