MUNICH STREET DEMONSTRATION

July, 1925

SA ‘Brownshirts’ parade through their headquarters city’s rain-soaked streets. Rifles are held ready by the Weimar Republic’s soldiers, who stand aside as the demonstrators pass. An intrepid cameraman snaps his photo as he himself is caught by another unseen camera. The Nazi Party had been banned by the Weimar government due to its inflammatory activities, but the ban was lifted in January 1925.

The Sturmabteilung or ‘Storm Detachment’ marched to the commands of the charismatic thug Ernst Röhm. Members of the SA were charged initially with protecting the Nazi Party leaders and for spearheading street battles with Communists and rival right-wing opponents. In March of that same year the SS was formed and was initially known as the ‘Black Order’. Consisting of only eight men, it would serve as the foundation for an infamous organisation that would eventually number over 1 million.

“THE STURMABTEILUNG OR ‘STORM DETACHMENT’ MARCHED TO THE COMMANDS OF THE CHARISMATIC THUG ERNST RÖHM”