18. Nazis Steal Workers' Property

... And then I noticed that an incredible number of SS men were gathered on Herrenhäuser Allee. And then I thought they were up to something really bad. I happened to have my camera with me. And so I followed this troop after they marched from there ...

(Walter Ballhause 1984, in: Interview with Hannes Schmidt (excerpts published in: Medium, 1985, 11/12, p. 80 ff.))

18. NAZIS STEEL WORKERS' PROPERTY, APRIL 1ST, 1933

18.01 / Coming from Königsworther Platz, near Klagesmarkt

[...] and already at Klagesmarkt I took the first picture ...

18.02 / Approach in Nikolaistrasse

... and as they turned into the street to the union building, I took the second picture. They moved into this street and I next to them ...

18.03.01 / Crowd opposite the trade union building

[Photo taken: At the square of the Goseriede, view to Steintorstraße, Hanover]

18.03.02 / Crowd opposite the trade union building

March 18, 2002 crowd opposite the union building

18.04 / Raid and hoisting of the swastika flag

... And here is the entrance to the trade union building. On the right is a bookshop and on the left is gastronomy. [...] A civilian comes out of this restaurant and shoots into the air – an ordered man [...]. At that moment the SA marches past and rushes in, although there are ten Reichsbanner people sitting down here and they don't want to let anyone in. They are simply rushed over. At the same time [...] the area is also attacked from behind. This had all been organised days before.
And then they entered from the walls of the side plots and occupied the whole house. And there I was the witness ...

[Photo taken: Nikolaistraße 7, today Goseriede 4, Hanover]

18.05.01 / Combustion of the red flag

[...] Then they took down the flag, newspapers and books. What seemed unimportant to them, they burned here. [...] And here I was already being watched ...

18.05.02 / It is done – march off

... And the worst is here. These are people I met again later at the Gestapo. See how he's watching me [man with hands in his pockets]?
[...] They are all SS people."
(Walter Ballhause 1984, in: Interview with Hannes Schmidt (excerpts published in: Medium, 1985, 11/12, p. 80 ff.))

Walter Ballhause / Nazis Steal Workers' Property, April 1st, 1933 / 18.06.01 / Hoisting of the swastika flag on the house of the factory workers' association

18.06.01 / Hoisting of the swastika flag on the house of the factory workers' association

After some time, an SS squad gathered in front of the trade union house and moved to the house of the Association of Factory Workers of Germany at Rathenauplatz 3. It was stormed and occupied after closing time (after 3 p.m.). The building was also occupied because "incriminating material" was allegedly found in the trade union house on Nikolaistrasse. As in Nikolaistraße, the swastika flag was also raised on this building.
(Mertsching, Klaus, in: Die Besetzung des Gewerkschaftshauses in Hannover. 1 April 1933, Hannover 1983)

[Photo taken: Rathenauplatz 3, today An der Börse 3]