Heinz Lohmann
A memoir of radicalization, street politics, and activism during the turbulent years of the German Weimar Republic, SA Cleans Up! captures the emotional intensity, desperation, and ideological fervor that animated an entire generation shaped by defeat in war, economic collapse, and political chaos to engage in a struggle to recast their destiny.Heinz Lohmann, a promising young medical student, traces his journey from restless Prussian teenager to dedicated, full-time activist of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the notorious National Socialist paramilitary that was instrumental in defending its public rallies from leftist thugs. He recounts violent clashes with Communists and Antifa, inspiring encounters with the early National Socialist leaders and military heroes, and the relentless struggle for influence among the working class-the most desirable, and powerful, of sympathizers.SA Cleans Up! offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into how National Socialism propelled itself to unprecedented electoral and cultural success. Lohmann’s prose is energetic and urgent, permeated throughout by his lived experience as a man on the ground. This firsthand account of the National Socialist ascension to power answers the most elusive of revolutionary questions: what does it take to capture the heart of a nation in distress?Antelope Hill Publishing is proud to present this book in English for the first time, fully preserving the colorful tone and expert rhetoric of the original 1933 text.
