. NMT04-T0080
Volume IV · Page 80
| caught, but the big fish get away," and,
incidentally, attention was called to the interference of the Party into
judicial matters. A further report criticized the overlapping of the system of
fines which the economic associations (Wirtschaftsverbaende) could impose and
the procedure before the regular criminal courts, which had caused an
intolerable discrepancy in the severity of penalties inflicted. Reports concerning the educational field brought the result that further attacks on schools and school teachers were prohibited by Goebbels, that the importance of scientists was officially acknowledged, that interference with school life by the Hitler Youth was discontinued, the Hitler Youth activities reduced, the school children excused from collections of all kinds, etc. The SD reports submitted again and again evidence for the importance of motion pictures and succeeded in supporting the role of the motion pictures against the will of Goebbels. The seventh Chamber of Culture [Kulturkammer], which already had been proclaimed by Ley, was stopped by appropriate SD reports. In contradiction to the political policy of coordination (Gleichschaltung), private associations were sponsored. In long reports, Amann's¹ publishing and press policies were criticized, and thus a number of publishing firms and newspapers were saved from closing down or from being transferred to the Eher² publishing firm. In the same way, the SD reports achieved a nearly complete reduction of political publications. On the other hand, the publication of good classical novels and worthwhile new novels was aided. It was only thanks to the SD reports that the closing of universities was excluded from the measures for waging total war, although a decision to that effect had already been reached. The evidence presented was so convincing that the Party chancellery changed their opinion and, satisfied by the material produced by the SD, exerted its influence for the continuation of work at the universities. The SD fought against all tendencies of the DAF [German Labor Front] towards collectivization with reports supported by evidence. Critical conditions within the Party were reported for at least five Gaue. These facts correspond with the description of the "SD" in the "C. I. Handbook Germany," published by the "Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces, Office of Assistant |
¹ Reich Press Leader. Head of the Eher Publishing firm.
² Official publishers of the National Socialist Party.
