*i^unicated to the C.70.M.SI.1934.VII. unCil and Members \jig League ,______Geneva, January 18th, 1934.
SAAR 3ASIN.
Petition from the nSaarlandische Freiheitsfront”
and the representatives of the Sooial Democratic
Party in the Advisory Council.
Note by t ,e Sec re tary-General.
The Secretary-General has the honour to communicate to the
Council and Members of uhe League, for their information, a
letter from the Chairman of the Governing Commission of the Saar
Territory, dated January 12xh, 1934, forwarding a petition
dated January 6 th, 1934, from the "Saarlandische Freiheitsfront”
and the representatives of the Social Democratic Party in the
Advisory Council.
anslation) Saarhruck, January 12th, 1934.
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose a petition dated January 6 th,
1934, addressed to the Council of the League of Nations by the
’’Saarlandische Freiheitsfront” ana the representatives of the
Social Democratic Party in the Advisory Council.
So far as this petition concerns the situation in the
Saar Territory, the Governing Commission would refer to the
particulars given in its periodical reports and in the special
reports it has addressed to the Council of the League.
Regarding the facts and incidents mentioned in this
memorandum, the Governing Commission, so far as they have been - 2 -
b ro u g h t to its notice, must make certain corrections in the
description given of some of them.
With reference, for example, to the Ftlttl ingen incident,
it does not appear from the police enquiries that the National
Socialists had any intention of kidnapping M. Braun. All that
has been established is that a considerable number of National
Socialists had gained admission to the building in which the
Socialist meeting was being held. As soon as their presence was revealàd, the police intervened, and the National
Socialists were ejected from the building.
As regards the despatch of the parcel of explosives, the
police have ascertained that it was addressed to the
Arbeiterwohlfahrt, the headquarters of a socialist charitable organisation, where M. Braun lives. This case is still under examination. Police enquiries have yielded nothing to suggest that the National Socialist Party is involved. It is estab lished , however, that the sender of the parcel held a membership card of the National Socialist Party’s Relief Fund and a certi ficate from the Party’s Director of Progaganda for the Kreise of
Ottweiler and St. Wendel, empowering him to collect the Party’s correspondence from the Post Office.
It is correct that the Mayor of Saarbruck and other
Mayors in the Territory have refused to allow administrative notices to be published in the organs of the Left, including the "Yolksstimme”. The Governing Commission (Department of the
Interior) has received complaints of these measures from the
Socialist Party and from a number of municipal councillors, but has been unable, in the present state of the law, to take any act ion against this boycott.
The statement regarding dismissals in the State police force at Saarbruck requires this correction, that six, and not only two, policemen have had to be dismissed for the reasons
Mentioned in the memorandum. As to the reported incident between the Mayor of Ottweiler
?nd K. John, Municipal Councillor, the Department of the Interior
vag investigated the matter. The Mayor stated, on the oath which
,e took when entering upon his duties, that the alleged facts were
false, while M. John maintained his assertions,
There i s no doubt that in certain professional associations
attempts have been made to ascertain the creed and descent of their
members. Where such proceedings have come to the Governing
Commission’ s knowledge. it has taken action to prevent their con-
tinu8.no 0 «
I have the honour, etc.,
(Signed) G.G. KNOX,
|relation from the German] Saarbruck, January 6 th, 1954=
To the Council of the League of Nations, Geneva. Through the Governing Commission of the Saar Territory
The ’’Freiheitsfront des Saargebiotes” and. the Social
Bemocrati c section of the Advisory Council once mors appeal to the
League of Nations and its Council. In our petition of September 16th,
1935, we have already drawn attention with the greatest emphasis to
the fact that the elebis< ; amuai gn which i ginning in the Saar
is being conducted by the National Socialist Party with the strongest
naans of coercion and with extreme brutality. Our predictions have
unfortunately be on fulfilled in all their details.
In its quarterly report of November 193 3 the Governing
Connaission of the Saar Territory stated that ’’unfortunately the
politic,:;.! situation became steadily worse during this quarter as
shown by the increasing number of political incidents and the serious
nature of some of these” . The Governing Commission ver;7 accurately described the
p o litic a l situation as fo llo w s :
'’Indeed any im artial observer of Saar political life during the last quarter will have noticed that the National Socialist Party has been making every effort •;o gain control of the whole public .lif e of the Saar. It has endeavoured to attain its object of setting up a de facto Government side by side with the legal Government by consistently giving a political colour 'go all the activities of the population of whatever kind, even the most trivial ..... In addition to this political propaganda the National Socialist Party is carrying on more or less unscrupulous activities in all spheres of public and private life in the Saar, waging an incessant campaign of threats, denunciations and disguised boycotting against inhabitants of the Territory suspected of not sharing its political ideas.
The political situation in the Saar Territory has funda mentally altered since our last petition. Large sections of the
Centre and Right have , sometimes after desperate resistance, even
tually given way to overwhelming personal and economic pressure,
and gone over to the so-called h’Deutsche Front” . That the name
"Deutsche Front" is only a cloak for the National Socialist Party is quite obvious from the identity of its leaders and from the attitude
it has taken up. The example of the Centre Party of the Saar
Territory shows clearly under what extraordinary pressure this assimilation and dissolution took place. Large sections of this Party,
~nd particularly the clergy, opposed the assimilation and dissolution of the Party. Shortly before assimilation this portion of the
Centre adopted a majority resolution in virtue of which assimila tion was rejected, and determined opponents of dissolution through
Assimilation were elected as members of the committee. As a result of the severe financial pressure and the threats of what would happen when the great day of reckoning came in 1935, the assimilation was nevertheless carried through in the end. The sami-official communiqué of the Centre Party's organ, the - 5 -
"SaarbrUcker Landeszeitung" showed clearly, however,
how contrary to the wishes of the majority of the members
of the Centre this assimilation was and how great must
have been the pressure which broke down this strong
resistance.
The constitution of this externally united
"Deutsche Front” has made the plebiscite campaign severer
and more bitter, since it has created two very sharply
divided fronts. All the opponents of the so-called
"Deutsche Front'” are summarily categorised as ’’traitors
to their country, unpatriotic separatists and traitors
to their people”. The schism within the population has
therefore become an unbridgable gulf.
The so-called ’’Deutsche Front” claims with
ridiculous arrogance to represent the wishes of the whole
Saar population and stigmatises all who differ from them as traitors. Refusal to join the National Socialist
"Deutsche Front" leads to the libelling and proscription of the refractory individual.
As a corollary to this general political pressure, terrorism and boycotting have become much more severe. The campaign against Max Braun, the leader of the movement for the freedom of the Saar, has assumed the most outrageous forms. In our petition of September 16th, we already had to draw attention to the fact that a price of
3,000 francs has been placed upon his head in a National
Socialist poster and pamphlet. Since then, however, the agitation has rno.de further great strides and he.s led to
, f. rjt - 6 -
extremeiy dangerous situations. The National Socialists cuite openly threaten to kidnap or murder Braun as the leader of the Social Democratic Party of the Saar. Quito recently, sworn witnesses declared in court that National
Socialists had said in a public place: "Max Braun’s last hour will soon have come. He will not be present at the
Saar’s return to Germany in 1S35. He will shortly bo killed."
Thus it happened that on November 19 th, 19 33, at a private meeting of the Social Democratic Party at
PUttlingen on the Saar, the National Socialists made a deliberate attack on Max Braun, a s shown by the investiga tions of the police, the National Socialists had planned to kidnap Braun and render him powerless. The energetic intervention of the police and of the members of the
Social Democratic Party acting as his bodyguard prevent ed the success of the National Socialist plan, which was carried out in strength ana whose ringleader, the
National Socialist Leber of Yolklingen, shortly after wards disappeared for a time in the Third Reich. After the failure of this plan to remove Max Braun, an
attack was made on him on December 15th "by means of explosives.
An infernal machine, filled with a large quantity of the most
dangerous explosive, was sent by post to the house he lives
in. Only by chance was the explosion prevented. According to
the expert of the court, great damage would have been caused
to persons and property if the bomb had exploded as was
intended. Both in the case of the attack and of the bomb
outrage, the; police were able to establish beyond doubt the
guilt of the National Socialists. The chief author of the
bomb outrage was admittedly the messenger of the National
Socialist divisional headquarters of Neunkirchen.
As the National Socialist and "assimilated" newspapers
of the Saar Territory are continuing their campaign of agitation and calumny against the movement for freedom and
its leaders, it is unfortunately to be anticipated that further
outrages will follow. This is the more likely inasmuch as on
December 29 th, 1933, the official Germany of Hitler, through its broadcasting stations and official press organs, spread the basest calumnies agairst Max Braun. They lyingly alleged that he had appropriated a largo sum of money belonging to the International Federation of Trade Unions, and, although the falseness of this foul and malicious slander can easily be proved, it will be impossible to efface the impression created in the minds of National Socialist adherents. New acts of terrorism are inevitable.
The acts of terrorism, however, are not only directed against the leader, but also against the individual members of the movement for freedom. In countless cases National
Socialists in superior numbers have fallen upon adherents of the parties of the left and have ill-treated and severely injured them. In a number of cases their dwellings, windows, - 8- etc.9 have been damaged and destroyed.
In many cases no legal punishment was imposed owing to the fact that the identity of the culprits could not be definitely proved.
A typical example of the terrorism exercised against individuals and of the incredible audacity of the National
Socialists is the fate of the miner Hyinrich Caroli of
Dirmingen. The national Socialist Wagner of Dirmingen publicly said, on September 3rd: "All who follow Max Braun to-day will have their houses set on fire and their windows broken until they nail them up with boards.1'
Soon after this, the miner Caroli, an adherent of
Max Braun's, had three window panes broken with large stones at about 3 «20 a.m. in the night of September 10th to 11th.
The two authors of this outrage could not be definitely traced.
In reporting the matter to the police, Caroli informed them of
Wagner's suspicions remark. Wagner admitted that he had said:
"All who follow Max Braun to-day will, in 1935, have their windows broken until they nail them up with boards."
A special terrorism is directed againstrail that is connected with the activities or circulation of the free press.
In the night of December 6th to 7th, the bookshops and business premises of the two "non assimilated" newspapers, "Yolksstimme" and "Deutsche Freiheit" at Dudweiler and ITeunkirchen were damaged. The window panes v;exe broken and several shots were fired at two members of the party who were working in the office premises at Neunkirchen.
In the night of December 29th to 30th, 1933, the v/indow panes of the "non-assimilated" bookshop of the "Yolksstimme" and of the "Deutsche Freiheit" at Neunkirchen were again broken - 9- with stones. As was shown by the statements of witnesses and the trail followed by the police dogs, the culprit fled to the premises frequented by the National Socialists.
In the night of December 30th to 31st, the shop windows of Philipp Frommer's newspaper shop at Homburg were broken by two bullets. Although the shop is near the police station, the guilty parties could not be apprehended- ï\>r a long time past the National S ■cialists have been conducting both an open and a clandestine campaign against this newspaper shop, because the owner exhibits and sells the "non-assimilated" newspapers
"Yolksstimme" and "Deutsche Freiheit". Three further attacks have been made against this shop in the last few weeks. Its owner is a Jew.
In numerous cases the agents and sellers of "non-assimi lated" newspapers have been ill-treated, pursued and robbed of their newspapers. Many of these cases have led to sentences by the courts, but the punishments have been too light to act as a deterrent. In quite a number of cases the court has recognised, that the authors of the offences were actuated by honourable motives and has thus encouraged them to commit further outrages.
The Singer furniture shop at Neunkirchen, -which had inserted an advertisement in the "Yolksstimme", paid for this courageous act by having its shop windows broken. National
Socialists smashed the big panes and the glass splinters damaged valuable furniture.
As a consequence of the terrorism exercised against opponents, the "assimilated" employers of the Saar have dismissed numerous employees and workers from their posts, throwing them on the streets. "Assimilated" employers require their employees to give the Hitler salute and to join an "assimilated" trade - 10- union or the "Deutsche Front", or one of its subsidiaries.
Persons who do not submit are dis missed.
Apart from this terrorism, outrageous moral pressure is exercised on the circles of the population belonging to the Left and on all freedom-loving citizens. The National
Socialists and their agents are striving continually and in ever new forms to create the impression that in the case of the Saar's return to Germany a bloody revenge will be taken on all those wh^ have not pronounced unconditionally for
Hitler in the plebiscite campaign. It cannot be alleged that only irresponsible agitators utter these threats. Chancellor
Eitler referred to his opponents in the Saar, in a speech on the wireless, as "traitors to their country11. Staatsrat
Spaniol, the leader of the Saar National Socialist Party, at the Saar demonstration at the Niederwald monument said, accord ing to the official communique of the Wolff Agency:
"We are filled with pa-in at this solemn hour when
we think that at this very moment criminals are at work
to defile our people and our Fatherland and to bring our
homes to shame. But the day will come when we shall pay
off our accounts with these criminals. On that day we
shall shoot down these poisoners of the minds of German
children like mad dogs."
The Prussian Prime Minister Goering made the follow ing remarks about the Saar Territory in his speech at Treves on November 5th, 1933î
"Over there in the Saar they have the same agitators
as we used to have. There rules the Jew, as in Prague
and Paris. If to-day these individuals without nationality
create agitation ...... in the Saar and in other countries, the people
there will soon recognise what we have already recog
nised in our own country. When the time comes, I will
see to it that the red rats do not creep into the holes
of the black mice. There will then be no more question
of "assimilation" from one day to the next. I shall
take care to mark my men".
Similar threats were made by one of the chief leaders of the so-
salled "Deutsche Front", the big industrialist Hermann BOchling,
about a fortnight ago in an interview with a reporter of "Paris Soirfl,
According to the "assimilated" newspaper "SaarbrUcker Zeitung" of
December 2Qth,lQ3$, be said:
"We inhabitants of the Saar want a good plebiscite
and will do everything that is necessary to that end.
You understand, everything !"
To the reporter’s question "Will you also take reprisals?"
HOohling answered: "Only against the ring-loaders ! Why don't you
take away fifty of these people who only compromise France?"
When the chief leaders of the party speak in this way, it is hard ly surprising if their supporters resort to the same threats, and finally to violence and bombs against their political opponents.
"That tho leaders express with a certain prudence is said by the sub ordinate leaders and members of the National Socialist Party in the
Saar in a more violent form. Thus one of the deputy leaders of the
National Socialists at Illingen on the Saar, Anton Scherer, recently said: "After the plebiscite in 1935, the National Socialis Party of the Saar will be granted twenty-four hours for the day of reckoning and the night of the long - 12-
knives. During these twent;y-four hours the houses of the Jews and Marxists will bo burned. Staatsrat Spaniol asked Hitler to allow forty-eight hours for this lynch rule . His request was refusee, however, and only twenty-four hours were granted. We shall therefore have to work hard during tnese twenty-four hours".
Scherer then wont on to say: "It would be too great a pity to burn the house of the Marxist leader, Bernarding, at Illingen. It
7/ill be set aside for another purpose and will become the administra tive building of the National Socialist Party - the Brown House of Illingen" .
Another National Socialist said to moro.bers of the Social
Dsmooratlc Party: "We already know in what concentration camp you will be put in 1 9 3 5 " •
The threat "I will see to it that you are put in a concentra tion oamp in 1935" is a common one, as shown by many statements in the newspapers.
These threats as regards 1935 are taken very seriously by the Saar population, partly because many inhabitants of the Saar
'"ho have had to go to Hitlerite Germany have recently been subject- ed to persecution, ill treatment and annoyances of every kind, contrary to international law. For example, the saddler Heinrich
SciirBder of Homburg was thrown ineo prison in Germany for weeks, simply because he had left the National Socialist Party. In the same way a compositor of the "Yolksstimme” of the name of Karl ranks, who had gone to see his parents in the Ruhr, was arrested
0n crossing the Sear frontier and 7/as kept in prison for weeks with-
°-it being interrogated and wit oui any definite charge against him.
«any similar cases have been reported in detail in the Saar news papers . The eventual liberation has always shown that t.; ere was n° °harge which could be laid against these inhabitants of the
°dar• The only reproach made against them concerned their political
"■Cl-ivitieS in the Saar Territory which are guaranteed by the Treaty -13-
0f Versailles ; and some of these men or women had not even dis-
,ic.vpd any particular political activity.
A -particularly striking case of arrest was that of the secretary
of the Union of German Miners in the Saar, a "non-assimilated”
trade-union. This secretary, whose name was Paul Hoffmann, had gone
to v i s i t the ”Reg i e rung s pr & s i d en t " of Birkenfeld in Germany, in
order to discuss the working conditions of his fellow members.
Hoffmann was arrested at Birkenf eld on the accusation: "You are a
Marxist, a free trade-unionist, and a supporter of Max Braun’s". He
is still lying in prison. In the same way two other secretaries of
the same Union were arrested, but were released later. At ZweibrUcken, the trade-.mion secretary and member of the Advisory Council, Her mann Petry of Keunkirchen, was arrested without reason, and was re leased later. Karl Berg, secretary of the Miners Union, was also arrested while defending members of the Union before the Arbitral
Commission of the Labour Tribunal in the Saar frontier area.
In the same way the authorities of the Third Reich arrested on German soil four national Socialists who had come into conflict with the directorate of the Saar National Socialist Party and were going to Berlin to make a complaint and flung them into prison.
Public opinion was specially disquieted by the fact that proceedings for high treason were opened against the compositor Funk© of the "Yolksstimme" who, as shown by tne records of the Public Prosecu tor of the Cologne Special Court I 3 .J.6 2 1 /3 3 was arrested with the words: "You are Max Braun’s adjutant'1. What was regarded as high treason was that Funke had exercised political activities in the
Saar Territory in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty of
Versailles, these activities being opposed to the return of the
Saar to Hitlerite Germany. This was the reason why his political activities had incurred the displeasure of Hitler’s Government.
It; is true that the proceedings were dropped, but they nevertheless - 14-
, trend taken by the attacks or the National Socialists against
i'ron-assinilatad" population.
fhe abduction of several persons from the Saar Territory who were
;.3? by force into the Third Reich, has helped to lend greater weight
, the threats of reprisals in 1935- -wo trials took place at th oaar-
nk Police Court on October Jth and November 9th,lQ35, in connection
■~h the abduction of four persons. Surprisingly light penalties were
rossd on the offenders, who are National Socialists.
These threats are accompanied by an extremely severe and increasing
■aott. The object is to bring about the ostracism and financial ruin of
fler’s adversaries. In our previous petitions we drew attention to the
pyootting: of newspapers which had not "come into line", and in particu-
iv of the Socialist "Volksstimrne" ; this boycotting is endangering the
jiistence of these papers. As already reported the town of Saarbruck,
t the instance of its Mayor and at the request of the National Socialist i'Bs the first to boycott that part of the press which was anxious to be
res, thus setting an example to others. All the municipal announcements
ere withdrawn from the "Volks stimmo" and tho subscriptions of the muni ci
îl services to this newspaper were cut down considerably. The Mayor, Dr. sikes, openly stated that this m .asure was the result of the political
\titude__of the "Volksstimmew arid the Socialist Party. The example of
:;s town of Saarbruck has been followed by a large number of towns and
■irai communes in the Saar Territory. The only exceptions are communes uere the influence of tne working classes is predominant. We have alread minted out in our September petition that this boycotting by the
■mlic authorities, who are thus misusing the public funds, is in - 15 -
several respects a monstrous action. In this connection we
-fould refer to our previous detailed statements.
The boycotting by the public authorities provides some
indication of the implacable and general boycotting which the
National Socialist Party is endeavouring to institute by every means
of pressure at its disposal. Any commercial undertaking daring to
advertise in a newspaper that has not "come into line” runs the
risk of economic boycotting, the threat of which is made publicly
by the National Socialists. A very large number of commercial
firms have informed the publicity agents of the nVolksstimme" that
in present circumstances they could not run the risk of a dvertising
in that paper, notwithstanding their desire to do so in view of
the character of their clientele. Many of them have secretly givai other printing orders or have cancelled their advertising contracts against payment of an indemnity. Others are paying for space in the advertisement columns, in which the word "rc- served" is printed. We are in a position to prove, whenever we are asked to do so, by the evidence of absolutely trustworthy persons and the production of threatening letters, the extent and degree of the terrorism to which these firms are subjected.
On each and every occasion the National Socialists have taken photographs of their political opponents, and in doing so, as •lave actud/conspicuously as possible. Thus, those who participated
public demonstrations against Hitler have be cn photographed. f*t Saarlouis all the inhabitants of the town who failed to - 16 -
rise from the ir seets when the Horst We s s e 1 song ”ras sung
end. the salute given to the district leader, Spaniol, "'ere
photographed in as obvious a manner as possible. The persons
who take these photographs state , st the sane tir.±e, the,t they
are collecting material for 1935 .
.Efforts are being ns de by boycotting to unde mi n e
indirectly the whole political existence of the parties that
are opposed to Hitler. Quite recently, meetings of the Saar
Freiheitsfront in the following places :
Altenwald S t . Ingbert Burbach J” gersf reude F ischbach Elvers^erg Ensdorf
were prevented by threats of boycotting the owners of the
halls used for the meetings. In this connection the Nations 1
Socialist circles threatened ths innkeepers, should they place their rooms at the disposai of the Fre ihe i t sf rent, not
only with en immediate boycott by all circles that hnve been
’''assimilated” but c?lso with the withdrawrl of their licences
in 1935 . The innke roars complainêd bitterly of hcving be en
obliged to give way to this pressure in order to srve their means of subsistence, families end livis. In all the cases mentioned the hell hed been definitely hired weeks ago.
The act ion of the teacher Huppart of Bi schmishe in who prevented
the "free" workers’ choir from giving a concert in a Bischmis- hein inn affords a typical example of this method of boycotting.
Hupper said to the innkeeper: ” I have...... you dare to piece the hall at the dispose 1 of this traitor
Braun, I shall take the necessary steps in 1935 to have
y o ur lie en c e w i thd r awn17.
The innkeeper, intimidated by these threats, then
refused to allow the hall to be used, although it had been definitely hired.
The workers who are friends of liberty own in the
coranune of Brebach an inn containing a large room w>idi has been used for years past as a meeting place for political demonstrations. The National Socialists are now endeavouring to take this building away from the workers end thus to j ' deprive them of all possibility of holding no-tings. They have approached a mortgagee who has s mortgage on these premises which can be called in at any time, and have offered him immediate payment of the capital of his mortgage if he will agr-e to transfer it to an intermediary. The latter will then call in the mortgage and thus obtain the forced sale by auction of the premises, as the workers will naturally not be in a position to repay the capital immediately. To induce the mortgagee to transfer his mortgage, an attempt was made to frighten him by telling him that he did not kno---' what would happen in 1935 and that he would then in all probability lose all the money he had invested in the house.
On the other hand, if he agreed to the nroeosal. he could obtain immediate repayment in cash, He was given to understand that Hitler had provided large sums for ths purpose oï - 18 -
carrying out transactions of this kind. At a public
meeting of thu Municipal Qouncil of the commune of Brebach,
a bank dark, the brother of the National Socialist Krais
leader, stated that Hitler had again provided ten millions
with a view to securing control over mortgages in the Saar
Territory. As the working classes do not possess the funds necessary to counteract such, manoeuvres, the result
will be that very soon the population in the Saar T erritory
which has not yet "come into line'’ '"ill find it imp a sib le
to hold a political meeting. Any o.irapaign and any suitable
preparations for the plebiscite would thus be impracticable.
d i the groups not belonging to the ”G:rman Front would be
absolutely unable to express their views at meetings or
demonstrations. Tr.e Socialist Party would only have left to
it a few "people’s halls" which ere firmly in its hands.
The 2d r-.t tempts to undermine all political life have obviously
been undertaken on the initiative and with the funds of
the Third Reich. However, the German Government is thereby
violating the Treaty of Versailles, which guarantees the the freedom and trustworthiness of/voting. The procedure
employed by the National Socialists is preventing any political
activity and rendering any free and honest plebiscite campaign
irmo ssi ble . - 19 -
The National Socialist official press records these
acts of boycotting with undisguised triumph and is pursuing
its campaign along these lines. Thus the National Socialist
"Saabrucker Abendblatt" reproduced on September 20th, 1933>
the following report:
"Treated as he deserved !"
Wiebelslcirchen, September 20th.
"Max Braun wished to hold a meeting last Sunday at
Lauterbach in Weber rs café. As the innkeeper refused to let him have the room, Braun tried to get round the innkeeper
Johan of Lauterbach. Here again he had no luck and had to go away with empty hands."
The boycotting extends to all spheres and is carried to such a degree that, for instance, in the commune of
Sulzbach during the recent elections of lay-judges and jurymen, all the candidates who had not "come into line" were struck off the roll, thanks to the votes of the judge, and the representa tive of the Landrat. Only members of the so-called "German
Front" Association were elected lay-judges and jurymen.
In the towns and rural communes in the Saar Territory, municipal councillors who have not "come into line" are systematically precluded from taking part in any practical work. Thus at GUd ingen, Homburg and other places the Socialist municipal councillors have been excluded from all committees with the help of the "German Front", and only members of the
National Socialist-"German Front" have been appointed to serve on Committees in some cases contrary to the legal rules of procedure. Any practical activity on the part of the munici pal councillors who have not "come into line" has thus been made absolutely impossible These decisions, which are in flagrant contradiction to the spirit of the régime of ad ministrative autonomy, ere not only condoned by the Mayors, but are taken with their express consent. - 20 -
Particularly active measures have been taken to boycot
the head of the "Freiheitsfront". Braun had asked to become a
member of the Saar Automobile Club, since membership of this
association 7/as necessary in order to obtain the motorists'
international certificates. His request was rejected without
any reason being given, but was obviously due to his political
views.
Braun is a municipal councillor of Saarbruck, and in
this capacity has served on various committees for many years
past. Contrary to all custom he has recently been driven out
of all the committees at the instigation of the National
Socialists and thanks to the special efforts of the Mayor,
so as to prevent him from carrying out any practical work
in the Municipal Council.
In his case the boycotting even extends to his
hairdresser. The latter has just informed him in writing that
he cannot continue to serve him because a large part of his
National Socialist customers would boycott him in future if he
continued to receive Braun.
The acts of terrorism and boycotting directed against
the children of parents who have not "come into line” are par
ticularly deplorable. These children are constantly exposed
to persecution and abuse. Their feelings are hurt by ignoble and insulting songs; they are called Jews and "Frenchies".
The teachers do nothing to stop this or only take half hearted measures. As a result of this ostracism and contempt many parents are obliged to take their children away from schools which have been completely "brought into line", and to send them to the French State schools. But this decision leads to the outbreak of a further campaign of extreme terrorism
-gainst them. One of the heads of the "Deutsche Front" M. Rdchlingj Commercial Councillor, himself prepared a handbill which he had distributed. This bill is full of insults and abuse and shamelessly slanders certain classes of the population.
It bears the significant motto "Don't forget 1935 1”He des cribes parents who send their children to French schools as scoundrels and speaks of them in the f ollovà ng terms:
"You do not want to be a scoundrel 1
"You do not want your children to be shunned and driven out of the German community I You should spare your selves and your children the shame of being called at a later date traitors to your country...... You do not wish to emigrate to Lorraine in 1935 like so many others who are already pre paring to withdraw to France I
"You know the sad lot of the Rhineland Separatists who are now obliged to live huddled together in the barracks of Metz and Thionville, despised and shunned by all ’
"Don’t forget 1935 • T-Vhe n your child has to return to the German school you do not want him to be branded with infamy.
"You certainly do not wish to join the despicable clique who have sold their country for a mess of pottage.
There is still time but it will soon be too late I"
M. Rüchling, who was prosecuted on account of this handbill, admitted at a public hearing that he had drawn up and disseminated this slanderous libel. Nevertheless he was acquitted by the Saartruck Criminal Chamber on all the counts of the charge, so that his act was approved by the Court into ihe bargain.
The Jews in the Saar Territory are also subjected to particularly a ctive terrorism and boycotting. Thus at
Homburg two Jewish shhoolboys were assaulted and seriously - 22 -
hurt by a group of adults. At Saarlouis a large number
of Jews were attacked and their houses wantonly damaged,
At Merzig, Saarlouis and other places the workshops of
Jewish artisans and Jewish shops were daubed with paint,
sticky varnish and other substances, and provocative posters and bills were stuck on them. At Neunkirchen a detachment of National Socialists in uniform sang songs in the streets such as the following:
"When Jewish blood springs from the knife, everything
is all right !”
S.S. leaders incited a café-keeper against his
Jewish customers. He was urged to send the la.tter away.
Innumerable other cases have occurred in which the Jewish population has been insulted and molested, particularly in the
Baimhofstresse at Saarbruck; At Merzig and Diefflen mourners at Jewish funerals have been shamelessly insulted.
At vyiklingen, Ptlttlingen, Merzig and other places
large posters were placed on shops, delivery vans and houses belonging to Jews; at Merzig these posters were
even put on the walls of the Synagogue. They bore the following words: "Do not buy from Jews ! Get out, go to Palestine Î
Anyone who buys from a Jew commits a sin against his country !"
etc. The van-driver of a Christian firm visted the customers
°f his Jewish competitor and imperiously demanded that they
should boycott the firm in question which, he asserted, be
longed to Frencfo Jews. He stated before the Court that he con~
sidered it his duty to prevent Jews and Frenchmen from earning
°^ey. He was acquitted, and the President publicly advised
to seek legal advice in future in cases of this kind.
-Vvvish firms have frequently received threatening letters from
titional Socialist firms worded as follows:"In 1935 we shall segthat you are the first to be turned out'1. In country
disttiats and small towns in particular, the National
Socialists, and especially ITazi worn©:Ts associations, have
given instructions that nothing is to bought in Jewish shops,
and they see that this order is carried out.
In many cases customers have given as an excuse to trades
men the threats used by the National Socialists, but they have
always asked that their names shall not be mentioned as the
strongest pressure was still being brought to bear on them.
Even in schools the children are advised not to buy anything in
Jewish shops. At Saarbruck'the sign-boards on Jewish boarding
houses have been torn down. The National Socialist newspapers
attack the Jewish shops most basely, alleging that they exploit
their employees and arc hand-in-glove with the French.
Boycotting is also playing havoc among members of the
liberal professions, such as doctors and barristers. posters
are put up publicly inviting the population to consult German
doctors and barristers and to avoid Jews. Jewish doctors arc
not allowed to serve in the volunteer first aid units ; the
Saarbruclc Association of health insurance doctors has sent forms
to its members, on which thv.y are required to state the race to
which they and their wives belong. "Jewish hands must cease
to touch German bodies5', so runs the Nazi motto designed to prevent Jewish doctors from practising their profession.
Patients frankly admit that they no longer consult Jewish
doctors solely o. account of the pressure of the National
Socialists. In order to break off all relations with
Jewish barristers, the Saarbruck barristers who have "come
into line" have net up a new professional organisation - 24 -
from which their Jewish colleagues are excluded.
Unfortunately the slandering of the Jews is not checked
by the courts. As a Jewish witness failed to appear, the
President of the Saarbruck Criminal Chamber said at a public
hearing: "This witness must have already left for Palestine! "
At this uncalled for remark, all the persons present burst out
laughing.
A large number of combatants' associations, gymnastic
societies and athletic associations have turned out their Jewish
members. At Merzig persons, who had served for many years on
the Committee of Management of the Women’s Patriotic Association
have been obliged to resign. The combatants’ associations
are turning out Jewish members from their committees of manage
ment and are allowing them to be insulted at public meetings,
Two first-class Jewish athletes were forbidden to take part
at important)1 sports held at Saarbruck.
Jewish boys and girls attending secondary schools have
frequently been assaulted, ill-treated and pestered by their
comrades. The following threats have been used: "You have
only to wr.it, you will have n hard time in 1935• Hurry up,
if you don’t want to miss the last train to Forbachi In 1935
a one-way road to Jerusalem will be made and paved with Jewish
heads!" Groups of Nazi children stop Jewish children in the
street and force them to cry: "Heil Hitler!” They are of fed
and kicked if they refuse to obey. In many cases the school
teachers and principals have not put down these brutal acts with the necessary vigour, and complaints have been treated
lightly. For that reason a large number of Jewish parents have taken their children from the public schools, and a special
Jewish school has had to be established in the town of Saarbruck. - 25 -
Particularly strong pressure is brought to bear upon those who
resist, and especially upon So.ar officials , through the preparation of blacklists giving the names of those who do not
join the so-called "Deutsche Front." Some time ago the Govern
ing Committee v/as obliged to dismiss two police officials without notice because they had been compiling such blacklists referring to their own colleagues in the service. Similar blacklists are drawn up in every street, in every profession, in every section of the community and cause great anxiety to those concerned. The majority do not dare to give open expression to their opinion with through fear of the reprisals/which they arc threatened.
Where terrorism and boycotting prove insufficient, the so- called "Deutsche Front" does not shrink from attempts to van over political opponents by bribery. For example, the Mayor of
Ottweiler attempted to induce a municipal councillor namedJohn,
who was a member of the Social Domoctratic Party, to with draw from that organisation and join the "Deutsche Front." In return the Mayor promised a loan of 6,000 f . a nee from the Rations!
Socialist Winter Relief Fund. John indignantly refused this strange offer though he was at the time in financial difficulties through the non-payment of interest amounting to several thousand francs.
The communist Karl Philipp, of Heiligenwald, was offered a sum of 1,000 francs by a National Socialist druggist named
Waas if he would'enter the "Deutsche Front". As Philipp was apparently disposed to change sides, Waas handed him a duly completed receipt form for 1,000 francs. Having taken the latter, however, Philipp refused to sign and rejected this insolent suggcstirn with the greatest indignation. - 26 -
One of the most conspicuous methods of preventing the free expression of opinion and exerting unlimited pressure is the National Socialist campaign for a public Taallot in violation of the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, which provides for free and independent vote. Either they oblige the inhabitants of the Saar to become members of the
"Deutsche Front" or they call upon them to make known their opinion as to the plebiscite without further delay. As has been ascertained in a great many cases, this is achieved by means of the most serious threats. Wounded, ex-service men are informed that if they refuse, they will forfeit their pensions ; the old and infirm are frightened with threats of the withdrawal of their disability allowances, while officials arc told that their pensions will be withheld* Everyone, however, is bluntly informed that there had better be n* refusing membership, as otherwise there will.lje a great day of reckoning in 1935•
The most dangerous aspect of this terrorism and boycotting is the fact that the victims of these throats do not dare to reveal their lamentable position to outsiders. Everyone fears that to do so would merely be to crurt even greater persecution. All those who supply particulars of their distressr- ing experiences to the press or to the authorities whom they are entitled to petition, implore that their names shall not be disclosed. That is why even in the present...,...... - 27-
orandum, it is impossible to reveal the names in the possession
-'the authors. We wish, however, emphatically to state that each
fse can be substantiated either through the evidence of sworn
-'tnesses or through documentary material.
Catholic judges, public prosecutors and advocates have often
ini tted in private conversation that they are subject to strong
ressure and that though in their heart of hearts their repugnance to
ational Socialism has not changed they dare not give expression
o their opinion, as any other course would inevitably result in
oiaplete loss of livelihood.
The new decrees of the Governing Commission, which are both
horough-going and firm, have indeed not failed to make themselves
alt in public life. But though at first their efficacy seemed assured
t is becoming increasingly evident that under the surface terrorism
nd boycotting are not decreasing, but increasing. The effect which
he new decrees have in reality produced upon the National Socialists
s to be seen from a circular letter dated December 22nd,1933 > issued
7 the leader of the Saarlouis Local Group of the N.3.D.A.P. From this
e may reproduce the following extracts (the complete text is to be
ound in the "Volksstimme" of December 2Qth, 1933 ) :
"N.S.D.A.P. Saar Territory Local Group, Saarlouis I.
Saarlouis, December 22nd,1933•
Circular.
Oppressed and shackled by an alien Government which the people 3fuse to recognise, while perjured traitors and criminals obtain ^mission to hold meeti gs, we find ourselves obliged to communicate ith our members in writing and to inform them that for all of us "e §reat struggle for honour, right and freedom will shortly take -28-
on increased intensity, Such being the case, it becomes more necessary than ever to put one's shoulder to the wheel and to exert oneself to the uttermost. Let us be active for the cause, boldly face the enemy and prove that we are true German Rational Socialists. Gome what mar, we must stand unflinchingly like true combatants and behave as we learned to behave in the World War. Just as then every true German did his duty, staked his life and held out as long as there was breath in his body, every party member must do the same today.
■'It may be that many of us will have to endure great suffer ings ir the days to come. It is possible that some will lose their employment or find themselves in prison. Others again may be wounded or even obliged to lay down their lives for our magnificent ideal. We must all throw ourselves whole-heartedly into the struggle like our activa comrades. Each for all and all for each.
And so, with heads heldhigh, forward to our goal defiantly and boldly. Heil Hitler L
(signed) E.VATERRODT (signed) ZIMMER
Local Group Leader Propaganda Leader. "
The shameless insolence to which this National Socialist
"education" is bound to lead is also shown by the following incident : The wife of Mr.Normal Bentwich, the English member of the League of Nations Commission for the Relief of Refugees, was grossly insulted by a young Nazi, who saw her smoking; snatch ing the cigarette from her mouth, he roared: "A German woman does not smoke".
According to the Peace Treaty and §3 4 , paragraph 4 , of the
Saar Statute, it is the duty of the Council of the League to guarantee a free and trustworthy plebiscite in the Saar. The plebiscite cannot be regarded as free and trustworthy unless previous political controversy has been unrestricted and free from terrorism. As we have already shown, however, National Socialism has been responsible for restricting and even completely paralysing
■the Saar plebiscite controversy in a manner contrary to the
Treaty of Versailles. The present intolerable pressure and - 29-
jevastating terrorism make a free and trustworthy expression
0f opinion impossible and the public opinion of the freedom loving
population of the Saar is completely stifled. The League of Nations
i3 aware of how the free expression of opinion has b e e n stamped
out in Hitler’s Germany and how ail its manifestation have been
ride impossible. The National Socialist party is working in the
Saar with the same methods and the same objects, and is powerfully
insisted by the great financial and moral support which it receives
'from the Third Reich, and against which the free minded people lof the Saar have no effective defence.
It is the duty of the Council of the League to protect the inhabitants of the Saar and enable them to maintain their inalien able rights. As long as terrorism and boycotting are given free rein in the manner which we have already described, the plebiscite is impossible. We presume that will not be authorised until the conditions prescribed in the Treaty of Versailles can be regarded s.s fulfilled.
On behalf of the ’’SaarlMndische Frciheitsfront”
(signed) Iia x BRAUN
On behalf of the Social Democratic Section of th^ Advisory Council
(signed) Hermann RETRY (signed) Heinrich LI33HR.