USCHLA
Encyclopedia
The Uschla was an internal Nazi tribunal
system that was established by Adolf Hitler
in 1926 to settle intra-party problems and disputes.
The highest level, the Reichs-Uschla, presided in Munich
, where the NSDAP (the Nazi Party) itself had begun.
Immediately below this level was the Gau-Uschla, with one such tribunal for each Gau. Following the general geographic organization of the Gau system, below this Gau-level was the Kreis-Uschla, which in turn linked to the lowest level of tribunal, the Ort-Uschla. At the zenith of the system's development, a typical Gau might contain approximately 100 Ort-Uschlas. Grant, p. 57-8.
The initial chairman of the Uschla was a former Reichswehr
Lieutenant General Heinemann, who failed to grasp the real purpose of the tribunal: namely, to settle disputes so as to keep them quiet, rather than to achieve substantive justice
between the disputants or to enforce a moral code..
Accordingly, he was soon replaced in 1927 by the politically more astute Major Walter Buch
(also a former Reichswehr officer), who was in turn aided by two close and highly trusted Hitler cohorts, Ulrich Graf and Hans Frank
.
Buch remained as the chair of the Uschla until the end of World War II
.
Conflicts between the Sturmabteilung
(SA) and the Uschla system were perhaps inevitable, reflecting in part the typical conflict between political and military functions in less pathological institutions. The SA leadership sought maximum autonomy
within the Nazi system, and resented any infringement upon its free-wheeling style, especially if based (even theoretically) upon some principles of law. The natural antagonism between the two loci of power peaked when the Uschla attempted to subject SA men to its jurisdiction
.
A particular case in January 1930 defined the jurisdictional issue between the rivals. After a hearing before an Ort-Uschla in Saxony
, expulsion was ordered for an SA man, but his SA commander disagreed with the decision and claimed that the tribunal had no jurisdiction over SA men performing their functions in the line of duty. A rather feeble SA attempt at compromise in May 1930 stipulated that the Uschla lacked jurisdiction over "SA affairs" and could only intervene in those affairs if (a) the SA man's conduct did serious harm to the interests of the NSDAP and (b) his commanding officer agreed that serious harm had been done. While this bit of Nazi lawyering appeared to make Uschla jurisdiction, in effect, entirely contingent upon the consent of the SA commander, it left the undefined term "SA affairs" open to interpretation and argument, so little progress in settling the jurisdictional squabble resulted.
Upon assuming control of the SA in January 1931, Ernst Röhm
attempted a conciliation with Buch over SA-Uschla affairs. However, these conciliatory attempts crashed upon the rock of the Stennes Revolt
.
Tribunal
A tribunal in the general sense is any person or institution with the authority to judge, adjudicate on, or determine claims or disputes—whether or not it is called a tribunal in its title....
system that was established by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
in 1926 to settle intra-party problems and disputes.
Organization
The Uschla eventually evolved into a four-level system, organized on geographic lines.The highest level, the Reichs-Uschla, presided in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, where the NSDAP (the Nazi Party) itself had begun.
Immediately below this level was the Gau-Uschla, with one such tribunal for each Gau. Following the general geographic organization of the Gau system, below this Gau-level was the Kreis-Uschla, which in turn linked to the lowest level of tribunal, the Ort-Uschla. At the zenith of the system's development, a typical Gau might contain approximately 100 Ort-Uschlas. Grant, p. 57-8.
The initial chairman of the Uschla was a former Reichswehr
Reichswehr
The Reichswehr formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was renamed the Wehrmacht ....
Lieutenant General Heinemann, who failed to grasp the real purpose of the tribunal: namely, to settle disputes so as to keep them quiet, rather than to achieve substantive justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
between the disputants or to enforce a moral code..
Accordingly, he was soon replaced in 1927 by the politically more astute Major Walter Buch
Walter Buch
Walter Buch was a German jurist and SS-Obergruppenführer war criminal, as well as being Martin Bormann's father in law.-Life:...
(also a former Reichswehr officer), who was in turn aided by two close and highly trusted Hitler cohorts, Ulrich Graf and Hans Frank
Hans Frank
Hans Michael Frank was a German lawyer who worked for the Nazi party during the 1920s and 1930s and later became a high-ranking official in Nazi Germany...
.
Buch remained as the chair of the Uschla until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Conflicts between the Sturmabteilung
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
(SA) and the Uschla system were perhaps inevitable, reflecting in part the typical conflict between political and military functions in less pathological institutions. The SA leadership sought maximum autonomy
Autonomy
Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it is the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, un-coerced decision...
within the Nazi system, and resented any infringement upon its free-wheeling style, especially if based (even theoretically) upon some principles of law. The natural antagonism between the two loci of power peaked when the Uschla attempted to subject SA men to its jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
.
A particular case in January 1930 defined the jurisdictional issue between the rivals. After a hearing before an Ort-Uschla in Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, expulsion was ordered for an SA man, but his SA commander disagreed with the decision and claimed that the tribunal had no jurisdiction over SA men performing their functions in the line of duty. A rather feeble SA attempt at compromise in May 1930 stipulated that the Uschla lacked jurisdiction over "SA affairs" and could only intervene in those affairs if (a) the SA man's conduct did serious harm to the interests of the NSDAP and (b) his commanding officer agreed that serious harm had been done. While this bit of Nazi lawyering appeared to make Uschla jurisdiction, in effect, entirely contingent upon the consent of the SA commander, it left the undefined term "SA affairs" open to interpretation and argument, so little progress in settling the jurisdictional squabble resulted.
Upon assuming control of the SA in January 1931, Ernst Röhm
Ernst Röhm
Ernst Julius Röhm, was a German officer in the Bavarian Army and later an early Nazi leader. He was a co-founder of the Sturmabteilung , the Nazi Party militia, and later was its commander...
attempted a conciliation with Buch over SA-Uschla affairs. However, these conciliatory attempts crashed upon the rock of the Stennes Revolt
Stennes Revolt
The Stennes Revolt, led by Walter Stennes , the Berlin commandant of the Sturmabteilung , erupted in the summer of 1930 and again in the spring of 1931...
.