Das Schwarze Korps
Encyclopedia
Das Schwarze Korps was the official newspaper of the Schutzstaffel
(SS). This newspaper was published on Wednesdays and distributed free of charge. Each SS member was supposed to read the publication and urge others to do so as well. The chief editor was SS leader Gunter d'Alquen
; the publisher was Max Amann
of the Franz-Eher-Verlag publishing company. The paper was hostile to many groups, with frequent articles condemning the Catholic Church (any act interfering with the state being denounced as "political Catholicism"), Jews
, Communism, Freemasonry and others. The first edition appeared on March 6, 1935, with 70,000 copies in print. In November of the same year, publication reached 200,000 and by 1944 had increased to 750,000. The newspaper was published in close co-operation with the SS Security Service
, which had substantial editorial control.
It covered foreign press attacks with instructions on how to refute them.
In accordance with doctrines of blood and soil
, it spoke of the need to break up the aristocratic estates, although this was not implemented.
Prior to the passing of the Nuremberg Laws
, it called for a law to ban Rassenschande
, or intercourse between Jews and Germans, as preferable to the extra-legal violence that the Stormtroopers indulged in; after it, articles on the "Jewish Question" did not increase in number but grew ever more harsh in tone. One article stated that since German Jews were part of "world Jewry" they shared the responsibility for what "world Jewry" brought upon Germany.
The paper attacked the newly created Superman
comics character and his Jewish creator, Jerry Siegel
, urged harsh action against grumblers, put forth anti-American propaganda with the suggestion that the Jews were responsible, and paid tribute to Hitler on his birthday.
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
(SS). This newspaper was published on Wednesdays and distributed free of charge. Each SS member was supposed to read the publication and urge others to do so as well. The chief editor was SS leader Gunter d'Alquen
Gunter d'Alquen
Gunter d'Alquen was Chief Editor of the SS weekly, Das Schwarze Korps the official newspaper of the Schutzstaffel , and commander of the SS-Standarte Kurt Eggers Gunter d'Alquen (October 24, 1910 - May 15, 1998) was Chief Editor of the SS weekly, Das Schwarze Korps ("The Black Corps") the...
; the publisher was Max Amann
Max Amann
Max Aman was a German Nazi official with the honorary rank of SS-Obergruppenführer, politician and journalist.-Biography:Amann was born in Munich on November 24, 1891...
of the Franz-Eher-Verlag publishing company. The paper was hostile to many groups, with frequent articles condemning the Catholic Church (any act interfering with the state being denounced as "political Catholicism"), Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
, Communism, Freemasonry and others. The first edition appeared on March 6, 1935, with 70,000 copies in print. In November of the same year, publication reached 200,000 and by 1944 had increased to 750,000. The newspaper was published in close co-operation with the SS Security Service
Sicherheitsdienst
Sicherheitsdienst , full title Sicherheitsdienst des Reichsführers-SS, or SD, was the intelligence agency of the SS and the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. The organization was the first Nazi Party intelligence organization to be established and was often considered a "sister organization" with the...
, which had substantial editorial control.
Articles
It contained foreign news reports, analyses of threats, and theoretical essays on Nazi policies. Praise for motherly women and families was contrasted with discrediting the women's movement of "Amazons" and "men-woman." It had a strongly pro-natalist slant, though at one point, it declared some tactics were excessive: an employee being publically admonished by a superior to have children, or divorce or adopt.It covered foreign press attacks with instructions on how to refute them.
In accordance with doctrines of blood and soil
Blood and soil
Blood and Soil refers to an ideology that focuses on ethnicity based on two factors, descent and homeland/Heimat...
, it spoke of the need to break up the aristocratic estates, although this was not implemented.
Prior to the passing of the Nuremberg Laws
Nuremberg Laws
The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 were antisemitic laws in Nazi Germany introduced at the annual Nuremberg Rally of the Nazi Party. After the takeover of power in 1933 by Hitler, Nazism became an official ideology incorporating scientific racism and antisemitism...
, it called for a law to ban Rassenschande
Rassenschande
Rassenschande or Blutschande was the Nazi term for sexual relations between Aryans and non-Aryans, which was punishable by law...
, or intercourse between Jews and Germans, as preferable to the extra-legal violence that the Stormtroopers indulged in; after it, articles on the "Jewish Question" did not increase in number but grew ever more harsh in tone. One article stated that since German Jews were part of "world Jewry" they shared the responsibility for what "world Jewry" brought upon Germany.
The paper attacked the newly created Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
comics character and his Jewish creator, Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
, urged harsh action against grumblers, put forth anti-American propaganda with the suggestion that the Jews were responsible, and paid tribute to Hitler on his birthday.
Further reading
- Das Schwarze Korps newspapers can be purchased on microfilm at Mikropress.
- Combs, William L. Voice of the SS: A History of the SS Journal Das Schwarze Korps (Illustrated), New York: Peter Lang, 1986. ISBN 0-8204-0083-1.
- Zeck, Mario. Das Schwarze Korps: Geschichte und Gestalt des Organs der Reichsfuhrung SS (Illustrated), TübingenTübingenTübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
: Niemeyer, 2002. ISBN 3-484-34051-7.