Drafts of speeches on the duty of soldiers to the Nazi system, and the role of officers as Nazi leaders

6.6.39
The Bearer of Arms—Political Soldier '
Refs. (1) German Army Year Book 1939, Page 50, "Soldier and Politics".
(2) "The Training Manual" 3rd Edition 1939, page 98, "National Social Education Work in thé Armed Forces".
The "political soldier" has already become a concept of the Third Reich. He is the man in whom "civil courage" is no longer lacking, to whom action in the political world has become selfevident for a soldier. His model is the old veteran ("alte Kaemp-fer"). .
At the side of the "political soldier" stands the soldier as bearer of arms. He also is not a "non-political soldier."
When it says in Paragraph 1) of No. 26 of the Defense Law of May 1935 "the soldiers must not take part in political activity," that merely means that the soldier is not to talk politics.
According to the same paragraph the soldier still has the right to vote and to take part in elections. In this too there is no political disadvantage to be seen, but it is clear that the soldier is regarded as the political supporter of his Fuehrer and Supreme Commander. For him there is no question of "Yes" or "No".
In accordance with these paragraphs also lies membership of the Party and its organizations, as well as of one of its attached units, for the continuation of active military service. That is to say, the soldier on active military service has to act only in accordance with the orders of his military superiors. That is a clear and self-evident rule for the "political soldier" as well as for the soldier as bearer of arms, demanded by unconditional obedience on the part of the soldier and by military discipline.
Basically, however, the soldier as bearer of arms is a political soldier. He is a convinced National Socialist, a representative of the rules of living of National Socialism. He upholds the highest values of the National Socialist ideology, honor, loyalty, - arms, blood and soil, a people and a greater Germany without end, the common good before the individual good, etc. ;
Military training should and will bring to completion training in school, Hitler Youth and Reich Labor Service.
Above and beyond that it will have its effect on the future life of the soldier who leaves military service. The soldier should continue in. the future to live the soldier's life of duty as the National Socialist life of duty.
829
4065-PS
Close liaison between the Armed Forces and Party, between the Armed Forces and people guarantees a clear sympathetic understanding with the common people. In it, by his behavior in and out of service, the soldier will be as much of a front-line fighter as is demanded of the political soldier.
In the experiences of the front are to be found the roots of National Socialism, in the experiences of the front the feeling of comradeship and common blood showed themselves with greatest effect.
The fearful collapse at the end of the Great War is an experience which the front-line fighter, and indeed those who come after him, must never forget. This experience teaches the value of the strong union of all classes. It demands the best and firmest partnership in battle. It demands that the soldier should know the rules of living of his people, that he should know what he must guarantee with his whole mind and endeavor, and with his life.
Ideological leadership in the Armed Forces should popularize these ideas more and more with all bearers of arms and educate them at the same time to be ideological fighters. Suitable measures are inserted according to plan in the training course.
The Armed Forces are endeavoring to fulfill to the utmost the Fuehrer's demand that they should be "the last and highest school of patriotic education," in which the soldier "should obtain from the strength of commonly felt esprit de corps the conviction of the insuperability of his nationality."
They know that above and beyond the handling of weapons and battle technique and their application in the service rendered in the struggle by the spirit, the spiritual attitude is decisive for the final action and success.
In their work of education they will awaken and strengthen the front-line courage, and here meet up on the same level with the work of education of the political soldier.
The heroic prototypes of soldiery are an encouragement to it, the fallen soldiers of the Great War and Spain stand beside those who fell for the movement, who by voluntarily pledging their lives in the political fight for power, created the basis for political freedom and the reassumed military force of the German people.
In political and ideological training the soldier should learn to know the greatness of the history of his people, the heroic figures from the different, historical periods. The tasks of the present and of the future should be made known to him. A sense of German living space and of a national political aim should be
4065-PS
awakened in him. His feeling of responsibility as a soldier and a National Socialist should be aroused to the utmost.
In him soldiery and National Socialism should blend into law, according to which he makes his start, according to which he fights, according to which he triumphs or dies.
Officers and soldiers know that weapon and ideology belong together and in common form the forces which will master all tasks.
. [signature illegible]
DRAFT
of a speech for the opening of the training course for commanders in Munich. [Handwritten note—illegible]
The next war will be the struggle for the victory of our ideology.
Democracies led by Jews and Freemasons against Totalitarian States.
At the end of such a war thefe must be a clear decision—no compromise solution.
It is therefore a matter of existence or non-existence.
More than ever in the history of war will material play a large part. Material has value, however, only when man masters it. Even in a material war the decisive factor is man, his spirit, his soul.
Glance in the newspapers, serious times. The efforts of our opponents stand out more and more clearly. Uncertain when and how it will come to a decision. (But however the course.)
Weapon training is not sufficient because the spiritual greatness of the German soldier, yes of the whole German people, is decisive in a battle such as the coming one.
Therefore: Commanding is no longer sufficient—Leadership is necessary. The decisive importance of this ability to lead much too little recognized. Without the right attitude on our part we cannot educate and lead soldiers. In the fight for the victory of our ideology only he can fight who is himself permeated with this ideology.
(Course should be stimulus. Most diligent work demanded. The demands of war must be met in time of peace.
Pretence is crime. Only the deed counts.
The commonplace in peacetime secures the basis for victory.)
Manifold tasks in every sphere in the training of the Officer
831
4065-PS
Corps and the NCO Corps, in the training of the troops, in their recruiting, (in the attitude of the commander as managing director). By his example the officer must continually be an educator and a living proof of the true greatness and truth of the National Socialist ideology.
(Only the commander, who possesses and shows this basic attitude, fulfills his duty.)
[More illegible handwritten notes]