Background: 30 January was one of the major events on the Nazi calendar. The anniversary of Hitler’s 1933 takeover of power, it was celebrated with full pomp. The tenth anniversary came in 1943. Now, this was a rather challenging time. Stalingrad was surrounded, and in fact surrendered just after these festivities. However, the planners of the event (even Goebbels) were not aware of the full gravity of that situation when these plans were made. The latest date in the document is 24 December 1942, which means it was circulated in early January 1943.

This will probably provide more details of the Nazi propaganda system than most will want to know, but I provide a full translation because it is the best example I know of that shows the full organization of the Nazi propaganda system at work.

For those not interested in all those details, the most interesting part will be the suggested speech for party leaders, which was the model for thousands of speeches delivered throughout the country on 30 January. It presents a summary of Nazi accomplishments over the ten years of Hitler’s rule, presenting Germany as the innocent victim of a war forced upon it by its jealous enemies.

The source: 30. Januar 1943. 10. Jahrestag der Machtübernahme. Anweisungen des Reichspropagandaleiters der NSDAP. Zusammengestellt vom Hauptamt Propaganda (Amt Grossveranstaltungen) der Reichspropagandleitung der NSDAP. I used the copy in the Univesity of Michigan library.

Note: In the course of updating the site HTML this page was complex enough so that I didn't entirely update the page HTML. The content is correct and the page should look good, but the coding is out of date, which may in time lead to a garbled page.

30 January 1943

The Tenth Anniversary of the Takeover of Power

Guidelines from the Reich Propaganda Leader

Contents

Implementation regulations by the Head of the RPL Propaganda Staff

Guidelines:

Main Office for Propaganda (Hauptamt Propaganda)

Main Culture Office (Hauptkulturamt)

Main Office of the Reich Ring (Hauptamt Reichsring)

Main Office for Radio (Hauptamt Rundfunk)

Main Office for Film (Hauptamt Film)

Main Office for Administration (Hauptamt Verwaltung)

Agreements with other Reich offices

Distribution list

Reichspropagandaleitung der NSDAP

Head of the Propaganda Staff

Following the directive of the Reichspropagandaleiter [Goebbels], all events of the anniversary will be guided by the following theme:

In the mass meetings and other measures for the 10th anniversary of the National Socialist Revolution, the German people should again be reminded that Adolf Hitler and his movement not only rescued the nation at the last possible moment from total collapse and the German people from a threatening decline, but also brought about a national, social, economic, and cultural renaissance that towers above what the leaders of other peoples have been able to accomplish.

This history of our struggle for power, the rebuilding and securing of our national existence, and the powerful successes of our armed forces show that in the end, our Führer was always victorious, that victory followed victory. That gives us the assurance that the final decisive battle with our opponents can only end with our victory.

“We will win because Adolf Hitler leads us!”

Each citizen must leave the mass meetings and ceremonies in honor of 30 January 1943 with this slogan as his firm conviction.

In agreement with the head of the party chancellery, here are the general guidelines for carrying out the

10th Anniversary of the Takeover of Power

The following list of mass meetings, measures and other details may only be published when the full program of Reichspropagandaleiter party comrade Dr. Joseph Goebbels is released for publication to the press. The details are therefore intended only for the internal use of party offices in the Reich in order to allow the making of the proper arrangements.

The general responsibility for carrying out all events and other measures rests with party leaders, according to the directives of the Reichspropagandaleitung.

All preparations and implementation are the tasks of local propaganda leaders.

To ensure the smooth implementation of all the events planned in an area, all those involved must meet to work out the following basic details:

Planning of the mass meetings

• Planning of the mass meetings
• Securing the meeting halls
• Decorations
• Working out the expenses in cooperation with the Gau treasurer, following the directives of the party’s national treasurer (Reichsschatzmeister)
• The effective use of propaganda methods,
• Organizing community radio listening events
Organizational plan for the day of culture
• Working with the press,
• Etc.

Consistent with the significance of the day, 30 January 1943 (Saturday) will be a work-free holiday. Flags will be flown.

The ceremonies will be spread over three days under the theme:

10 years of accomplishment:

An account of 10 years of National Socialism

29 January 1943 will focus on the social achievements of the government of the National Socialist Reich.

The second day will focus on political and military successes.

The third day (31 January 1943) will emphasize the cultural achievements of the National Socialist Reich.

Specific Measures

On 29 January, party leaders along with members of the BdM [League of German Girls] will visit all hospitals and bring gifts to soldiers funded by special contributions. The nature of the gift will be determined by the Gauleiter on the basis of local resources.

The WHW [the Nazi Party charity] will deliver special allotments to the citizens it cares for, 10 RM per person. Thus, a family with three children will receive 50 RM.

Use of Propaganda Methods

The whole propaganda system will receive appropriate directives from the relevant offices of the Reichspropagandaleitung and other offices.

Regulations from the Main Office for Propaganda

The meaning and purpose of the events is to present the anniversary not as a holiday of the party, but as a holiday of the whole people. The ceremonies, community radio listening events, etc., are to be organized in a way that includes the largest possible number of people. Large meetings should be organized in a way that allows participants to spontaneously affirm the Führer and his policies.

Care should be taken to decorate the meeting rooms in a worthy manner. However, given the war, care should be taken to avoid excessive decorations. Above all, there should be no flowers on the speaker’s platform, which could give those in attendance a feeling that money had been wasted. Today more than ever, care must be taken to ensure that the decorations are in keeping with the fighting nature of the times. Thus all decorations that give the room a feminine character should be avoided.

The Gaupropagandaleiter will issue slogans for the appropriate banners for halls in which mass meetings will be held.

Costs should be agreed on according to local resources and in accord with the Gau treasurer, who will follow the guidelines of the national treasurer (Reichsschatzmeister).

Guests at events should include representatives of the state, the military, and other public bodies, as well as medal recipients and the family members of the party’s martyrs.

All invitations to honored guests should take account of the requirements of the war. Given the present paper shortage, special programs should not be printed.

It is expected that members of the party, its subsidiaries and other organized groups, will appear in uniform. They should however not march in together. Invitations to military units to participate in events should be directed to the appropriate military office as soon as possible to avoid disturbing their duties.

Foreign workers are not to be invited to the events. However, invitations to local delegations of the Federation of Fascists are welcome.

There are to be no admission fees.

In conclusion, local groups in particular are reminded of the following obvious principles:

The Gaue, counties and local groups as well as the relevant Reich offices will conduct the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power according to the following guidelines.

On 29 January, party leaders along with members of the BdM [League of German Girls] will visit all hospitals and bring gifts to soldiers funded by special contributions. The nature of the gift will be determined by the Gauleiter on the basis of local resources.

The Gaupropagandaleiter will organize the visits in close cooperation with party leaders, the leader of the Gau staff offices (Gaustabamtsleitern), and the Gau offices responsible for caring for the troops (NSV, DRK, etc.), and the area leadership of the HJ.

The WHW [the Nazi Party charity] will deliver special allotments to the citizens it cares for, 10 RM per person. Thus, a family with three children will receive 50 RM.

The regulations have been released by the leadership of the WHW (see page 46).

Use of Propaganda Methods

The Press: Illustrated periodicals will issue special editions looking back on the social, military, and cultural successes of the past ten years. The daily press will particularly emphasize the social achievements of the government of the National Socialist Reich on 29 January 1943.

Press directives will be issued from the Berlin Reich offices (see page 45).

Radio: Along with the broadcast of the Reichspropagandaleiter’s speech at 1215, all programming will reflect the anniversary, particularly by broadcasting interesting speeches by leading National Socialists from the period of struggle. These are available from the archives of the Reich Radio Company.

Film: The film industry and the newsreel, etc., will receive directives from the Film Office of the Reichspropagandaleitung and from the Film Department of the Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda.

Speakers: All speakers will be at the disposal of the Gau propaganda offices for 29 January, and will speak at mass meetings. All speakers will receive special information from the Reichspropagandaleitung.

Poster of the Führer: A special color poster of the Führer will be issued in a large edition.

It should be hung in particularly prominent places. Every showcase should display the poster on 29 January, and it should be well decorated.

[The poster was available in two sizes, and a page lists the precise number that were to go to each Gau. A total of 593,238 of size A1 were to be distributed, and 397,280 of size A2.]

An additional poster by Dr. Schweitzer titled “One Battle — One Victory” will be distributed to the Gaue in good time.

Placing posters in public places (poster pillars, etc.), will be arranged by the Reichspropagandaleitung through the “Central Office for State-Political Poster Actions (Zentralstelle für staatspolitische Anschlagaktionen).”

The material sent to the Gaue is intended to be displayed in appropriate areas such as showcases and other suitable places.

[There follows a page listing the number of copies to be send to each Gau in two sizes, Din A0 and Din A1.]

The picture of the week, the slogan of the week, and the weekly quotation posters will also speak to the significance of the day.

The German Post Office will issue a commemorative stamp.

Details

Flags will be flown beginning at sunrise on 30 January 1943, and will be flown until dusk.

Use of Propaganda Methods

Radio: Besides the speeches, the programming will be suitable for the significance of the day.

The press: On 30 January, the daily press will emphasize political and military successes.

Besides the speeches of leading personalities, the proclamation of the Führer to the party, the German people, and the German military will be at the center. The Reichspressechef [Otto Dietrich] will issue the relevant guidelines (see page 45).

Events

Use of Propaganda Methods

Radio: The musical programming will consist of fighting songs and military music.

The press: The daily press will emphasize the cultural achievements of the Third Reich.

Guidelines for the Speech by Party Leaders to the Party Membership

on Friday, 29 January 1943

On 29 January 1943, the eve of the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power, meetings should be held in all counties and local groups, to be addressed by party leaders and speakers.

As with all other events of the 10th anniversary, the central thought should be:

“The victory of the National Socialist movement on 30 January 1933 created the foundation for the victory of the weapons of the German people in their struggle for a more, just order of life, for freedom, and for their daily bread.”

The speech should remind the German people that Adolf Hitler and his movement not only rescued the nation at the last possible moment from total collapse and the German people from a threatening decline, but also brought about a national, social, economic, and cultural renaissance that towers above what the leaders of other peoples have been able to accomplish.

This history of our struggle for power, the rebuilding and securing of our national existence, and the powerful successes of our armed forces show that in the end, our Führer was always victorious, and that victory followed victory. That gives us the assurance that the final decisive battle with our opponents can only end with our victory.

“We will win because Adolf Hitler leads us!”

Each citizen must leave the mass meetings and ceremonies in honor of 30 January 1943 with this slogan as his firm conviction for the days to come.

The following guidelines should give party leaders and speakers the basic points that should be at the center of their speeches. Each party leader naturally should adjust the material to local conditions and point out the particular achievements of the party and the National Socialist government in his area.

A. Social Accomplishments

When the Führer took power on 30 January 1933, the German people had reached economic and social depths that cannot be understood today. Over seven million of our citizens were without work and food. That meant that over 20 million Germans lacked a normal life, since each of the seven million had on average two family members to support. That means that over 20 million people could not buy what they needed to sustain life, not as much as is for example available in this fourth year of war to any citizen with a ration card.

More than that, international Jewish finance capital ruled Germany, and the leaders of political parties and labor unions were its tools. The stock exchanges of the world controlled our existence, and the Dawes and Young Plans were imposed on us by our Jewish-plutocratic enemies, the same ones that declared war on us in 1939 and whom we are fighting in the field today. Everything that the German people produced flowed into the hands of the World Jews and finance capitalists, into the pockets of the international bankers. Our people starved and perished, and saw no way out of its desperate situation.

Millions of Germans saw only one way out of their hopeless condition, namely the complete destruction of existing conditions through Bolshevization. But that was just the goal of International Jewry. Had this goal been reached. the misery would have increased beyond all bounds. Mass murder through raging terror, the terrible starvation of millions, and the physical enslavement of the rest under the whips of the triumphant Jews would have been our fate. In such total chaos, Germany would have completely perished. There would today be no German Reich, no German people, no secure German family, no happy laughter of children, no life and no future for our blood and our type.

We thank the Führer and all the unnamed and unknown fighters for saving us from that. Regardless of their personal need, despite persecution and base terror, they marched in fanatic faith in Germany, and paved the way for the nation’s decisive day, 30 January 1933.

Immediately upon taking power, the Führer began an energetic campaign against the misery and decline of our lives. Under the slogan: First a job for everyone, then the right job for each,” the campaign began for the right to a job for every German citizen. The previous years of decline had left so much poverty and decline in the government, official and private sectors that there was more than enough work to be done. Maintenance, repairs and new construction were desperately needed. What needed to be overcome was the old opinion, accepted by everyone except the National Socialists, that work could proceed only after the means of payment had been determined. The movement proceeded from the principle that labor was more valuable than capital, and that it could create wealth sufficient to allow credit to be extended to its new owners.

The first efforts went to build roads and the transportation system, building the Autobahns, apartment buildings and settlements, the maintenance and improvement of the general living conditions of our people. Adolf Hitler’s words at the beginning of the construction of the Autobahns — “German workers, begin!” — were a clear expression of National Socialist Germany’s conviction that labor, not capital (the position of the earlier Jewish-liberal-democratic system), was at the center of constructive activity. From month to month, people returned work, some who had earned nothing for years and who had been vegetating. In three years, unemployment disappeared. The growing activity increasingly led to the opposite problem. In place of a lack of work, a shortage of workers developed.

During the earlier years of the National Socialist state, our citizens made slow progress in dealing with the miserable conditions they had inherited. Until they could help themselves, the National Socialist welfare organization and the Winter Relief charity worked to alleviate the worst suffering. The Führer awakened the will to community assistance and mobilized the strength of the German heart. In place of earlier charitable activities, carried on by a small group mostly to salve their own consciences, a camaraderie that included the whole people developed. It stood ready to help any citizen, but also demanded that everyone, including those receiving assistance, develop a will to sacrifice and to achieve, and to therefore help oneself. On this foundation, a new moral order of welfare developed that is unique in the world, and helped to overcome all the misery and sorrow that the Jewish-plutocratic lands are still failing to solve due to their materialist outlook.

National Socialism’s wonderful community programs also developed from its worldview, caring for our youth, our mothers, and growing new life. The programs of the NSV [the Nazi welfare organization] include “Mother and Child,” “Mother and Youth Recreation,” “People’s Health Care,” “Youth Welfare” and the “Nursing System,” along with DAF programs “Beauty of Labor,” “Kraft durch Freude,” “Factory Health Care” and “Factory Sport,” as well as the wonderful programs to encourage the health of our youth through the HJ and the BdM, together are impressive proof of the National Socialist will for a fully new social life in our German people’s community.

The state and communal agencies followed the model set by the party with numerous revolutionary innovations of their own. The promotion of apartment and home construction, marriage loans, payments for children, educational support, and numerous similar programs gave expression to the new will for life of our National Socialist community.

The state also used the constructive opportunities it had to provide increasing care for the old and the retired through legal measures of various types. All of these accomplishments are only imaginable under the entirely new outlook on life of the National Socialist idea, which today guides our governmental and public life. The many attempts at imitation that we see by our opponents, especially during the war, are proof of the wide-reaching and exemplary impact that our social measures have had. Despite these attempts at imitation, we know that our enemies will never succeed, because they lack the necessary prerequisite, the new will, that the Führer gave us with his National Socialist worldview. This is lacking with our Jewish-plutocratic enemies.

B. The Political Successes

Of even greater, and in the context of our present battle with fate, and even more decisive significance, are the proud successes of our economic policies that the National Socialist state has demonstrated over the past ten years. Here, too, we have only the driving force of the Führer and his idea to thank for these accomplishments.

The enormous poverty we experienced before the takeover was, in the end, the work of the same enemies that we confront today on the battlefield for a second time. The terrible shortage of space that characterized our economic life gave neither German industry, agriculture or commerce the opportunity to develop the requirements of a free and independent economic life. The earth with all its riches was divided among a small group of Jews and plutocrats. They greedily held on to what they had, defending it by every means against just redistribution, even though there wes enough room and food, wealth and work for all. They wanted to perpetuate the wretched division of the world into haves and have-nots.

The First World War was a struggle of the Jews and plutocrats against a just world order. Through the Treaty of Versailles, they hoped to protect for all time the wealth they had gathered over the centuries. Thus Versailles brought no peace to Germany, only the quiet of a cemetery. A flood of new sources of unrest sprang up around the world, threatening the explosion of elemental forces.

With Adolf Hitler’s assumption of power, a new drive for order and fresh solutions began also in this sector of our people’s life. In clear recognition that there was a world-wide Jewish-plutocratic-Bolshevist conspiracy against our new Germany, it was clear that we needed to be economically independent. The Führer therefore worked to make us independent of the foreign and hostile world in essential areas. His statesmanlike genius, his political farsightedness, and his vital energy succeeded, together with our Italian friends, in mobilizing all the strengths that were necessary. One should remember how much effort it took to persuade people that unpopular and unproductive measures were in fact necessary. Building industries producing synthetic materials at first often encountered the bitter opposition of those circles that formerly had been used to thinking of things only in terms of profit and loss. From the beginning, National Socialism did not think in capitalist terms. Rather, it acted only according to this principle: What is good for our people. The fact that the enemy might cut us off from the world markets for things essential for our livelihood and for the struggle for our existence was the only guide for our actions and behavior. We can thank this principle today for the fact that, in the midst of the struggle forced upon us for our very existence, we do not depend on the good graces of the world for gasoline, rubber, and numerous other synthetic substances. In the process of guaranteeing our existence, the German economy flourished and grew as never before.

We worked just as hard to ensure the best possible food supply. The protection of farmers, the freeing of their land from Jewish-liberal control, the creation of hereditary farms, the systematic increases in production, improvements in farm and livestock management, and a forward looking creation of food reserves ensured that to the greatest possible extent, our people have an independent food supply, and that the former increasing imports of foodstuffs was reduced.

Aware that it might be necessary to defend our existence, the Führer took care to arm our people. We can thank the thoroughness of these preparations for the fact that German weapons have been always been superior on every front since the start of the war that was forced upon us. The rebuilding and reorganization of German labor and the German economy were the prerequisites for the fact of our invincibility. We have Adolf Hitler alone to thank for our national existence.

From a time when the world saw our German people and fatherland as a nation that was completely insignificant politically, a nation that had lost all concept of national honor and political independence, that had been degraded to a slave nation subject to Jewish greed and plutocratic arbitrariness, the Führer’s great statesmanship and brilliant diplomatic abilities led Germany to the highest level of esteem and respect. Today Germany is already the hope and security for many European nations. But Germany’s enemies shake with rage and boundless hatred in the face of the greatness of National Socialist governmental leadership and diplomatic strength. For more than three years, the raging, hating world of Jews, plutocrats and Bolshevists has challenged the strength of the new Germany, suffering one military defeat after another. Here, too, we have only the Führer to thank for the astonishing military achievements of our armed forces. From the total impotence forced upon us by the shameful Treaty of Versailles, Adolf Hitler led us in six short years to become the strongest power on the Continent. Conscious of a high responsibility for the eternal values of our blood, he secured our existence and saved the creative force of German accomplishment for the whole world. What he began in his struggle for power, he finishes today by freeing us from the eternal threatening danger of annihilation by Bolshevism. While Jews and plutocrats display wild lust and boundless hatred of the immortal strengths of our race, and are willing to thoughtlessly give up Germany and the whole European continent to destruction, Adolf Hitler’s unceasing energy and never tiring actions are preserving the German people and all the cultural and civilized values of Europe.

C. Cultural Accomplishments

Despite the pressing social, economic and political tasks it faced, National Socialism also proved the boundless cultural creativity of the German people in its few years of power. Freeing the press, radio, film, and stage from the rotten influence of a decadent Jewish intellectual world and its destructive principles was a cultural achievement of the first order. That is most clearly proven by those states that are hostile or even neutral toward the struggle for freedom and a happier future for our continent. They are still ruled by the spirit of Jewish subversion. National Socialism gave art back to the people, making it once again a matter for the people. Millions of our citizens who formerly took no part in German cultural life today follow every aspect of artistic activity. The stage, film and radio have become the common property of all Germans. Our working people’s comrades became familiar with the beauties of Germany’s landscape, but also with foreign nations. Art, literature and the sciences are again at the center of public interest. A world has been opened that reveals the noblest values, and fills life with new enthusiasm. In the creative force of cultural values, our people receive high ethical and deeply spiritual insights. To care for and promote such things is the most pleasant aspect of National Socialist activity. It proves that our nation has a right to exist.

If Adolf Hitler had not come to power in 1933, and with him the spirit of his idea that today is protected and encouraged by the NSDAP, there would today be no German people. The German spirit, the German creative spirit, the German nature, would have vanished from the world. Jews, plutocrats, and Bolshevists would have triumphed, and their “peaceful reordering of the world” would have wiped our people from the face of the earth.

Thus they have attacked us anew, trying to achieve with force what they did not succeed in doing with the treacherous Treaty of Versailles. Therefore we today must fight with all our strength, since if they reach their goal, it would mean the death, the complete and terrible annihilation, of us all.

At the conclusion of the speech, the military and political situation of the world should be considered, which will present the current battle as our great test of fate. In September 1939, the infamous agitation of World Jewry forced Anglo-American plutocracy into war against us. Back then, the war was a question of the freedom of German Danzig and the enslaved Germans in the Polish Corridor. Now, through the fault of our enemy, within three and a half years it has become a question of the right of the Jewish-plutocratic world to exist. It is therefore absolutely essential to mention that, in the middle of the victorious battles of his incomparable military, the Führer twice offered the enemy peace, showing the great conceivable statesmanlike responsibility and self control. The only result was that our enemy shouted even more loudly their desire to destroy Germany. Thus our opponents chose their fate, which we are called by Providence to deliver. Germany will live, and through its life will guarantee to Europe for all time its political, economic, and social freedom and order. The opposing criminal alliance of Jews, plutocrats, and Bolshevists has only one possibility for the future, namely total destruction and the wiping out of their spirit and forms of life.

The fulfillment of his struggle is also the fulfillment of the National Socialist victory for new, worthy existence for our German people in the world.

We may look to the future with confidence, for the history of our struggle for power before 1933, the unique successes of National Socialist work after the takeover, the splendid victories of our glorious armed forces and the great successes of our new political life give us absolute certainty that Adolf Hitler’s path always leads to victory. This conviction gives us the firm certainty of victory also in this final decisive conflict.

We will win because Adolf Hitler leads us!

The goal of our struggle is the same as it always was! Adolf Hitler began his struggle to improve the lives of the broad masses of our people. After the takeover, he worked ceaselessly to lay the first foundations of a socialist people’s state. The entire German people today is fighting to preserve our socialist people’s state, which is still only in its beginning due to the limited living space we had.

This war forced upon us by England and its allies, at the command of International Jewry, is the last, but also the greatest chance in the history of our people.This time, we will not let it go unused. Our victory will finally clear the way for the building of a powerful German Reich, that for which the best Germans have always longed. Prince von Eugen hoped for it. Frederick the Great fought his battles for it. Bismarck was able only to half achieve it. They all wanted a great German Reich and a strong, united German people that could finally form its life as its accomplishments and abilities deserved. That was Adolf Hitler’s goal from the beginning of his struggle. It is that for which the entire German people is fighting today.

Guidelines of the Main Cultural Office

We National Socialists celebrate 30 January each year as a day of victory and organize our ceremonies under the concept of: The Reich!

All of our ceremonies on this date are celebrations of victory, but also a time of renewed affirmation of the National Socialist Reich and the movement.

On the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power on 30 January 1943, our thoughts will go back to the period of our struggle for power, and reflect on the years of construction after 1933.

We want to recall the period of struggle particularly as a legacy for the future.

Our youth especially must never forget the legacy of the period of struggle.

The mass meetings and ceremonies that are held during this day must resound with the movement’s fighting songs.

Events

2000: Mass meetings in every district.

The mass meetings that will be held in every Gau, county, and local group will be conducted by party leaders, but should be held not as NSDAP ceremonies, but rather as assemblies of the nation.

The nature of these meetings should resemble our meetings during the struggle for power. At the center will be a speech by the party leader. If possible, only uniformed bands and choirs should participate.

Each participant should have a booklet with the texts of songs that will be sung. Here is a list of songs:

The revised second edition of the commemorative booklet “Ich kämpfe” should be presented during these events to all bearers of the Blood Order and other party awards, as well as to meritorious political leaders, above all block leaders. It should have a handwritten inscription by the Gauleiter, and be given by the relevant party leader.

[The page then lists how many copies were to go to each Gau, a total of 94,350]

Sunday / 31 January 1943

Guidelines

Sunday will focus on the cultural achievements of the National Socialist Reich and the movement.

The relevant party leader has general responsibility for preparing and conducting all cultural events. He will assign the preparation and conducting to his propaganda leader or cultural office head.

All available resources of the party’s divisions and affiliated organizations, the Labor Service’s male and female youth, and above all the NS Society “Strength through Joy” and the NS Cultural Society, should be used in preparing for and conducting of these events.

The invitations to all events come from the party leader. There must be free admission to all events.

The press service will follow the directives of the Reich Press Office of the NSDAP.

Events

NSDAP ceremonies will be held in every Gau, county, and local group at 11.

As far as possible, every Gau, county, and local group should begin its ceremony on Sunday, 31 January 1943, at 11.

A speech by the party leader of an old party member is the center of the meeting. If possible, there should also be a speech by a HJ leader who has been awarded the Knight’s Cross or the Iron Cross, First Class.

General Details

The NSDAP ceremonies will center on the thought of: “The Reich.” The HJ leader will speak on the legacy of the period of struggle for the youth.

The party will involve all its divisions and affiliated organizations in the ceremony, and therefore the entire local community. Special invitations should go to the family members of those who fell in the First World War and the present war, to bombing victims, and the family members of the blood martyrs of the movement.

The Reichsschatzmeister will issue the appropriate guidelines on finances and means.

Organization

The ceremonies on the day of the takeover of power should clearly and plainly show the strength, the power and the might of the National Socialist movement.

All ceremonies should include music.

If at all possible, the ceremonies should use uniformed bands, choirs and groups of the party and its divisions and affiliated organizations. Groups from the NS People’s Cultural Society may also be used.

The songs to be sung by the whole gathering must be led by a choir. Each participant in the gathering should have printed copies of the song texts.

The organization and decoration of the rooms should be simple and dignified.

The flags and symbols of the movement should be at the center.

Any excessive piling up of symbols should be avoided.

Material, guidelines and directives for preparing and conducting the ceremony are provided in issue # 12/1942 of the party’s archive for National Socialist Ceremonies and Recreation, “The New Community.” For further material, see issues 1 and 3 of “The New Community” from 1942, as well as earlier issues.

Public Concerts Between 1200 and 1400

If the weather is suitable on 31 January 1943, public concerts should be held at all public squares and markets everywhere in the Reich.

All available choirs, bands and music groups of the party, its divisions and affiliated organizations, the military, the police, the Reich Labor Service, factory groups, etc., should be used.

Choirs and groups of the NS People’s Cultural Society should also be used.

This is to be organized by the local propaganda leader or head of the cultural office.

The musical program should consist exclusively of marches and the fighting songs of the movement.

The local press should announce the concerts. The Reichsschatzmeister will issue the appropriate financial guidelines.

People’s Concerts of the NSDAP: “Lively Music”

Where orchestras are available, a people’s concert of the NSDAP of lively music should be organized.

The concert is to be organized by the relevant Gau or county warden of the NS Society “Kraft durch Freude.”

The preparation and conduct of the concerts as well as the preparation of their programs must be done with the agreement of the party leader or his delegate (propaganda leader or head of the cultural office).

Orchestra concerts will be announced as People’s Concerts of the NSDAP: “Lively Music,” organized by the NS Society “Kraft durch Freude.”

The People’s Concerts of the NSDAP will be financed by the offices of the NS Society “Kraft durch Freude.”

The invitations to these events will come from the party leader.

Those invited to the events should come from the groups listed below.

Free theater performances, movies, and concerts in the afternoon and evening

All theatrical performances, film showings, concerts, music shows, etc., are open by invitation of the party leader without charge to:

1. Armaments workers
2. Farmers and agricultural workers
3. Soldiers and the wounded from hospitals
4. Honored citizens and party members
5. The relatives of fallen soldiers or bombing victims

There should also be no charge for checking coats or programs.

All theaters, film theaters, and music shows are to be available for this purpose, by order of the Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda, Theater Department, the Reich Theater Chamber (see page 43), and the Reich Film Chamber (see page 42).

As far as possible theaters, movie theaters, and music shows should select items from their repertoire that are appropriate for the significance of the day. (Historical pieces about the idea of the Reich, representative operas, and classic operettas, etc., are preferred as entertainment pieces.)

Theatrical productions from the repertoire must be chosen in consultation with the Gau Propaganda Leader or the head of the Gau Cultural Office.

Appropriate existing concerts may be included in the plan.

Since it is not possible to establish country-wide guidelines with regards to already scheduled concerts, the Gau Propaganda Leader or the head of the Gau Cultural Office will make the selection.

However, these may not be used: All concerts with foreign soloists and those concerts of uncertain quality are unsuitable.

In other matters, the directives of the Music Department of the Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda (see p. 44) should be followed.

Furthermore, artistically valuable and appropriate cultural events organized by “Kraft durch Freude” or the groups of the NS Cultural Society, as well as military bands and those of the Reich Labor Service, etc., may be included. Individual decisions will be made by the propaganda leader or the head of the cultural department, as delegated by the party leader.

The Gau propaganda leader will handle all matters relating to tickets, together with the heads of his culture and film departments. The party leader will earmark tickets in advance for the wounded and recovering. Tickets should be given to local military offices for soldiers based there, and who are at home on leave. Each recipient should receive two tickets, if possible. Naturally, care should be taken to distribute all tickets. An invitation card in size DIN A 6 should be included with each ticket. They are available from the Gau propaganda offices. Text:

The text for films is on page 37.

Press announcements should be carefully prepared.

For further details, see pages 37-38.

In preparing and conducting all the events for the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power, above all for the events on Sunday, 31 January 1943, every effort should be made to assure that they become a vivid memory for the entire German people.

Guidelines from the Main Office of the Reich Ring

The Gau ring leader will work out the full program for 30 January in meetings with local rings.

The following points should receive particular consideration:

1. A ban on other meetings.

In order that the events planned for the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power are not disturbed, no party division or affiliated organization, nor any other organization, may hold an event during the period from 28 January to 1 February 1943. Exceptions can be made only by the Main Office of the Reich Ring.

2. Community listening. Community radio listening is planned for the speech to the homeland by Reichspropagandaleiter Dr. Goebbels. The DAF will make appropriate preparations for listening in factories. These will be factory meetings, introduced by brief remarks. After the speech, the meeting will close by honoring the Führer, and with the national anthem.

Restaurants and hotels are responsible for ensuring that good listening conditions prevail in restaurants.

3. Party mass meetings. Mass meetings are planned for every Gau, county, and local group on Friday, 29 January, at 2000. All groups, clubs and organizations should be available to assist.

The members and liaisons of these groups must take care to ensure that the members of their organizations attend these mass meetings.

4. Hospital visits. On 29 January, party leaders with members of the BdM will visit all hospitals, bringing special gifts. The Gau propaganda leader or the Gau ring leader will organize these visits in conjunction with local Gau offices such as the HJ, the NS-Frauenschaft [the women’s organization], and the German Red Cross.

5. Speech by the Reichsjugendführer to the German youth. The speech by the Reich Youth Leader will be heard in groups on 30 January between 900 and 930. The Reich Youth Leader, together with the Main Office for Teachers of the Reich Education Ministry will issue the corresponding directives.

6. Laying of wreaths by party leaders. Honor delegations from the NSDAP and its divisions, including the HK, the NSKOV, the Reich Veteran’s Association, and the Reich Air Wardens’ Association, will participate.

The ceremony will be simple, but dignified. Marches by formations are to be avoided.

Guidelines from the Main Office for Radio

The following plan applies to radio work.

The Zeitspiegel [a news program] will be extended by an hour (from 1800 to 1900).

A selection of reports from the period of 30 January 1933 that will show political developments in a positive form.

Specific Guidelines

Since the radio programming for the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power will be handled on the national level, there will be no opportunity to include local events involving the Gauleiter. Since these Gau events will, however, be important for this history of the party, the head of the Gau radio office should make the technical and organizational arrangements to record the events (speeches and reports). If the Gau radio office lacks its own recording equipment, it should promptly contact neighboring Gau offices to borrow the necessary equipment, and work out the details of mutual support.

All recordings of events of the 10th anniversary of the take over of power should, as usual, be sent to the Radio Office (Amt Sendewesen) of the NSDAP so that they can be added to the National Recording Archive (Reichsschallarchiv) of the NSDAP. The National Recording Archive in the Main Office for Radio of the RPL can make the recordings available at any time.

If it is necessary to have announcers, it is the responsibility of the Gau Radio Office to find suitable party comrades in their area who can serve as announcers or reporters. Neither the Main Office for Radio or the Reich Radio Company is able to provide announcers.

Films or magnetic tapes are to be secured in advance.

Technical Details

Leaders of the Gau radio offices are responsible for organizing the following communal listening events:

a) Friday, 29 January 1943, 1215: Speech by the Reichspropagandaleiter (in groups of the public and in factories).

b) Saturday, 30 January 1943, 900-930: Speech by the Reich Youth Leader (community listening).

These community listening events are to be organized well in advance. In particular, the radio receivers to be used should be tested during the preceding week to so that any problems can be repaired.

For the factory events, the radio wardens’ organization of the DAF should be involved, for the youth events, the HJ.

It is particularly important to check the equipment in restaurants in good time, so that they function properly in every restaurant. The head of the Radio Office (Hauptstellenleiter Rundfunk) or his delegate, who should be technically adept, should visit the owners of the restaurants and advise them as to the proper use of their radio receivers (avoidance of over modulation, avoidance side bands, sound controls to assure good quality).

Amplification systems used in local mass meetings should be in place 24 hours in advance so that they can be thoroughly tested.

Reports

On Monday, 1 February 1943, the heads of the Gau radio offices will notify the NSDAP’s Main Office for Radio in the Reichspropagandaleitung of the following:

1. Public reaction to the speeches by leading men on the national programs
2. Use of the relays and effectiveness of community listening
3. Number of relay facilities used
4. Number of listeners
5. Total strength in watts of all relay equipment used
6. Number, duration, title and announces of recording made
7. Particular events that occurred during the radio work
8. Recordings made of the events of the 10th anniversary of the seizure of power are to by send by Wednesday, February 3, to the Main Office for Radio, Sendewesen Office of the NSDAP. Problems should be reported.

Guidelines of the Main Office for Film

The Reichspropagandaleiter and Reich Minister Dr. Goebbels has ordered that all film theaters in the Reich be available for party events during the anniversary.

Party leaders will issue the invitations.

Admission is free.

The films currently playing will be shown. If a film theater has two or more showings on a day, only that last two showings will be used. Financial details will be issued shortly.

The Reichsfilmkammer, in agreement with the Reichspropagandaleitung, has sent a memo to its members in the Reich that outlines the duties of the theater owner in this regard.

Invitations should be printed in size DIN 6 in a number appropriate to the seating capacity:

To save paper and organizational difficulties, the invitation cards will serve as tickets.

The Gau film offices will use their mobile film trucks for free film showings in areas that do not have a movie theater. Invitations to these events will be handled in the same way.

Invitations: The Main Office for Film in the Gau propaganda offices, in agreement with the Gau propaganda leader, will distribute the invitations. They should be distributed to the following groups:

1. Armaments workers, farmers, and agricultural workers
2. The injured
3. Relatives of those who died in battle in bombing attacks
4. Soldiers and those on leave
5. Honored citizens and party members

The invitations going to groups 1, 3 and 5 should go through the local group, well in advance.

Each applicant may receive two tickets. Double sets must be avoided. For groups 2 and 4, invitations should be given to the local military offices by way of the party country offices. Obviously, care should be taken to distribute all cards and to be sure that the events are fully attended. The wounded should receive the best seats.

The head of the film office should obviously not issue more invitations than there are seats in the theater in question.

Use of the newsreel: The weekly newsreel will be shown at all events, consistent with the directives of the Main Office for Film in the Reichspropagandaleitung and the Film Department of the Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda.

Thus, a 900 meter newsreel will be released on 28 January 1943 that will have the theme: “10 years of National Socialist construction.” The 5 February 1943 newsreel is expected to cover the events of the anniversary.

Special wishes of individual Gau offices cannot be granted due to the demands of the war.

Directive of the Main Office for Administration

Details on financing these events to be paid for by the NSDAP will be covered in soon-to-be-issued directive from the Reichsschatzmeister of the NSDAP.

The Gau propaganda leaders are requested to meet with their Gau treasurers to work out the details for local events.

Reich Chamber of Film

The German Film on the Anniversary of the Takeover of Power

German film will play a role appropriate to its importance during the 10th anniversary of the day of the takeover of power.

On Sunday, 31 January 1943, the NSDAP will invite to the last two film showings of the day soldiers, especially the wounded, and working people.

The following guidelines are to be followed:

The showings will be organized by the Gau film offices of the NSDAP. The films currently on the program will be shown. The distribution companies will not charge for these showings. The films will not be subject to the entertainment tax. A directive will shortly be issued as to costs. Local offices of the NSDAP will distribute free entrance cards in the form of invitations.

Berlin, 15 December 1942

The President of the Reich Chamber of Film

i.V. Melzer

Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda

Theater Department / T 6000/11.12.42/81 5/41

Directive

to the Head of German Theater

Leader of Variety Shows

By order of the Reich Minister for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda Dr. Goebbels, all German theaters and variety shows will be at the disposal of the NSDAP on 31 January 1943. The party will invite armaments workers, agricultural workers, the wounded, the families of fallen soldiers and old party members. All season tickets already purchased tickets must be postponed. All seats in the theaters, including house seats and those reserved for the police must be made available. Those theatres with a matinee performance will make that available as well.

Theaters are asked to chose a piece from their current repertoire, in consultation with the culture head of the relevant Reich Propaganda Office in his role as head of the Gau office for propaganda of the NSDAP.

Theaters and music halls should inform the Theater Department of the Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda by 31 December 1942, Berlin NW 7, Luisenstr. 58 (citing the file number given above) of the total costs, including coat check and programs. Special rules apply to these costs.

The report must make clear whether there will be one or two performances. Please hold strictly to the deadline.

By order:

Signed: Scherzer

Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda

Music Department

Berlin, 24 December 1942

By order of the Reich Minister for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda Dr. Goebbels, suitable concerts should be available in all German cities for the NSDAP on 31 January 1943, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power.

Concerts with foreign soloists are expressly forbidden.

The party will invite armaments workers, agricultural workers, the injured, and families of those who fell in battle and old party members.

The Music Department in the Reich Ministry for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda has asked the leader of the Reich Propaganda Offices to report which concerts are suitable, and also to report on all costs, including programs and coatrooms.

City music staff are asked to get in immediate contact with the cultural expert in the Reich Propaganda Office.

By order:

Signed: von Borries

Reich Press Office of the NSDAP

Directive Nr. 20/42 / To all Gau Press Offices /Re: 30 January 1943

1. General: 30 January 1943 will be celebrated not only as a holiday of the party, but as a holiday for the entire German people. In the period around 30 January, the German press will conduct a major campaign to review the ten years of revolutionary events that are behind us, showing the German people and the world the greatness of National Socialism’s accomplishments, which we are today defending with weapons in hand against Bolshevism and Jewry.

2. Events: There will be a series of events that will provide newspapers with rich material, along with their own work.

Among other things, for example, there will be a speech by the Reich Marshall to German soldiers, and there will be significant mass meetings for the German labor force (a meeting of the Reichsarbeitskammer, factory meetings to hear Reich Minister Dr. Goebbels’s speech), local mass meetings and morning ceremonies of the NSDAP, mass choirs performing in public squares, cultural events, etc. And the WHW will distribute a special gift of money on 29 January to the citizens it cares for. It is expected that flags will be flown on 30 January 1943.

This brief listing makes clear the significance that the 10th anniversary of the takeover of power will have for each people’s comrade.

3. Journalistic preparation in the Gaue: The heads of the Gau press offices are advised to work out a plan now that covers all the details of the additional reporting that will be necessary, and the layout of the newspapers. The Gau offices should have the necessary material prepared in good time. It is recommended that articles be requested from party comrades who are able to effectively write about the political and social progress in the Gau. It is also recommended that care be taken to allow the affirmation of normal citizens for the Greater German Reich to come to persuasive expression in the Gau press. Editors are encouraged to find several citizens, soldiers and workers to express themselves in the newspapers during this period.

More precise guidelines, which will be regularly updated, will follow shortly.

The Head of the Office for the Reich Press

Signed: Lass,

Oberbereichsleiter RL

Winter Relief Charity of the German People

WHW/VI - 12.12.42/Ma/Scht.

To Gau officials of the WHW in Gau ....

RE: Special gifts on 30 January 1943

By order of Reich Minister Dr. Goebbels, each person we care for is to receive 10 RM on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the National Socialist Revolution.

Since your WHW budget included only 5 RM for special gifts for 30 January 1943, you are receiving for ..... people cared for ....... RM.

I have instructed the Giesecke & Devrient Printing Company in Leipzig to provide you the following additional vouchers:

..... vouchers for 1 RM = ..... RM

..... vouchers for 5 RM = ..... RM.

..... vouchers for 10 RM = ..... RM.

..... vouchers = ..... RM (TOTAL)

The head of the finance department should inform the printing company and me of the receipt of these vouchers. The head of the finance department is responsible for safeguarding and administering the vouchers. The leader of the organization department is responsible for distributing them.

Following the distribution plan provided by the head of the organization department, the head of the finance department will send the vouchers to county and local offices.

Heil Hitler!

By order: Signed: Wulff

Distribution List

[I’ve not translated this list]

Adjutantur des Führers

Leiter der Parteikanzlei

Parteikanzlei

Reichsleiter der NSDAP

Stabsleiter der NSDAP

Führer der Gliederungen

Führer der angeschlossenen Verbände Mitglieder und Verbindungsmänner zum Reichsring

Reichspropagandaleitung

• Chef des Propagandastabes
• Stabsleiter der RPL
• Leiter des Verbindungsstabes
• Hauptamt Reichsring
• Hauptamt Rundfunk
• Hauptamt Verwaltung
Hauptamt Reichsschule
• Hauptamt Reichsautozug
• Hauptkulturamt
• Amt Fest-, Freizeit- und Feiergestaltung
• Hauptamt Propaganda
• Amt Großveranstaltungen
• Amt Rednereinsatz
• Amt Propagagandalenkung
• Amt Propagandamittel

Reichspressestelle der NSDAP

Stabsleiter des Reichspressechefs Amt Reichpresse

Gauleiter

• Stellvertretender Gauleiter
• Gaustabsamtsleiter
• Gaupropagandaleiter
• Leiter der Hauptstelle Aktive Propaganda
• Leiter der Hauptstelle Gauring
• Leiter der Hauptstelle Kultur
• Leiter der Hauptstelle Rundfunk
• Leiter der Hauptstelle Film
• Gauorganisationsleiter
• Gauschatzmeister
• Gaupresseamtsleiter
• Gauobmann der DAF

Kreisleiter

Adjuntur der Wehrmacht beim Führer

Präsidialkanzlei des Führers

Stabsamt des Reichsmarshalls

Oberkommando der Wehrmacht

Oberkommando des Heeres

Oberkommando des Kriegsmarine

Kommandoamt der Waffen -SS

Auswärtiges Amt (Protokoll)

Reichsarbeitsministerium

Reichspostministerium

Reichsministerium für Wissenschafrt, Erziehung und Volksbildung

Reichsministerium des Innern

Reichsführer-SS

Hauptampt Ordnungspolizei

Geheimes Staatspolizei

Reichsicherheitshauptamt

Reichsicherheitsdienst

Strapoleitstelle

Kommando des Schutzpolizei

Der Höhere SS- und Polizeiführer im Wehrkreis III

Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda:

Ministerrat
Büro Staatssekretär Gutterer
Büro Staatssekretär Dr. Dietrich
Büro Staatssekretär Esser
Abteilungsleiter Propaganda

RR. Bergschmidt
RR. Dr. Wiebe
Dr. Schäffer
Referent Dietrich

Abteilungsleiter Ausland
Abteilungsleiter Auslandspresse
Abteilungsleiter Deutsche Presse

RR. Sommer
RR. Schauff
RR. Winterstein
Dr. Schaeping
ORR. Kurzbein
Referent Mülller

Abteilungsleiter Zeitschriftenpresse
Abteilungsleiter Bildene Kunst
Abteilungsleiter Film

Wochenschau Referat
Filmeinsatzstab

Abteilungsleiter Haushalte
Abteilungsleiter Musik
Abteilungsleiter Personal
Abteilungsleiter Rundfunk

ORR Sschaudinn
Sendeleiter Intendant Apitzsch

Abteilungsleiter Schrifttum
Abteilungsleiter Theater
Abteilungsleiter Fremdenverkehr

Reichskulturkammer

Reichskammer der bildenen Künste

Reichsfilmkammer

Reichsmusikkammer

Reichstheaterkammer

Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft

Prof. Benno v. Arent

Reichspostdirektion Berlin

Reichswirtschaftskammer

Wirtschaftsgruppe Einzelhandel

Wirtschaftsgruppe Gaststättengewerbe

Wirtschaftsgruppe Beherbergungsgewerbe

[Page copyright © 2004 by Randall Bytwerk. No unauthorized reproduction. My e-mail address is available on the FAQ page.]

Go to the 1933-1945 Page.

Go to the German Propaganda Home Page.