Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression (8) Abteilung Deutsche Presse (German or Home Press
Department). This department was headed by Fritzsche until
he was relieved in 1942 to take charge of the Radio
Division. It was responsible for political control over the
entire German press; it controlled the editorial policy of
the press and its personnel (through the Reich Press
Chamber), and supervised the dissemination of news through
the official German News Agency (DNB). The Home Press
Division outlined the editorial policy o all newspapers and
the comment of editors and journalists in its daily
directives. (Tendenz berichte). These dealt with the
[Page 336]
daily contents of the paper, the methods of treatment of
news material, the writing of headlines, the preference for
or omission of certain items, and the modification or
cessation of current campaigns. The directives were issued
to the representatives of the press in person or sent
through the facilities of the DNB to the local papers. (2434-
PS; 2529-PS)
The Home Press Department of the Propaganda Ministry had an
important participation in administering the provisions of
the Editorial Control Law, which made the profession of
editor "a public task, which is regulated as to its
professional duties and rights by the state." That law also
included requirements for admission to the profession and
other elaborate controls. (2083-PS)
(9) Periodical Literature. This department supervised German
periodical literature in the same manner as the Abteilung
Deutsche Presse controlled the daily press.
Other divisions exercised supervision over the Theatre
(selection and supervision of the entire dramatic production
and influencing the programs of all German Theatres); the
Arts; Music ("the entire cultural and political leadership
of German musical life"); Special Cultural Tasks ("This
department serves mainly to eliminate all Jews from German
Cultural life"); and Foreign Tourists. (2434-PS)
A large organization of faithful Party followers was
recruited to discharge the manifold functions of the
Propaganda Ministry. The staff numbered 1000 persons in 1939-
1940. In the words of Mueller:
"It is no accident; therefore, that the great majority
of the official workers and other personnel of the
Ministry consist of reliable National Socialists of
which almost 100 are bearers of the Gold Party Pin."
(2434-PS)
C. The semi-autonomous professional organizations
Reichskulturkammer (Reich Chamber of Culture).
The Reich Chamber of Culture was set up in September 1933 to
control (under the supervision of the Propaganda Ministry
and within the framework of general policy directives issued
by that activity) personnel engaged in all fields of
propaganda (2082-PS). Its tasks as described in the First
Executive Decree of the above law, dated 1 November 1933,
were:
"To promote German culture as responsible to the people
and the Reich, to regulate the social and economic
relations of the different groups in the cultural
professions and to coordinate their aims." (2415-PS)
[Page 337]
The Reichskulturkammer was a so-called "Nachgeordnete
Dienststelle" (Subordinate office) of the Propaganda
Ministry. Together with its subordinate Chambers it was
charged with supervising all personnel active in any field
under the jurisdiction of the Propaganda Ministry. All
persons employed in the cultural professions were obligated
to register with one of the subordinate Chambers. The
Chambers were also responsible for investigating the
activities and political reliability of their members.
Moreover, power was given to Chambers to prosecute members
offending against Nazi standards or persons pursuing their
occupation without being duly registered.
The punitive powers included, expulsion from membership, which was
tantamount to the loss of livelihood. The Chambers were also
given power to issue directives, which had the validity of
law, regulating the cultural activities under their control
(2529-PS). The President of the Chamber of Culture was the
Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, who nominated the
Vice-Presidents. In 1937, the latter consisted of Walter
Funk, Max Amann (Reich Leader of the Press) and Leopold
Gutterer (Secretary of State in the Propaganda Ministry).
The Chamber of Culture was divided into seven functional
chambers;
(1) Reichspressekammer (Reich Press Chamber). Max Amann was
president of this chamber, which was, to a greater extent
than the other chambers, a loose association of technical
bodies and organizations, such as the Reich Association of
German Newspaper Publishers. It integrated the activities of
these groups and, through the composition of its governing
body, ensured close coordination with Party and State
propaganda machinery. (2529-PS; 3016-PS)
(2) Feichskammer der bildenden Kunste (Reich Chamber of Fine
Arts). This chamber supervised the activities of all
architects, interior decorators, landscape gardeners,
sculptors, painters, draftsmen, art publishers, etc. By
1937, all other art groups and associations had been
dissolved, and all their members "obligated by profession"
to join this chamber. (2529-PS)
(3) Reichsmusikkammer (Reich Music Chamber). This Chamber
was organized to "oversee the practice and activity of
musicians in their cultural, economic, and legal
relationships with the world. *** in order that music will
still remain a prized possession of the German people."
(2529-PS)
(4) Reichstheaterkammer (Reich Theater Chamber). The
Theater Chamber was the professional organization for the
entire field of the professional theater. Its purpose was to
super-
[Page 338]
vise and promote the "cultural, social and economic
conditions of the professions which it includes". Actual
censorship of stage production was the responsibility of the
Reichsdramaturg. (2529-PS)
(5) Reichsfilmkammer (Reich Film Chamber). The primary
function of this Chamber was to lift the film industry "out
of the sphere of liberal economic thoughts" by giving it a
sound economic foundation and thus enable it to "receive
those tasks which it has to fulfill in the National
Socialist State". (2529-PS)
(6) Rechsschrifttumskammer (Reich Chamber of Literature).
The Chamber of Literature had jurisdiction over all persons
concerned with the "basic production" (writing and
publishing) of literature. Its task was to protect writers
"from undesirable elements" and to keep out of the book
market everything "unGerman." It had the further function of
bringing literature to the people and making the writer more
"aware of his duty to the nation." Primary responsibility
for critical evaluation and censorship of literature
however, was left to the Propaganda Ministry. (2529-PS)
(7) Reichsrundfunkkamer (Reich Radio Chamber). The official
gazette of the Reich Culture Chamber stated that the radio
was the most immediate propaganda instrument of the National
Socialist leadership; that the ideal and cultural life of
the nation could be shown "totally" in and through the
radio; and that since the radio constituted the most
important technical means of influencing the masses it was
necessary to establish a close tie between the radio and the
Party.
Functions of the Radio Chamber included: mobilizing of all
technical possibilities of broadcasting, bringing the people
closer to radio, planning the manufacture of cheap receiving
sets, and propaganda in connection with the drive for new
listeners. (2529-PS)
The original plaintext version of
part
one or
part
two of this file is available via
ftp.
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Volume
I Chapter VII
Means Used by the Nazi Conspiractors in Gaining Control of the German State
(Part 51 of 55)