Das Schwarze Korps

Das Schwarze Korps (The Black Corps), the official SS newspaper.

Das Schwarze Korps (German for The Black Corps) was the official newspaper of the Schutzstaffel (SS). This newspaper was published on Wednesdays and distributed for free. 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.^[1]:242 The first edition appeared on March 6, 1935,^{[citation needed]} 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.

Articles

It contained foreign news reports, analyses of threats, and theoretical essays on Nazi policies.^[1]:240 Praise for motherly women and families was contrasted with discrediting the women's movement of "Amazons" and "men-woman."^[1]:242 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.^[2]:236-7

It covered foreign press attacks with instructions on how to refute them.^[1]:241–2

In accordance with doctrines of blood and soil, it spoke of the need to break up the aristocratic estates, although this was not implemented.^[2]:151

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;^[1]:181 after it, articles on the "Jewish Question" did not increase in number but grew ever more harsh in tone.^[1]:243 One article stated that since German Jews were part of "world Jewry" they shared the responsibility for what "world Jewry" brought upon Germany.^[3]

The paper attacked the newly created Superman comics character and his Jewish creator, Jerry Siegel,^[4] urged harsh action against grumblers,^[5] put forth anti-American propaganda with the suggestion that the Jews were responsible,^[6] and paid tribute to Hitler on his birthday.^[7]

See also

• Schutzstaffel

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Claudia Koonz, The Nazi Conscience ISBN 0-674-0117204
2. ^ ^{a b} Richard Grunberger, The 12-Year Reich, ISBN 03-076435-1
3. ^ Richard Overy, The Dictators: Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Russia, p. 585 ISBN 0-393-02030-4
4. ^ "The SS and Superman"
5. ^ "False Consideration"
6. ^ "The Dangers of Americanism"
7. ^ "He is Victory!"

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), Tübingen: Niemeyer, 2002. ISBN 3-484-34051-7.

External links

• Cartoons from the SS Weekly
• Satirical Comic Strips from Das Schwarze Korps