Dede ACTIV IN WS? GERMAN from firs, Dales
With greet concern and growing anxiety people in -1ll parts of hurepe ere watching the elaborate presarntions of the provincial associations (Landsnannschaf ten) for their meeting this yenr. The members of these assaciations = well known for their ardent support of the THIRD REICH and its policy - are busily engaged in canvassing support for the mecting.... Before Whitsun they hope to organise a "mejer political rally" in Frankfurt or Tee et At the beginning of May a gathering under the slogan POMMERANTA DA‘ . to be held in Cologne, followed by a National Meeting of the West Prussians a month later in Dortrumd. For each of these meetings they intend te get together thousnnuds of people from the several provincese.. Invitations to speak at the mcetings heave gone out to Federal and Provincial Ministers and other politicians.
Meetings on e smaller scale are taking plece every weekend. Recently st a Sudeten German Association's meeting, the chairman, no less a person than the Bonn Minister of Transport, Dr. Seebohn, steted that the occupation of the Sudenenland by Hitler's troops should be regnarded_as en exemple for their erulation. The evst of these meetings present no problen to the ‘ganisers, as the Federnl Governnent as well as the Provincial Governnents are generously providing Financial help.
The $.5., whese nane is closely linked with the most outrageous crimes grins t hunand ty, is cinvassing quite openly to gether suppert for their forthcoming meetings. That these meetings sre not held by the 5.5. to indulge in harmless talks, is clear to all who cbserved the Gevelopuents in the Federal Republic. Last year's $.S. meeting, which was to be held in Hameln, and Which a memorisl for the S.S. murderers was to have been erected was only withdrawn because of a world-wide protest.
A Governacnt, which bestowed recently a high decoration for "Services to the ccuntry", on the former 5.5. Sturs: annfuhrer, Dr. Ing. Butefisch a war criminal sentenced to 6 year's prison at the Nuremburg trial - cennot be expected to take action against the activities of the S.5. Only after stx noma protests by the former victims of Negi persecution (V.V.N.) did the West Yerman Government withdraw the decoration fron Dr. Butefisch.
My counittce appesls ta all decent people to protest to the West German Chancellor, Dr. Erhard, Palace Schaumberg, Bonn, and demand immediate action to prevent 611 5.5. meetings in future. lid, Note: Mrs. Dal iit seeretery of the Defence Committee for Victims of Nazi Persecution anil? Sipply neterinl on political persecution in West Germany to anyone intorested.