I became Gauleiter in 1927.

Although as a sailor I despised politics - for I loved my sailor's life and still love it today - conditions forced me to take up a definite attitude towards political problems.

What would you do if your country's welfare depended on labor? When a ship is in a storm it requires one captain.

I was member of the Diet as long as it existed, until May 1933.

I joined the Party definitely in 1923 after having already been in sympathy with it before.

I am very proud of the fact that many workers in my Gau, numerous former Communists and Social Democrats were won over by us and became local group leaders and Party functionaries.

I became Gauleiter in 1927.