Johann Bussing was Chief Secretary of the Germany Territory at the outbreak of war. The Territorial Commander, Franz Stankuweit, had been in poor health for some years. The SA had been experiencing severe hindrances to its work throughout the 1930’s – For instance, when YP work was seriously hindered as all children and YP were expected to join the Hitler Youth Movement, and take part in all meetings and activities, which included Sundays. The TC was becoming increasingly worn down by the persistent vexatious complaints made about the SA by the Nazi Regime, and by having frequently to present himself to the Gestapo to answer these charges. Eventually he suffered a fatal heart attack while leading Meetings at his home town of Tilsin, in Estonia.As an aside, this is one of the many places which was part of the large Germany Territory, and which was lost to the SA for many years after WW2. How wonderful to see that the SA has now revived in that area, and is at work in Estonia again, with HQ in Tallinn.
Johann Bussing was the natural successor to the TC, yet how easily he could have pleaded advancing age as a reason not to take over Leadership in such difficult times. He was born in Essen, one of the places where the German Cadets now train, in 1878. He was a tailor, who after serving his apprenticeship obtained employment, and comfortable accommodation with his employer, in Switzerland. Here he met the SA. He had been brought up as a Catholic, but had not been a practising Catholic for many years, so his curiosity led him to visit the SA Meetings. They were a strange novelty back then, but he was impressed by their enthusiasm, sincere devotion to God, and practical Christianity, helping the disadvantaged of the town. He found a personal experience of Christ, and joined the SA. He left his comfortable situation with its good pay and prospects, and became an Officer, because the thought which had been in his mind was confirmed by the Corps Officer placing his hand on his shoulder and telling him that he should become a Salvation Army Officer.
In Switzerland, Johann met the fellow-Officer whom he would marry, and they had 2 sons. They served together in Switzerland until Johann, as a German citizen, was called up for his “National Service” in the Kaiser’s Army. After this, he returned to Switzerland, where they served God together until the outbreak of WW1. Then Johann, as a German Citizen, was obliged to serve in the German Army. He earned the Iron Cross & other awards, for such things as bravery under fire, including rescuing wounded comrades and helping to bury comrades who had been killed. He himself was wounded during WW1. All this was to stand him in good stead when he, like the previous TC, had to appear frequently before the Gestapo to answer up for the SA’s perceived misdemeanours.
On one occasion, his Service record and decorations saved him when he had been arrested by the Gestapo. He was on his way to visit an SA Home, but on arrival at the Railway Station was arrested as a spy because he had befriended some forced labourers whom he met on a train, speaking to them in their native French. Hearing about his War Record helped to convince the Gestapo that he was a brave and reliable man, and persuaded them to allow him to leave unhindered. In fact, they insisted on giving him an escort, although he didn’t want it, as Berlin was so bombed that the lack of landmarks made it very difficult to find your way around. The Officer whom he was visiting had witnessed the whole thing, and was relieved to meet him the next day. She said she wasn’t surprised though, because she had spent the whole night in prayer for him and his situation. He was not concerned about this for his own sake, but for the sake of the SA. It is largely thanks to him that the Army survived at all in Germany during WW2, yet how easy it would have been after such an event to give up, and return to your adopted homeland – Switzerland, a neutral country - and serve the Lord there in a quiet retirement.
After WW1, Johann Bussing returned to his family in Switzerland. He was highly regarded there, for his integrity and his work for the citizens through the SA – his Christianity was practical, and he had a real gift for talking and working with people. He was a real man of God, & of prayer. Influential citizens helped him to obtain Swiss Citizenship, hence the reference above to the fact that he could so easily have left the German SA to try to find another Leader in those difficult times, and live a more comfortable life while still serving God.
He said that during those “interviews” with the Gestapo, he trusted in the words of Jesus that when answering to earthly authorities he needn’t plan what to say, because God Himself would give him the words. He said that he never found God wanting. The Authorities wanted to completely dissolve the SA in Germany. Those difficult times were getting even worse by the time he became TC. Children’s’ work was already restricted, and public collections were forbidden. Officers were faced with impossibly large fines just because someone put some money in their hand while they were holding Open Air Meetings. On one occasion, the TC paid the fine himself to prevent the Officers being sent to prison. By 1941, public Open Air Meetings were prohibited, uniform-wearing was allowed only in the Army Hall or Social Home, military ranks were forbidden, & the War Cry was axed. The Army countered the last 2 by calling Soldiers “Members” and Officers “Fellow-workers”, and issuing a Newsletter to keep people in touch with Events in the SA in Germany, and with each other, as far as was possible.
How many good reasons, rather than excuses, he would have had not to take on the task, or to give it up when things became even more difficult. Yet he persevered at great personal cost – mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and in terms of his health & his family life, because he was God’s man for the hour. This leads me to think what I would do in that situation. I wish I could honestly say that I would do the right thing, as he did, but I think the truth is that I would really have taken the easy option – how about you?
If we don’t do what God wants us to do, His plan won’t be thwarted – he’ll find someone else to do it. But they won’t do it in the same way, and the particular work he wanted you or me personally to do, will remain for ever undone.
Margaret Day
Former Officer
UKT
