Goebbels: A Biography (112 page)

66.
Riefenstahl had written a letter to Hitler in May 1932 and then later met him personally. Kinkel,
Die Scheinwerferin
, 40f. The account of this meeting is based on Riefenstahl,
Memoiren
, 154ff. During the following months she was filming abroad.

67.
On the Strasser crisis, see Reuth,
Goebbels
, 244ff.; Schulz,
Brüning
, 1040f.; and the reports in
Der Angriff
, 9–12 December 1932, and in the
VZ
, 12 December 1932.

68.
Kissenkoetter discusses the contents of the letter in
Strasser
, 172, on the basis of a surviving draft. On these events, see also
VZ
, 9 December 1932, “Konflikt Hitler-Strasser”;
VZ
, 10 December 1932, Konrad Heiden: “Schach oder matt? Gregor Strassers Rebellion” (editorial).

69.
TB, 9 December 1932.

70.
Tägliche Rundschau
, 10 December 1932, “Die Vorgänge in der NSDAP” (headline).

71.
TB, 9 December 1932.

72.
TB, 10 December 1932.

73.
TB, 11 and 13 December 1932;
Der Angriff
, 9 and 12 December 1932.

74.
On the reorganization after Strasser’s departure, see Paul,
Aufstand
, 76f.

75.
TB, 14 December 1932, also 13 December.

76.
TB, 24 December 1932–1 February 1933. See also Reuth,
Goebbels
, 246f.

77.
TB, 13 January (Hitler was with Magda) and 20 and 23 January 1933 (with Hitler in the Clinic).

78.
Salzuflen (4 January 1933), various places on 9 January and (after a short trip to Berlin) between 10 and 14 January in Detmold and in various other places. On the election campaign in Lippe, see also Reuth,
Goebbels
, 248f.; Ciolek-Kümper,
Wahlkampf in Lippe
.

79.
TB, 10 January 1933. 21 December 1932 was the first diary entry in which Goebbels indicated that he was no longer tolerating the Schleicher government.

80.
TB, 13 January (quotation) 1933, 14 and 15 January 1932.

81.
Der Angriff
, 16 January 1933.

82.
TB, 17 January 1933. On Hitler’s negative comments on Strasser, see TB, 20 December 1932 and 1 January 1933; see also 22 January 1933.

83.
TB, 25 January 1933.

84.
TB, 26 January 1933.

85.
TB, 28 January 1933.

86.
TB, 28 and 29 January 1933.

87.
TB, 30 January 1933.

1.
TB, 1–5 February 1933.

2.
Akten der Reichskanzlei, Regierung Hitler
, Karl-Heinz Minuth (ed.), no. 21; Bracher, “Stufen der Machtergreifung,” 45ff.; Kershaw,
Hitler 1936–1945
, vol. 2, 555ff.

3.
TB, 1 February 1933.

4.
TB, 23 January, 9 August 1932.

5.
Kaiserhof
, 22 January 1932 and 8 August 1932; Reuth,
Goebbels
, 269f., already made this point.

6.
TB, 3 February 1933.

7.
TB, 2 February 1933. Such rumors can be confirmed for February from other sources: Diller,
Rundfunkpolitik im Dritten Reich
, 76;
FZ
, 2 February 1933, 2nd ed. (M), “Gerüchte über Dr. Göbbels
[sic]
”: According to this the Berlin evening newspapers had spread the rumor that he would be appointed radio commissar and also it was said that he would be made police president of Berlin. Both rumors were, however, officially denied.

8.
TB, 6 February 1933.

9.
TB, 10 February 1933.

10.
Kaiserhof
, 7 March 1933.

11.
On the newspaper bans above all of communist and Social Democratic papers, see the reports in the
FZ
in February 1933; TB, 16 February 1933: “Newspaper bans are coming thick and fast.
Vorwärts
and
8 Uhr
. Terrific!”

12.
TB, 6 February 1933;
Der Angriff
, 6 February 1933, “Berlin trauert um Sturmführer Maikowski und Schupowachtmeister Zauritz”; Reuth,
Goebbels
, 256.

13.
TB, 5 February 1933; the funeral oration is published in Heiber (ed.),
Goebbels Reden
, no. 10.

14.
TB, 10 February 1933.

15.
TB, 11–24 February 1933.

16.
TB, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 21 February 1933.

17.
TB, 16 February 1933.

18.
TB, 14 February 1933.

19.
TB, 15 February 1933.

20.
TB, 21 February 1933. According to this, financial difficulties recurred because the flow of money took time to get under way: 26 and 28 February 1933.

21.
Paul,
Aufstand
, 111ff.

22.
See Diller,
Rundfunkpolitik
, 65ff.;
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 17, Niederschrift über die Ministerbesprechung vom 8. Februar 1933; Hadamovsky, “Großkampftage der Rundfunkpropaganda”; this was already mentioned in Reuth,
Goebbels
, 259.

23.
Heiber (ed.),
Goebbels Reden
, no. 11; TB, 10 February 1933.

24.
TB, 11–25 February, 2, 3, and 5 March 1933. His appearances can be followed through the reports in
Der Angriff
during this period.

25.
TB, 20 February 1933.

26.
TB, 16 and 18 February 1933.

27.
E.g. TB, 17, 22, and 28 February.

28.
TB, 15 February; on the opening, see
FZ
, 12 February 1933 (M), “Die Berliner Internationale Automobil- und Motorrad-Ausstellung.”

29.
TB, 16 February 1933.

30.
TB, 24 February 1933.

31.
TB, 28 February 1933. The telephone conversation is confirmed in Hanfstaengl,
Zwischen Weißem und Braunem Haus
, 294f.

32.
The question of who was responsible for the Reichstag fire has been the subject of a long controversy that has by no means been resolved in favor of the theory of a sole culprit. The most important works are Tobias,
Der Reichstagsbrand;
Backes et al.,
Reichstagsbrand;
Hans Schneider,
Neues vom Reichstagsbrand—Eine Dokumentation. Ein Versäumnis der deutschen Geschichtsschreibung
, with a preface by Iring Fetscher and contributions from Dieter Deiseroth, Hersch Fischler, Wolf-Dieter Narr (Berlin 2004); Deiseroth (ed.),
Der Reichstagsbrand und der Prozess vor dem Reichsgericht;
Kellerhoff,
Der Reichstagsbrand;
Hofer et al.,
Der Reichstagsbrand;
Hehl, “Die Kontroverse um den Reichstagsbrand”; on Goebbels’s role, see Reuth,
Goebbels
, 262ff.

33.
Der Angriff
, 28 February 1933, “Der Reichstag brennt.”

34.
Reichsgesetzblatt
1933 I, p. 83.

35.
TB, 5 March 1933.

36.
Der Angriff
, 25 February 1933, with Goebbels’s editorial “Der Tag der erwachenden Nation.”

37.
See the reports in
Der Angriff
of 4 and 6 March 1933;
VB
(B), 5/6 March 1933, “Der Freiheitstag der erwachten Nation.” The quotation refers to Hamburg.

38.
“Hitler über Deuschland. Rundfunkreportage aus Königsberg zum Tage der erwachenden Nation am 4. März 1933,” published in Goebbels,
Signale der neuen Zeit
, 109–117, quotations 109f., 116f.

39.
TB, 5 March 1933.

40.
FZ
, 6 March 1933 (M). The election slogan in the
VZ
of 4 March 1933 (E) conveys the same image.

41.
Statistisches Jahrbuch der Stadt Berlin 1933
, 385.

42.
TB, 3 March 1933.

43.
TB, 7 March 1933;
VB
(B), 14 March 1933, “Dr. Goebbels an die Berliner Parteigenossen.”

44.
TB, 7–12 March;
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 56; see also no. 46, Denkschrift über die Errichtung eines Reichskommissariats für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda, 7 March 1933. Erlaß über die Errichtung des Reichsministeriums für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda,
RGBl
. 1933 I, 104.

45.
TB, 12 March 1933.

46.
TB, 9 March 1933.

47.
TB, 9–11 March 1933; Bracher,
Machtergreifung
, 136ff.; Kershaw,
Hitler. 1936–1945
, 585ff.

48.
Statistisches Jahrbuch Berlin 1933
, 268ff.

49.
TB, 13 March 1933.

50.
TB, 15 March 1933; on his appointment, see also 14 March 1933. The document of appointment of Goebbels, “writer,” as propaganda minister is in BAB, R 43 II/1149 (13 March 1933).

51.
TB, 16 March 1933;
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 61, 15 March 1933.

52.
Speech to the press in Berlin on 16 March 1933, published in Goebbels,
Revolution der Deutschen
, 135–51.

53.
TB, 18 March 1933, see also 17 and 20 March 1933.

54.
Der Angriff
, 21 and 22 March 1933;
VB
(B), 22 March 1933.

55.
TB, 23 March 1933; Scheel,
Der Tag von Potsdam;
Sabrow, “Der ‘Tag von Potsdam’ ”; Reuth,
Goebbels
, 277ff.

56.
TB, 21 March (quotation) concerning the preliminary meeting on the previous day and 23 March 1923 concerning the cabinet meeting on 21 March; Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zur Abwehr heimtückischer Angriffe gegen die Regierung der nationalen Erhebung, 21 March 1933,
RGBl
. 1933 I, 135. The law imposed the death penalty in particularly serious cases:
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 70, Sitzung vom 21 March (the session of 20 March is not documented).

57.
TB, 25 March 1933; Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich, 24 March 1933,
RGBl
. 1933 I, 141. On the speeches, see
Verhandlungen Reichstag
, 8. Legislaturperiode, vol. 457, 23ff.

58.
TB, 27 March 1933.

59.
VB
(B), 26/27 March 1933 “Minister Goebbels über das Ziel des deutschen Rundfunks. Das vornehmste Instrument in der Hand der Regierung.” The speech is also printed in Heiber (ed.),
Goebbels Reden
, no. 13, quotations 87, 89, 78.

60.
A shorter version in
Der Angriff
, 30 March 1933, complete in Albrecht,
Nationalsozialistische Filmpolitik
, 439ff., which also contains commentary (13ff.). See also Moeller,
Filmminister
, 152.

61.
TB, 29 March 1933.

62.
TB, 4 April 1933.

63.
Lang himself reported that during this conversation Goebbels had offered him a leading position in the German film industry, whereupon he had decided to leave Germany immediately. However, in fact there is evidence that Lang was still in Germany during June and July. Moeller,
Filmminister
, 161. See also McGilligan,
Fritz Lang
, 173ff. Goebbels did not refer to the meeting with Lang in the
Kaiserhof
version, with the result that Lang’s account was considered dubious. On “The Testament of Dr. Mabuse,” see TB, 30 October 1933 (“Very exciting”).

64.
Published in Wulf,
Presse und Funk im Dritten Reich
, 64f. (excerpt); TB, 30 March 1933.

65.
VB
(B), 7 April 1933, “Adolf Hitler vor der auswärtigen Presse” (headline), and
“Unsere Revolution macht nirgends halt! Minister Goebbels über das kommende neue Pressegesetz,” published in Goebbels,
Signale der neuen Zeit
, 127–35.
FZ
, 7 April 1933 (2nd M), “Der Reichskanzler vor der Auswärtigen Presse”;
FZ
, 8 April (2nd M), “Kommentar ‘Pressefreiheit,’ ” which criticized the speeches;
VZ
, 7 April 1933 (M), “Der Kanzler an die Presse” (headline), including “Dr. Goebbels über Pressefreiheit.”

66.
TB, 27 March 1933.

67.
TB, 28 March 1933; according to this, on 27 March Goebbels was engaged in preparing the announcement, which he then sent to Munich on the same day by telex for Hitler’s authorization, which it received. (TB, 29 March 1933).

68.
Statement by Hitler in the cabinet meeting of 29 March,
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 78.

69.
TB, 1 April 1933;
FZ
, 1 April 1933.

70.
VB
(B), 4 April 1933. See also the cabinet meeting on 31 March 1933, at which economic and foreign policy concerns were expressed and Hitler explained the “pause.”
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 80. On the whole issue, see Longerich,
Politik der Vernichtung
34ff. On the anti-Jewish “action” see also
VB
(B), e.g. 25, 28 (headline), 29 (headline), 30 (headline), and 31 March and 1 (headline) and 2 April 1933 (headline).

71.
On the Jewish boycott of March 1933, see Adam,
Judenpolitik im Dritten Reich
, 46ff.; Barkai,
Vom Boykott zur “Entjudung,”
23ff.; Friedländer,
Nazi Germany and the Jews
, 19ff.; Longerich,
Holocaust
, 35ff.

72.
TB, 2 April 1933.

73.
VB
(B), 2/3 April 1933, “Riesenkundgebung der N.S.D.A.P.”

74.
TB, 11 April 1933; see also 2, 6, and 10 April 1933. Publication of the correspondence in e.g. the
Vossische Zeitung
of 11 April, republished in Wulf,
Musik im Dritten Reich
, 86ff.; see also Prieberg,
Kraftprobe
, 78ff.

75.
TB, 14 April 1933.

76.
TB, 17 April 1933.

77.
TB, 18 April 1933.

78.
See
VB
(B), 19–21 April; Kershaw,
Hitler Myth
, 57ff.

79.
VB
(B), 19–21 April 1933.

80.
TB, 19 and 20 April 1933.

81.
TB, 26 and 27 April; reports in the
Rheydter Zeitung:
6, 13, and 21 April and the headlines of 22, 24, and 25 April; the award of honorary citizenship of the city of Rheydt: StA MG, NL Goebbels/143. On the cancellation of the municipal incorporation, see Waldecker, “Rheydt,” 304f.; on this visit, see also Reuth,
Goebbels
, 282f.

82.
TB, 25 June 1933.

83.
TB, 25 March 1933.

84.
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 93, Ministerbesprechung vom 7. April 1933; Gesetz über die Einführung eines Feiertags der nationalen Arbeit, 10. April 1933,
RGBl
. 1933 I, 191.

85.
On the preparations, see TB, 18 April–1 May 1933.

86.
TB, 2 May 1933;
Der Angriff
, 1 May 1933, “Ehret die Arbeit und achtet den Arbeiter! Der Aufruf des Ministers für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda”; 2 May 1933, “Der 1. Mai: Deutschlands gewaltigster Bekenntnistag” (headline).

87.
TB, 18 April 1933.

88.
Erlaß über die Errichtung des Ministeriums für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda, 13 March 1933,
RGBl
. 1933 I, 104. The decree suspended the regulations in the standing orders of the Reich government of 3 May 1924, according to
which the Reich chancellor could transfer responsibilities only provided this did not “fundamentally” affect the competencies of the ministries. Published in
Akten der Reichskanzlei. Die Kabinette Marx I und II
, Abramowski (ed.), no. 192.

89.
TB, 16, 21, and 23 March 1933.

90.
TB, 25 March 1933.

91.
Rischbieter, “NS-Theaterpolitik,” 11ff.

92.
TB, 8 and 20 April 1933.

93.
TB, 28 April 1933, and 29 April 1933.

94.
TB, 29 April, 5, 10, 11, 14, and 24 May, 8 June 1933. BAB, R 55/414, Protokoll vom Promi und AA über die Ressortbesprechung vom 12. Mai 1933.
Regierung Hitler
, vol. 1, no. 138, Chefbesprechung vom 24. Mai 1933. The press department of the Foreign Ministry was to restrict itself to the collection of information from abroad and basic information policy.

95.
TB, 9 May 1933. Speech on “Die Aufgaben des deutschen Theaters im Hotel Kaiserhof zu Berlin” on 8 May 1933, in:
Der Angriff
, 9 May 1933, and in Goebbels,
Revolution der Deutschen
, 175–201. See also
FZ
, 10 May 1933 (M), “Die Aufgaben des deutschen Theaters. Eine Rede des Ministers Dr. Goebbels.”

96.
On the burning of the books, see Reuth,
Goebbels
, 285;
“Das war ein Vorspiel nur.” Bücherverbrennung Deutschland 1933: Voraussetzungen und Folgen
. Ausstellung der Akademie der Künste vom 8. Mai bis 3. Juli 1983, Berlin/Vienna 1983, in particular: “Die Hochschulen und der ‘undeutsche Geist.’ Die Bücherverbrennungen am 10. Mai 1933 und ihre Vorgeschichte,” 31–50. According to this the initiative definitely came from the Deutsche Studentenschaft.