After the “takeover of power” the year before, the Nazis now work on consolidating their authority further. In the 1.5 years that followed his appointment as Reich Chancellor, Adolf Hitler and his party have not only obtained control over the media and politics, but over nearly all social areas also. The last inner-party opponents are neutralised by force. Shortly after, many Hamburgers look forward to seeing Hitler at his first longer visit to the city as Chancellor. Despite an “prohibition of kitsch” issued before this visit, cushions with swastikas, Hitler figures, “Führer drops” and handkerchiefs with his face on it are available. “It seems like the people want and need stuff like that”, a contemporary witness writes in her diary. At the same time, a new phase of persecution gets underway: besides political opponents and Jewish citizens, more and more groups of people not fitting into – in the eyes of the national-socialists – the “Volksgemeinschaft” (people’s community) such as so-called “workshies” or homosexuals are becoming a target.
Timeline General
- 1 January: The “Gesetz zur Verhütung erbkranken Nachwuchses” (Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring) enters into force. Until May 1945, more than 400,000 persons are forcibly sterilised.
- 10 June: Germany takes part in the World Cup for the first time. The Cup is won by Italy.
- 30 June: Under the guise of an allegedly planned revolt (“Röhm-Putsch” (Röhm coup)), Hitler arrests and executes his SA-chief of staff Ernst Röhm and other SA-officers.
- 9 July: The concentration camps (KZ) are put under Heinrich Himmler’s command and are staffed with SS-watch units.
- 2 August: After the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler takes over that office also and names himself “Führer und Reichskanzler” (Führer and Chancellor). The German army (“Reichswehr”) must now swear an oath on his person.
Timeline Hamburg
- July: The Hamburg branch of Jewish sports association “Schild” opens its own sports facilities at the corner Collaustrasse/Niendorfer Strasse – almost at the place where today’s training facilities of FC St. Pauli are located.
- 17 August: Hitler comes to Hamburg again and, among other, visits the Blohm & Voss shipbuilding company.
- 19 August: In a referendum on unifying the offices of Reich Chancellor and President, more than 23 per cent of the Hamburgers voters say “no” (Reich-wide average: 10%) – in St. Pauli, even more than a third vote against the proposal.
Timeline Persons
- 1934: After his graduation in economics, Otto Wolff gains his doctorate title.
- 1934: Numerous helpers give a hand to build the long-desired new St. Pauli sports ground at Millerntor. Among them are Wilhelm Koch and Peter Jürs.
- 1 December: Due to an order from the Reich sports leader, Paul Lang must stop his sports teacher’s training and is no longer permitted to work as a coach.