Mathew Thomas

Design Grad working in Insurance | Big football fan and into other sports | Rebekah❤️

[GET A GRIP @docrussjackson]

HISTORY LESSON

The Nazi Party branded itself the 'National Socialist German Workers' Party' to appeal to working-class men. After staging massive 'pro-worker' May Day rallies on May 1, 1933, the very next day Hitler banned independent trade unions, seized their assets, and arrested their leaders.

On May 2, 1933, the SA (Storm Troopers), SS, and police occupied trade union offices nationwide in a coordinated action. They seized assets, records, and funds while arresting union leaders and officials. Contemporary U.S. State Department reports and other sources noted around 50 prominent arrests in the initial wave, including key figures like Theodor Leipart (chairman of the General German Trade Union Federation, ADGB), Peter Grassmann, and former Labor Minister Rudolf Wissell.

Many more local and regional leaders faced arrests in the following days and weeks. Large numbers endured beatings, imprisonment, or transfer to early concentration camps such as Dachau (opened in March 1933 primarily for political opponents).

Some officials were maltreated immediately, and the action extended to union banks and press offices.

This crackdown dismantled independent German trade unions (with millions of members, many aligned with Social Democrats or leftists) and replaced them with the Nazi-controlled German Labour Front (DAF). It formed part of the broader Gleichschaltung (coordination) process to eliminate independent organizations.

Over the period 1933–1945, thousands of German trade unionists, including leaders, activists, and officials, were arrested and held in prisons or concentration camps. Many suffered torture, extended detention, or surveillance after release. While outright executions of union leaders were relatively fewer in the early phase compared to other groups, many died later from camp maltreatment, disease, execution, or involvement in resistance.

The overall scale of persecution against labour organisers aligns with the regime's aim to crush independent working-class organising rather than immediately exterminate every individual.

This fits the documented pattern of political repression: by the end of July 1933, nearly 27,000 people (mostly political prisoners including communists, socialists, Social Democrats, trade unionists and left-wing activists and intellectuals) were held in early camps and detention sites.

The Nazis moved swiftly after seizing power to neutralise potential opposition from organised labor through mass arrests, violence, and forced integration into a state-controlled structure.

#JustSayin

[Tom Jamieson @jamiesont]

Keir Starmer has been a disappointment, but anyone calling him 'Britain's Worst Ever Prime Minister' in a world where Liz Truss & Boris Johnson exist must have been kicked in the head by a horse

[Politics UK @PolitlcsUK]

🚨 BREAKING: The Home Office has released immigration statistics for 2025

Overall Arrivals
- 136.6 million arrivals to the UK in 2025
- 57% were British nationals
- 809,000 non-visit visas issued (work, study, family, humanitarian)

Asylum
- 101,000 asylum claims in 2025 - down 4%
- 135,000 initial decisions made, up 56%, highest since records began in 2002
- Grant rate: 42%, down from 47%
- 64,000 awaiting a decision, down 48% in a year, 63% below the 2023 peak
- 31,000 asylum seekers in hotel accommodation, down 19%

Illegal Entry
- 46,000 detected illegal arrivals in 2025
- 41,000 arrived via small boats, up 13% on last year, 9% below 2022 peak
- Top nationalities: Eritrean, Afghan, Iranian, Sudanese, Somali

Enforcement
- 23,000 entered immigration detention, up 11%
- 9,900 enforced returns, up 21%
- 28,000 voluntary returns, up 5%
- 5,600 foreign national offender returns, up 11%

Work Visas
- 168,000 work visas granted - down 19% on last year
- 50% down from the 2023 peak
- Health & Care visas -13,000 issued, down 91% from peak
- Other skilled worker visas: 48,000, down 36%

Study Visas
- 407,000 student visas granted - down 3% on last year
- 35% below the 2023 peak
- Student dependant visas: 20,000, down 10%

Family Visas
- 67,000 family visas granted - down 22%
- Partner visas: 41,000, down 27%
- Refugee Family Reunion visas: 19,000, down 2% (route temporarily paused from Sept 2025)

Settlement and Citizenship
- 146,000 settlement grants, down 10%
- 355,000 EU Settlement Scheme grants, up 2%
- 236,000 British citizenship grants, down 13%, second highest annual total since 2005

[Mathew Thomas @MathewThomas20]

Selling 2x STANDING You Me at Six tickets for Manchester - Feb 22nd. They’re the only two standing tickets available!

Need gone asap! #YouMeAtSix #Manchester

https://t.co/ch9L5LkhFP

[NFL UK & Ireland @NFLUKIRE]

SAQUON BARKLEY JUST BACKWARDS HURDLED OVER A GROWN MAN 🚨

[Greg James @gregjames]

Hans Moleman Productions presents: MAN GETTING HIT BY FOOTBALL

[The United Stand @UnitedStandMUFC]

📅 12 years at the club, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Europa League and Community Shield winner.

🔥 Countless match-saving moments, on top of the goalkeeping world in the 2017/18 season.

🏆 Four time Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year winner.

Thank you Dave. ❤️

[The United Stand @UnitedStandMUFC]

🚨 #mufc are one of several Premier League teams monitoring Romeo Lavia. [@TyMarshall_MEN]

[Melissa Reddy @MelissaReddy_]

Recap of Ten Hag’s ‘disrespect’ of Ronaldo:
Stressed he missed tour for personal reasons
“He’s part of the plan”
Scolded press when focus was just on him leaving the friendly early
Care over his legacy
No fuss over disciplining him
Reintegrated him immediately, made him captain

[Keir Starmer @Keir_Starmer]

Britain can’t afford the Tories’ chaos.

My Labour government will provide the stability and leadership needed.

For our economy. For growth. For working people.

General Election, now.

[Charlie Morley @CharlieMorley_]

If Manchester United sign Frenkie De Jong, I will give everyone that RT's this £10

[UF @UtdFaithfuls]

This game is a shock reality for Erik ten Hag that no matter how tactically good he is, Fred and McTominay midfield will NEVER work.

Manchester United have NO midfield.

[XBOX @XBOX]

The Xbox Series X is looking a little different after a bit of love and thunder.

Follow @Xbox and RT with #ThorLoveandThunderXboxSweepstakes for a chance to win this epic Mjolnir-themed Series X. Best of luck!

Ages 18+. Ends 7/21/22. Full rules here: https://t.co/1KilI1KnGy

[Rio Ferdinand @rioferdy5]

What’s the point of VAR…. 💩

[ODDSbible @ODDSbible]

Sancho to Man Utd took about two years whilst Ronaldo took about two hours…

Ronaldo to Sancho on the first day of training:

[Gary Lineker @GaryLineker]

Someone’s taking the piss with this lot in my dressing room. Think I’ll pass.

[Prif Weinidog 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @PrifWeinidog]

Pan mae gen ti gyfarfod am ond mae Cymru'n chwarae...

When you've got a meeting but Wales are playing...

C'mon @Cymru! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
#WAL #EURO2020

[Gary Lineker @GaryLineker]

Oh hay fever, do f**k off.