Instructions to Nazi Speakers: 1941-1943

Background: The Nazi Party depended heavily on speakers to get its message across. Those speakers needed to be informed. The material in these guidelines was translated into thousands of individual speeches delivered in every part of Germany. I find it particularly interesting since it makes clear that the central themes of propaganda were at various times.

This is a collection of translations from the Redner-Schnellinformation, irregular bulletins sent to Nazi speakers with instructions on how to handle particular issues. They were issued by the Reichspropagandaleitung, the party’s propaganda office and were headed with the phrases “strictly confidential!” and “restricted!”

The numbering and name changed sometime early in 1944. In my collection, #71 is followed by an unumbered issue dated mid-February 1944. The last issue I have is #13 of 1944, now titled Redner-Schnellbrief. I do not know when the name changed, nor how many issues appeared. The only one I have found is Nr. 13.

Source: Incomplete runs of these are available at the Bundesarchiv in Berlin, the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek in Leipzig, the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, and U.S. National Archives microfilm series T-81, reel 683. The National Archives material was returned to the German Federal Archives, but I don’t know their signatures. I would be happy to add translations of the issues I have not seen. Scans, if you have them, would be appreciated.

Speaker Express Information (1941-1944)

Explaining Soviet resistance: (#19, September 1941).
On POWs and stock speculation: (#22, November 1941).
On Christmas supplies and church bells: (#23, November 1941).
The crisis in the East, cuts in the food ration, and language guidelines (#24, 4 January 1942).
Current events, be polite: (#25, 14 February 1942).
What to say about the USA: (#26, 21 February 1942).
Frostbite, typhoid fever, and Soviet POWs: Speaker advice (#27, 21 February 1942).
Current propaganda campaign, make no predictions (#28, 14 March 1942).
On cuts in food rations: Presenting unpleasant news (#29, 16 March 1942).
Victory at any price: Also some interesting miscellaneous items (#30, 16 April 1942).
Hitler’s speech of 26 April 1942: Follow the ideas of the Führer (#31, 26 April 1942).
On renewed bombing attacks on England (#32, 30 April 1942).
The Allied press and the word “propaganda”: On FDR and the Allies (#34, 15 May 1942).
Soviet POWs in Germany: How to deal with them (#35, 15 June 1942).
Tobruk!: Things are going well in Africa (#36, 27 June 1942).
Current events, battle in the East: (#37, 15 June 1942).
Avoid building false hopes of quick victory: (#38, 25 August 1942).
Consumer energy use during the War: (#39, 26 September 1942). I have this issue but am not planning to translate it. If it is of particular interest to you, let me know and I can supply a copy.
Even Americans think Germany can win the war: (#40, 30 September 1942).
The military situation in October 1942: (#41, 23 October 1942).
No armistice with the USSR: (#42, 23 October 1942).
On enemy propaganda: (#43, 26 October 1942).
On a speech by Wendell Willkie: (#44, 3 November 1942).
The fate of German POWs: The Allies treat them badly (#45, 4 November 1942).
Enemy plans to annihilate Germany: (#46, 6 November 1942).
British foreign policy: Excerpts from a British magazine (#48, 28 November 1942).
The Beveridge Plan and German U-boat successes: (#49, 28 December 1942).
Introducing total war measures: (#50, 30 January 1943).
The anti-Bolshevist propaganda campaign: (#51, February 1943).
Our life style need not become primitive: Women can still look good (#52, 17 March 1943).
On meetings for party members: (#53, 23 March 1943).
On referring to enemy leaders: Don’t make them look important (#54, 1 April 1943).
Hitler’s Birthday 1943: Hitler as the great anti-Bolshevist (#55, 12 April 1943).
Katyn!: A Russian war crime makes for effective propaganda (#56, 3 May 1943).
On the Jews: Spreading anti-Semitic hatred (#57, 5 May 1943).
A reduction in meat rations: Explaining an unpopular measure (#58, 12 May 1943).
“Twilight of the Jews”: Even more vehement rhetoric (#60, 18 May 1943).
The End of the African Campaign: Another lost battle (#61, 18 May 1943).
The German labor force: The Allies have more people, but Germany has quality (#62, 8 June 1943).
On meetings for party members: (#63, 28 June 1943).
Building confidence in victory: Germany will win (#64, August 1943).
Emergency measures regarding the air war (#65, August 1943). I have this issue but am not planning to translate it. If it is of particular interest to you, let me know and I can supply a copy.
The island battle of Sicily: A great victorious retreat (#66, late August 1943).
On Allied bombing: Win first, then rebuild (#67, September 1943).
The Eastern Front: Germany, supposedly, is winning (#68, 12 September 1943).
On treasonous Italy: Italy is getting what it deserves ( #69, 22 September 1943).
Re-activating the Nazi Party: Increasing the war effort (#70, 5 October 1943).
Women’s meetings: Ways to motivate and handle problems (#71, October 1943).
Lord Vansittart and carpet b ombing: British plans for Germany (Mid-February 1944).
Redner-Schnellbrief, Nr. 13: Short bits of advice (End of April 1944).

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