It is the year in which books are burnt and freedoms taken away – until the “Unity of party, state and people” and the “Führerprinzip” (Führer principle) becomes the only rule. Formerly elected club chairmen become “club leaders” and the vote of the members only counts when approved “from above”. Also the Senate of Hamburg consists of appointed senators no longer elected by the Bürgerschaft (Hamburg Parliament). At the same time, the NSDAP begin to eliminate its opponents systematically. In the first quarter of the year, more than 1,700 persons are taken into “Schutzhaft” (protective custody) in Hamburg alone. In the Grindelviertel, the centre of Jewish life in Hamburg, members of the SA literally chase after Jews.
“Just an overreaction in flush of victory”, many people say.
Timeline General
- 30 January: President Paul von Hindenburg appoints Adolf Hitler as Reich Chancellor. The NSDAP celebrates this “takeover of power” with torchlight parades.
- 27/28 February: The new rulers take advantage of the Reichstag fire to carry out mass arrests and to suspend essential basic rights.
- 5 March: In the general elections, the NSDAP misses the absolute majority (43.9%) – but, at this point, this result carries only symbolic value.
- 23 March: By passing the “Ermächtigungsgesetz” (Enabling Act), Hitler’s government is given the power to enact laws without parliament. Only 94 social-democratic MPs vote against this Act. Three months later, the Social Democratic Party is banned, eventually suffering the same fate as the Communist Party before.
- 14 July: By passing the “Gesetz gegen die Neubildung von Parteien” (Law Against the New Formation of Parties) the NSDAP is now the only legal party in Germany
[Photo]
During the Reich-wide “Judenboykott” (Nazi boycott (of Jewish businesses) (here: in Hamburg), members of SA and SS hinder pedestrians from entering shops, medical practices and law offices run by Jewish citizens.
Timeline Hamburg
5 March: In the general elections, the NSDAP becomes the strongest party in St. Pauli also (Communists: 32%, Social Democrats: 24%).
- 15 May: In the Reich-wide “Aktion wider dem undeutschen Geist” (Action Against the Un-German Spirit), the works of authors such as Karl Marx, Thomas Mann, Erich Kästner and others are burnt at the Kaiser-Friedrich-Ufer in Hamburg-Eimsbüttel.
- 16 May: NSDAP-Gauleiter Karl Kaufmann is appointed as Reich Governor.
- 4 September: The concentration camp (KZ) Fuhlsbüttel is opened within the buildings of Fuhlsbüttel prison.
[Photo 1]
NS-Propaganda at the Mönckebergbrunnen: Senator von Allwörden promotes the Winterhilfswerk (Winter Relief)
[Photo 2]
As “Reich Governor”, Karl Kaufmann shall execute the will of the “Führer”.
Timeline Persons
- May: Wilhelm Koch is re-elected as “club leader” and (by the commissioner to the “Reichssportführer” (Reich sport leader) officially approved.
- 7 March: After being banned from SV St. Georg, the Jewish brothers Otto and Paul Lang publish in the club journal an appeal to establish a Rugby department within FC St. Pauli.
- 30 August: “Reichsparteitag des Sieges” (Party Congress of Victory) in Nuremberg – apparently with the assistance of SA-member and later FC St. Pauli youth leader Walter Koehler.
[Photo 3]
Otto and Paul Lang