FYI: Blockwart in Nazi Germany

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http://www.ifz-muenchen.de/vierteljahrshefte/vfz_4_2000.html
Abstracts 
Detlef Schmiechen-Ackermann, The "Blockwart". The Lower Party Functionaries 
in the National Socialist Machinery of Terror and Control.
The "Blockwart" functioning as an intermediate between the NSDAP leadership 
and the society, are still neglected in research, although the recollections 
of eyewitnesses often described them as important in law enforcement in 
everyday life. These "little Hitlers" who numbered about two million during 
World War II, acted not only as ideological propagandists for numerous 
National Socialist organisations, but also as effective instruments of 
widespread information gathering in the neighborhoods. Examples show they 
also used their detailed knowledge of local conditions to track down Jewish 
citizens and socalled "Judenfreunde", who were later persecuted by other 
institutions. During the years of war the "Blockwart" became increasingly 
important to organizing the "inner front". They were in charge of food 
supplies for the civilian population, responsible for maintaining public 
order and keeping morale high. Overall it becomes clear that those who worked 
for the NSDAP in neighborhoods, were nothing spectacular, they were 
constitutive elements of the National Socialist persecution machine. They 
were the informers and abettors of NS terror.
    
    

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