1951
Early in 1951, the suppression of religion increased. It was announced by the propaganda minister that sermons read out by local pastors in both Catholic and Protestant churches would have to be cleared on the saturday by local Nazi officials, and on occasion the sermons would be given to them. It was estimated that 7,000 vicars and priests protested. They were all sent to concentration camps.
A dutch supporter of the movement, Jan de Vries, was sent into South Africa in March with the sole intent of taking out the South African Prime Minister, Jan Smuts who, it was believed was aiding rebel forces in the Belgian Congo. On November 2nd, he was succesful. This was seen as a great triumph for the German Intelligence Services.
The other big event of the year was the creation of the Peoples Farming Corporation, which effectively brought the occupied territories under the total control of the state. Hitler announced himself, from Berlin that Germans would benifit from German living space.
The Soviet Union staged large scale military exercises on the border of the Reich in September. It was estimated that 100,000 Soviet troops and airmen took part in the operation. The eastern frontier of the German Empire went onto high alert in fear of war. Even after the exercises finished, they had established the point once more. Germany was surrounded by enemies.