The Nuremberg Rallies

Question 1

Why Nuremberg?

Answer 1

1. Hitler wanted to link the Nazis to the glories of Germany’s past.
2. Nuremberg was an important medieval city.
3. The first official rally was held here in 1927 and was attended by 30,000 SA, SS, HJ.
4. Hitler made speeches condemning Weimar and the Nazi party planned for government.
5. Between 1933-38 the rallies became much more elaborate.

Question 2

1933 ‘Rally of Victory’

Answer 2

1. The 1933 rally was the first of the monster rallies
2. 500,000 people took part and it took place in an airfield called the Zeppelin Field (11 sq. kms).
3. Hitler and Goebbels made speeches on “The Racial Question” and “World propaganda”.
4. Leni Riefenstahl made the propaganda film ‘Victory of Faith

Question 3

1934 ‘Rally of Unity and Strength’

Answer 3

1. The 1934 rally is the best remembered of all the rallies.
2. Promoted the Fuhrer cult;
3. Hitler’s followers were encouraged to think of him as a demi-god and much of the pageantry and ritual is quasi-religious.
4. Leni Riefenstahl filmed the entire rally and made ‘Triumph of the Will’.

Question 4

‘Triumph of the Will’

Answer 4

1. Hitler’s arrival Hitler arrives by plane through clouded skies, descending god-like to meet the adoring crowds. Wagner’s heroic music.
2. The motorcade Hitler is driven to his hotel greeted by cheering crowds.
3. Scenes from the rally The tent-city of workers and soldiers is a happy, purposeful place. Scenes and music shows blood brotherhood and male camaraderie.
4. The film is dominated by scenes showing massed rows of Nazis in half-profile mesmerised by their leader and endless swastikas, close-ups of Hitler and torch-lit processions.
5. Goebbels speaks about the importance of propaganda.
6. Loyal Ceremony of the workers the workers use their shovels as rifles and they form an army of ‘work-soldiers’.
7. Hitler reviews the troops The film shows spectacular scenes depicting the growth of German military might.
8. Hitler’s speech at the evening rally Hitler is a demagogue, able to rouse the audience with his oratory. His speech is punctuated by applause.

Question 5

1935 ‘Rally of Freedom’

Answer 5

1. Celebrates reintroduced compulsory military service
2. ‘Liberation’ from Treaty of Versailles.
3. Nuremberg laws passed
4. Leni Riefenstahl made the propaganda film ‘Day of Freedom: Our Armed Forces’

Question 6

Nuremberg Laws

Answer 6

1. Anti-Semitic laws already started before Rally
2. Nuremberg laws clearly define who was a ‘Jew’
3. Jews could not marry German citizens
4. Jews were forbidden to have sexual relations outside marriage with non-Jews
5. Jews could not employ female German citizens under the age of 45.
6. Jews forbidden to display German flag.
7. Paved the wave for widespread discrimination against Jewish people and led to the Holocaust.

Question 7

1936 and 1937

Answer 7

1. 1936 ‘Rally of Honour’ - Celebrated German occupation of the Rhineland. This was regarded as restoring German honour.
2. 1937 ‘Rally of Labour’ – noted for Albert Speer’s ‘Cathedral of Light’ display with 152 searchlights. A brother of the emperor of Japan attended boosting relations between the two countries.

Question 8

1938 and 1939

Answer 8

1. 1938 ‘Rally of Greater Germany’ – Celebrating the annexation of Austria.
2. 1939 ‘Rally of Peace’ – scheduled to take place on 2 Septmeber 1939. Cancelled because Germany invaded Poland the day before the rally was due to take place.