schwarzenegger Skull and Bones, in your face photo, page 2

Firstly just because someone was a member of the SA this does not mean they committed atrocities. I in no way excuse the actions of the Nazis but some otherwise decent people did join the Nazi Party, especially in annexed countries because it was a means of survival.

As Gustave Swartzenegger was in the Austrian Police when the anschluss was effected he would not have been able to continue in his job unless he joined the SA since the all police were merged into one Nazi group or another. Simple choice either continue in his job or lose it. We all have to make difficult compromises from time to time.

Of the choices available to him, the SA was the most ‘liberal’ for want of a better word. The SA was the most left-wing faction of the Nazi Party, this is why they were targeted in ‘The Night of the Long Knives’. Himmler, Goring and Goebbels engineered a plot to eradicate the SA, they forged evidence that ‘manufactured’ Hitler’s consent for the purge as they saw the SA, which at this time numbered a couple of million, with some 800,000 standing troops, as a threat to their own positions. Around 75 of their leaders were murdered in the NOTLK, which pretty much castrated their power. It is estimated that a further 400 of their more socialist supporters were killed, including Gregor Strasser, early benefactor of both Himmler and Goebbels.

At the Nuremberg Trials, both the SD and SS were found guilty of being a ‘Criminal Organisation’, the SA were found not guilty and evidence suggested that they were to a large extent victims of the Nazi regime. In my opinion unless Swartzenegger participated in any particular atrocities, of which there is no evidence to suggest that he did, he can hardly be blamed for making the decision to keep his job.

Arnold Swartzenegger actually approached the Simon Wiesenthal Center himself when allegations of his father’s past surfaced and asked them to investigate. They found no evidence and if anyone could have it is these guys.

I am no huge fan of Arnie, but I do not believe that every person in the Nazi Party was evil, some simply did the same job that they did before the war but with a different uniform. It was a unique period in history and many people had to make difficult choices. As they say ‘there but for the grace of god go I’.

Secondly the Death’s Head was the SS and SD, not the SA and there is a big difference. The Death Head that Dr Love posts was the SS emblem, the SD which was originally Hitler’s personal bodyguard differed in that it faced front and had no lower jaw.

The Bush family are a different kettle of fish altogether as without Prescott (and other notables) the Nazi war effort never would have been possible.

(11Bravo I’m not ignoring your question but I just needed to get that off my chest first, I will get back to you on that later on this evening as it takes a bit of thought on my part and I haven’t got time just now)