About 15,000 Jews still live in Hamburg. Despite continuously increasing dangers and ever tighter restrictions, less than one fifth of the Jewish population has emigrated since 1935. Many of them exercise sports in one of the Jewish sports associations “Schuld” or “Makkabi”; the former stating 1,200 members for Hamburg alone.
While more and more people are affected by ever intensifying restrictions, the NSDAP in Hamburg announces big plans: with the “Groß-Hamburg-Gesetz” (Greater Hamburg Law) the city’s population is trebled. Only a short time later, Reich Governor Kaufmann reveals even bigger ambitions: Hamburg – as one of five “Führerstädte” (Führer’s cities) – shall get a new face and become a so-called “Elb-Manhattan” with high buildings and a new high bridge across the River Elbe. All under the sign of the swastika.
Timeline General
- 25 March: The post ministry announces the first stamp with a Hitler portrait.
- 15 April: Jews are banned from doing doctorates.
- 30 June: For the exhibition “Entartete Kunst” (Degenerated Art), first shown in Munich, extended seizures are carried out.
- 18 August: The first benches with the note “Aryans only” are placed in Berlin.
- 5 November: In an address to the Wehrmacht commanders, Hitler speaks openly about his war and annexation plans.
Timeline Hamburg
- 1 April: The Greater Hamburg Law enters into force. Altona, Harburg-Wilhelmsburg, Wandsbek and 27 other places become part of the city. The population increases from 500,000 to 1.7 million. At the city hall, the NSDAP stages a celebration at which 30,000 people rally under the light of torches.
- 10 June: Reich Governor Kaufmann introduces plans to redesigning Hamburg with gigantic “Führer buildings”.
Timeline Persons
- 1937: FC St. Pauli’s men’s rugby team wins the regional Nordmarkliga- championship against Hamburger SV. At this point, the founders of this department have already left the club.
- 5 July: Wilhelm Koch and three other members of the board become members of the NSDAP. Their applications are backdated to 1 April.
- 1937: Upon a proposal by Wilhelm Koch, SA-sports adviser Walter Koehler takes over the office as “Jugendwart” (youth leader) from Richard “Käppen” Rudolph and Willy Kröger.
- 1937: Herbert Müller begins a job training at “Blohm & Voss” shipbuilding company, where his father is the head of the laundry.
- 1937: Peter Jürs loses his job after 12 years and finds a new one at the military administration district command.