GENERAL PURGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1942, Page 4

GENERAL PURGE

ANNOUNCED IN GERMANY MASS ARRESTS BEGUN. OF “ANTI-SOCIAL” ELEMENTS. LONDON. June 20. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) A Berlin news agency announcement foreshadows a general purge in Germany ol: “anti-social, and destructive elements.” Mass arrests have already started in Vienna and Lower Austria. The gauleiters have created a special commission, to compile black lists of suspects. Those arrested are being sent to forced labour squads or 1 are put in Gestapo schooling camps. Referring to the purge, the Berlin news agency says that those marked for removal from the communities include any persons who because of their mental attitude are incapable of satisfying the minimum requirements regarding their personal social and national bearing, anyone displaying antistate or querulous inclinations, spongers burdening the community with their upkeep, anyone unable to run an orderly household and raise useful citizens, and also drunkards and immoral persons endangering the health of future generations. Moscow reports that more than 800 magistrates have been dismissed in the new Hitler purge. Police and local Nazi organisations have been empowered to. interfere in legal procedure at all stages and may also suspend sen : fences which do not conform with the policy of strengthening the German State. It is recalled that in his speech to the Reichstag in April, Hitler said: “I demand the obedience of the whole nation, both at the front and in the rear. I demand that the whole nation shall give me power, wherever it is necessary, to act as I think fit. Germany and the Germans must serve only one purpose —victory. No one at such a time is entitled to talk of his rights; only duties exist today. “I ask for official endorsement to possess the legal right to compel everyone to fulfil his duty, and if he does not carry out his duty, to dismiss him. irrespective of who he is or what acquired rights he may possess. I expect German justice to understand. The nation does not exist for the convenience of that justice, but justice exists to serve the nation. Judges who do not recognise the demands of your will' will be removed from office.” Goering then read a decree giving Hitler, regardless of any existing laws or decrees or personal rights, power to compel any officer, soldier, official, or civilian to do his duty by all means. He also announced that Hitler has assumed the new title of Supreme Law Lord.