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The tragedy in the long history of the German people is that it has seldom had real leaders. Not that it lacked military leadership. What was lacking was political leadership, the political idea, the Weltanschauung (worldview) that National Socialism gives. The S.A. man as a political soldier is the bearer of this Weltanschauung, this National Socialist idea. Political soldiery is the foundation of the state.

Viktor Lutze#1

PoliticsLeadershipIdeologyHistory

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker claims German history lacks true political leadership, not military, and that the SA embodied the National Socialist worldview as political soldiers.
In plain terms
Germany missed real political leaders; the SA carried Nazi ideas.
What can you take from it?
Political vision is essential for state foundations.

Where it applies

  • historical analysis
  • political theory

Putting it to work

  • study political ideas
  • compare military vs political leadership

Questions to consider

  • Why is political leadership harder than military?
  • How do ideologies shape state structures?

Another view

The statement reflects Nazi propaganda, not objective history.

More from Viktor Lutze

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  2. In order to give conscious expression to the fostering of a valiant spirit in all parts of the German people, I further decide that this SA Sport Insignia [bad…

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  3. I must tell you first, in order to clear up any uncertainty about my own position, that I never speak primarily as a member of the S.A., but as a National Soci…

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