The National Socialist student Kalter [...] rushed until the National Socialists finally went on the attack. Although many of our own were injured by blows with sticks, blows and bites (!!), the National Socialists were repelled...
Attacks on left-wing and Jewish students
The usual standing conventions had formed again in the hall. The left-wing groups gathered on one side of the hall, while the right-wing groups, which strongly outnumbered them, gathered on the other. The atmosphere was very agitated, which was expressed, among other things, in the singing of battle songs and in the shouts of the National Socialists 'Jews out! In some places, there were even scuffles between opponents." This is how the national-liberal "Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung" described the atmosphere in the entrance hall of Friedrich Wilhelm University at the end of June 1932.
Various student groups regularly gather in front of their notice boards in the hall during the breaks or meet in the courtyard. Corporations and political groups gave speeches and showed their presence here - but the National Socialists used these meetings for provocations and attacks, especially on left-wing and Jewish students, but also on Republican students. Not only the relatively few members of the Nazi Students' Union (NSDStB) took part in this, but also a number of sympathising fellow students.
Permanent Nazi presence
Verbal and violent attacks on fellow students, especially Jewish ones, were already commonplace in the early 1920s. The National Socialists systematised such acts of violence and created a climate of constant threat. The NSDStB office at Georgenstra?e 44 is located in the immediate vicinity of the university, and the Nazi students' favourite pub is the Akademische Bierhallen at Dorotheenstra?e 80. The Nazis' permanent presence in the university environment - including the uniforms permitted in the university - is repeatedly reinforced by SA men. Shouts of "Heil", anti-Semitic slogans, leaflet distribution and harassment are part of the standard repertoire of Nazi students in and around the university.
Hardly any resistance
Republicans and socialists keep a low profile and do not act militantly. Only the communists are occasionally aggressive and seek confrontation with the right - but they are far outnumbered. Although the pro-republican and Jewish groups try to make their presence felt, they are mainly concerned with asserting themselves.
The right-wing extremist students repeatedly beat up those they dislike. They acted with great brutality - often using weapons such as belts, clubs and sticks. Between 1929 and 1933, the police had to clear the university several times - it often remained closed for several days. The university management did little to counter the violence. It preached the "truce" of science and, not least, sympathised in principle - if not with the methods, then with many of the Nazis' goals.
| Event date | Event | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 22. 02. 1929 | Provocations and attacks by NS students, marching through the building shouting slogans | Police operation |
| 12. 11. 1929 | Nazi rally in front of the university | Nazi students march through the university shouting "Germany awake" - "Juda perish!" | Brawls | police action |
| 27 to 29 June 1930 | Attack by "non-local left-wing groups" on NS students | Riots | University closed for a day |
| 11 to 13 November 1930 | Republican students distribute leaflets under police protection: "Student appeal to reason", Nazi students attack Jewish, left-wing and Republican students | Marches | assaults, some armed, for three days at the university and surrounding area | police eviction on 12 June | further brawls on 13 June | police deployment |
| 29 to 30 June 1931 | Attacks by communist workers on Nazi students on 26 June | 29 June: Rector approves Nazi rally | protest meeting against this attacked by Nazi students | destruction of Nazi opponents' notice boards | Abuse of students | eviction by police | university closed for two days | further riots in the surrounding area | ban on all standing convents until 4 July | report in the liberal Berliner Tageblatt of 29 June 1931 on the events at the university |
| 22. 01. 1932 | Armed attack by Nazi students on Jewish fraternity students in the foyer | Socialist and Communist fellow students help | Police evacuation | University closed |
| 04. 02. 1932 | Announcement: Relegation of two NS and two Republican students | NS students attack opponents | Police operation | University closed |
| 30. 06. 1932 | Organised NS attack on Jewish students | determined resistance | Rector calms the situation | University closed until 2 July |
| 10. 02. 1933 | Last protest: Commemoration by Republican students for students murdered by Nazis in Breslau | Ban on the ceremony | Arrests |