Figure 1.--It pictures President Himdenburg reciving flowers from a Hitler Youth boy on May 1--the first official celebration of May Day in Germany. This was a typical NAZI action. German workers for years had been demanding an official May Day celebration. It was Hitler who finally gave it to them and at the same time took away their free trade unions. I'm not sure where the phitoigeaoph was taken. The image here was a trade card made in 1933. T here was text on the back of the card advertising a book of photographs--"Deutschland erwacht" (Germany Awakes). The photographs were taken by NAZI photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. There is a message on the back. Put your cursor on image to see the back.

The photograph here pictures President Himdenburg reciving flowers from a Hitler Youth boy on May 1--the first official celebration of May Day in Germany. This was a typical NAZI action. German workers for years had been demanding an official May Day celebration. It was Hitler who finally gave it to them and at the same time took away their free trade unions. The image here was a trade card made in 1933. There was text on the back of the card advertising a book of photographs--"Deutschland erwacht" (Germany Awakes). The photographs were taken by NAZI photographer Heinrich Hoffmann.

President Hindenburg

President Hindenburg ean for a second term as president (March-April 1932). Hitler chalenged him and ran an active campaign stressing his youth and modernity in comparison to the ageing Hindenburg. The SDP and moderate parties who opposed him in 1925, supported him this time as the savior of the Republic. After defeating Hitler, however, he fired Chancellor Brüning who was prepared to resist Hitler. And after appointing two weak chncellors, he finally caved into SA violence and appointed Hitler chancellor (January 1933). And even after presenting himself as a supporter of democracy, he failed to oppose any of the decrees and laws issued by Hitler to destroy denocracy and impose a dictatorship. Historians generally credit Hindenburg's age and thereare reports of senrlity. It is notable, however, that Hindeburg stood up to Hitler on one issue--the SA Commnder Röhm's threat to the Reichswehr. Thus while Hindenburg did not defendc theRepublic, he did defend his precious army.

May Day

There were two meanings of May Day in Germany. Tere were spring feastivals celebrated in small towns and villiages. There was also the day celebrating labor--Tag der Arbeit. The photograph here pictures President Himdenburg reciving flowers from a Hitler Youth boy on May 1--the first official celebration of Tag der Arbeit in Germany. This was a typical NAZI action. German workers for years had been demanding an official May Day celebration. It was Hitler who finally gave it to them and at the same time took away their free trade unions.

Hindenburg and Hitler

President Hindenburg was in his 80s and in poor health. Intimates began to see signs if senility. Befcause of his health, he made few public appearances. Hitler was, howver, very careful to accompany Hindenburg when ever he did appear. Wedon't see Hitler in the photograph here, but he probably was there. It was clear that Hundenburg was in failing health and Hitler perceived that appearing with the ageing Hindenburg was creating an important oybkic image of continuity. Hitler's behavior at these joint appearance was also carefully calculated. He did not attempt to usurp the spotlight. Rather he was extremely diferential to President Hindenburg. He also dressedfor the part, often wearing a top hat and frock suit--the only time you see him dressed like that. The respect that Hindenburg gave to Hindenburg in public was in sharp contrast to his personal opinion. He despised President Hindenburg and eferred to him as the "the old reactionary". He couldn't wait for him to die so he could complete his seizure of power. He was very careful, hiowever, not to let his disdain show in his public appearances.

Hitler Youth

The Hitler Youth was still a fairly small youth group until 1933 when men=mbership jumped from 0,1 million to 2.3 million. Membership did not reach 5 million until 1936. The boy presenting the flowers is in a Hitler Youth uniform, although he seems rather young. Membership was not yet mandatory. The rolls did not begin to reach really large numbers untill 1935. The boy is not wearing the black shorts that were to become standard for the HJ.

Deutschland erwacht/Germany Awakes

The image here was a trade card made in 1933. There was text on the back of the card advertising a book of photographs--"Deutschland erwacht" (Germany Awakes). A reader has kindkly translated the text for us.

German text

Sammelwerk Nr. 8. Deutschland erwacht.

Werden, Kampf und Sieg der NSDAP.

Bild Nr. 129. Gruppe 28

Hitlerjugend grüßt den Generalfeldmarschall am Tage der Arbeit 1.Mai 1933.

Zu dem in Leinen gebundenen Sammelwerk Nr.6: "Deutschland erwacht" gehören die Bildergruppen 28, 29, 30. 31. 32, 33. Einband und Buchschmuck wurden von dem SS-Obersturmführer Felix Albrecht, die textliche Ausgestaltung von Wilfrid Bode, dem Verfasser des Werkes "Die SA erobert Berlin", geschaffen. Der Reichs-Bildberichterstatter, Heinrich Hoffmann, stellte das reichhaltige Bildmaterial zur Verfügung und unternahm die künstlerische Durcharbeitung der Reproduktionen. Die zahlreichen in dem Buch enthaltenen ganzseitigen Abbildungen und das Panorama der Standartenweihe während des letzten Reichsparteitages 1933 vermitteln mit überwältigender Wucht die Größe der Ereignisse unserer Tage.

Die bis jetzt von uns herausgegebenen Sammelwerke sind auf der Rückseite unseres Bilderwerks aufgezählt.

Weitere Werke sind in Vorbereitung.

English translation

Collective work # 8. Germany awakes.

Origin, struggle and victory of the NSDAP [National Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei (National Socialist German Workers Party]

Picture # 129. Group 28.

Hitler youth greets General Field-Marshall on Labor Day May 1st 1933

The groups of pictures 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 belong to the cloth-bound collective work # 6: "Germany wakes up". Cover and book decoration were created by SS-Obersturmführer Felix Albrecht, text design by Wilfrid Bode, the author of the work "The SA conquers Berlin". The Reich photo reporter of the NSDAP, Heinrich Hoffmann, made the extensive photo material available and took care of the artistic corrections of the reproductions . The numerous full-page pictures in the book and the view of the consecration of the standards during the last Reich party ralley 1933 convey an overpowering impact of the magnitude of the events in our days.

The until now published collective works are mentioned on the back of our pictorial works.

Further works are being prepared.

Nazi-era Cigarette Cards

Collectable cards were issued by a variety of companies. By far the most common were cigatette cards. Cigarette cards were sold in many different countries, but nowhere were thet more popular than in Germany. They were so popular that people bought albums to display their collection. Collecting a complete set was complicated as one often got cards they already had when they purchased a pack of cigarettes. One German company solved this problem by putting cupons in the cigarette packs rather than the actual cards. This way the customers could semd in the cupons and get a complere set as well as an album to hold the cards. The whole subject of cigarette cards is an interesting one. We have not yet addressed this topic in detail. We do notice some of the cards issued during the NAZI era which is interesting because the NAZIs with their penchant toward health, discouraged smoking.

Heinrich Hoffman (1885-1957)

The photographs were taken by NAZI photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. Heinrich Hoffmann was born in Fürth (1885). The family business was ophotograohy and was known for portraits of royaly. We know nothing about his childhood. Hoffman open a studio in Munich before the World war I (1910). During the War he was a photograher with the Bac=varian Army. He was an early recruit to the NAZI Party (1920). Hitler chose him to be the Party's official photographer. Hoffman took an estimated 2.5 million photographs of Hitler. Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels is most associated with propagating the public image of Hitler and the NAZIs. Hoffman may have played an even more important role in creating Hitler's public image. He was more than a photographer, but became a personal friend of Hitler. Once Hitler seized control of Germany (1933), Hoffman's photographs became wideky distributed. They were used for postage stamps, postcards, posters and picture books, like the image here (figure 1). Hoffmann's suggested to Hitler that they both hould receive royalties. As the images were used for postage stamps as well as widely dustributed publications, the royalty payments were substantial. Hoffmann married Therese "Nelly" Baumann (1911). They had two children. Henriette ("Henny") was born (1913). Heinrich ("Heini") was born (1916). Henriette married Reichsjugendführer (Hitler Youth Leader) Baldur von Schirach. Hoffman photographed many HJ events and activities. Von Schirach wrote the introductions to many of Hoffmann's photographic books. Therese Hoffmann died suddenly (1932). Hoffman during the Third Reich wrote several richly illustrted books on Hitler. Two of the best known are: The Hitler Nobody Knows (1933) and Jugend um Hitler (1934). He was especially productive in 1938: Hitler in Italy, Hitler befreit Sudetenland, and Hitler in seiner Heimat. He wrote his last book in 1939, shortly before World War II broke out: Das Antlitz des Führers. I am not sure why he did not continue his works on Hitler during the War. He married Erna. It was he abnd Erna who introduced Eva Braun to Hitler. She was working in hos Munich studio. TheCAllies arrested Hoffman after the War. He was tried and found guilty for NAZI profiteering. He was senteced to a 4 year prison term. He was released and returned to Munich (1950). He died at the age of 72 (1957). The United Statesseized an archive of his photographs which are now in the collection of the National Archives.

Created: 7:46 AM 8/6/2008
Last updated: 7:46 AM 8/6/2008