It is the year of the Olympic Games and propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels is pulling all stops. To dispel doubts, Germany presents itself as colourful, peace loving and open-minded.
When the Games were awarded, Germany was still a republic.
“Hamburg is awaiting with joy” as well, an NS-organ writes: The “Weltkongress für Freizeit und Erholung” (World Congress on Leisure Time and Recreation) keeps the city busy. There are construction and other works all over the city. The scent of wet paint fulfils the air. The route of the parade, beginning on Wandsbeker Chaussee in the eastern part, going through Mönckebergstrasse in the city centre and ending in the Grindelviertel in the north west, is lined by more than 30,000 flag poles. The opening ceremony is decorated with a large peace dove.
Of the fact, that there are concentration camps behind these backdrops, most of the numerous national and international participants are unaware of.
Timeline General
- 7 March: German troops march into the Rhineland, a demilitarised zone between the end of WWI to that date.
- 28 July: The “Gesetz über die Hitlerjugend” (Hitler Youth Law) makes membership in the Hitler Youth (HJ) or “Jungvolk” (the HJ’s organisation for preteens) compulsory for all boys from the age of 10. However, exceptions are still possible.
- 1 August: Opening of the Olympic Summer Games in Berlin (the Winter Games were held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in February).
- 7 August: Under the eyes of the “Führer”, the German Olympic football team lose their quarter final match against Norway by 0-2. Head coach Otto Nerz is dismissed shortly afterwards and succeeded by Sepp Herberger. Hitler never watches a football match again.
- 23 November: Hamburg born author Carl von Ossietzky is retrospectively awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize for 1935. Five years before, he drew attention to the prohibited rearmament of the German army in his magazine “Weltbühne”.
Timeline Hamburg
- 23 to 30 July: More than 60 nations participate in the “Weltkongreß für Freizeit und Erholung” (see above), a part of the preliminary programme to the Olympic Games, organised by the NS organisation “Kraft durch Freude” (Strength through Joy).
Official motto of this congress: “Joy and Peace”.
- 25 July: On the “Tag des Volkssports” (Day of People’s Sport), the delegates to the congress are entertained with “Deutschem Nahkampf” and “Deutscher Gymnastik” (“German style” close fighting, gymnastics). The evening programme: a live-broadcast folk concert under the motto “Wir schlagen die Brücke” (We build the bridge). “A unique demonstration of peace” the – Nazificated as all other media – newspaper “Frankfurter Zeitung” praises.
- 29 July: More power is given to Reich Governor of Hamburg, Karl Kaufmann: Hitler appoints him as leader of the city’s government. Although Carl Vincent Krogmann, the actual mayor, stays the head of the communal administration, he is now fully dependent from Mr Kaufmann.
Timeline Persons
- Otto Wolff leaves the Reichsbahn (German Railways) and becomes head clerk for Karolus “Carlo” Otte, the economic advisor to the “Gau” (region) Hamburg. In this function, Wolff is responsible for numerous “aryanisations” of Jewish businesses.
- 28 August: The new FC St. Pauli stadium is opened with an address by Wilhelm Koch. The ceremony is used by the NSDAP as propaganda event.