Affidavit of Dr. Viktor Fenyes for the War Crimes Trials in Nuremberg
Source: Yad Vashem Archive JM 2006
The heads of the cells and companies [of the SA] were the connection to the leadership of the Party. These men could put pressure on individuals. They were the ones to inform the district and local leaders of those people who had not yet joined the party. One cannot say that there was coercion to join the party, but it is true that a large number of the rank and file joined because of the pressure and influence of cell and company heads. This was especially true for small places, because everyone knew each other and it was easy for the authorities and party organizations to apply pressure. It was also easy to find out who was a party member and who was not. The heads of companies and cells were the ones who took every opportunity to threaten anyone who did not identify with the Party that there was a place open for them in a concentration camp.
These people were especially active in the persecution of the Jews. For example in the boycott of Jewish shops. Here party members and SA were placed in uniform in front of shops to
