PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1937)
This page was last updated
15-Feb-2023 12:39
REICHSPARTEITAG
(NAZI PART RALLY)
The Reich's Party Convention Rally, Reichsparteitag or Nurnberg Rallies, as they are better known in English, were the annual celebration and propaganda show piece for the Nazi Party. In the early years (1923 to 1929) it was held on a somewhat ad-hoc basis (money permitting). However in 1933 it became a permanent fixture of the Nazi calendar.
From 1927 onwards all of the rallies were held in Nuremberg, chosen for it's geographical location at the centre of the Reich. The Nazi base was also strong in the city and the local organiser, Julius Streicher, had powerful connections to the local Franconian police force who were also sympathetic to the Nazi cause.
NINTH NAZI PARTY RALLY - NÜRNBERG
'THE RALLY OF LABOUR'
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
The 9th Nazi Party Rally was again held in Nürnberg, for 7 full days, from the 6th until the 13th of Sep. This rally was named the 'Rally of Labour' and celebrated the Nazi's success in bringing full employment to the German people. This rally is known for the short propaganda film entitled "Festliches Nürnberg", directed by Hans Weidemann.
The movie ran for 21 minutes and was filmed in colour. The most notable scene is that of Albert Speer's 134 searchlight "cathedral of light", around the Zeppelin field. This movie is however lesser known than the 1934 'Triumph des Willens' and the 1933 'Der Sieg des Glaubens' both directed by Leni Riefenstahl.
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
VERLAG FRANZ EHER
(6th/13th Sep 1937)
There were a number of official postcards published to commemorate the 1937 rally, the first of which can be seen below. This card was published by Verlag Franz Eher and deigned by Prof. Klein. This was part of a series that was issued every year from 1935 until 1939 that were all designed by Klein, and all of them had a similar striking red background.
OFFICIAL 8 POSTCARDS SET
(1st Sep 1937)
On 1st Sep 1937 a series of 8 postcards was published to commemorate the 9th Nazi Party rally in Nurnberg from 6th to 13th Sep 1937. The cards all feature a 6Rpf Hitler portrait pre-printed stamp and have an image from one of the previous rallies on the left-hand pane. When purchased individually each card cost 25Rpf, but these cards were also available in a special commemorative envelope for a cost of 2RM.
Deutsche Reichspost | 8 | verschiedene feldpostkarten | mit eingedruckter führermarke | zum Reichsparteitag 1937
Pries 2 RM | davon 1 RM 52 Rpf fur den Kulturfonds des führers
===============
Deutsche Reichspost | 8 | different field postcards | with printed leader's mark | for the 1937 Reich Party Rally |
Price 2 RM | of which 1 RM 52 Rpf for the leader's cultural fund
ABOVE LEFT: P264 / 01
ABOVE RIGHT: P264 / 02
ABOVE LEFT: P264 / 03
ABOVE RIGHT: P264 / 04
ABOVE LEFT: P264 / 05 ABOVE RIGHT: P264 / 06
ABOVE LEFT: P264 / 07
ABOVE RIGHT: P264 / 08
VERLAG FRANZ EHER
There were two additional postcards from Verlag Franz Eher, this time referred to as 'festpostkarte' and they are shown below.
VERLAG PHOTO HOFFMANN
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
As in previous years there were a large number of propaganda postcards issued to commemorate the rally by Photo Hoffmann in Munich. This series of 81 cards is conveniently numbered 37/1 to 37/81. Cards 37/1 to 37/15 are all in glorious colour and a few examples are shown below. Numbers 37/16 to 37/30 do not appear to have been issued and 37/31 to 37/81 are all printed in black and white. Each card is inscribed "Reichsparteitag Nürnberg" on the front top left-hand side. The card sequence number is printed in the lower left-hand corner.
ABOVE: Hoffmann 37/1. This card is an aerial view of the proposed new Nürnberg rally grounds. The plans were never completed.
ABOVE LEFT: Hoffmann 37/2 - A strking view of a Nazi eagle above Nürnberg Castle.
ABOVE RIGHT: Hoffmann 37/3 - Another eagle, this time on top of the lecturn where Hitler would speak to the masses.
ABOVE LEFT: Hoffmann 37/5 - An S.A. stormtrooper holding a Nazi flag.
ABOVE RIGHT: Hoffmann 37/6 - R.A.D member holding a shovel.
ABOVE LEFT: Hoffmann 37/7 - SS members on the march "GERMANY WAKE UP".
ABOVE RIGHT: Hoffmann 37/8 - The League of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel [B.D.M])
ABOVE LEFT: Hoffmann 37/13 - Parade of Nazi banners.
ABOVE RIGHT: Hoffmann 37/14 - The inspiration for the Batman comics perhaps?
ABOVE LEFT: Hoffmann 37/34 - R.A.D tented village at the rally.
GRAPHISCHE KUNSTANSTALT ZERREISS & Co.
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
There was another series of black and white postcards issued, this time from publisher Graphische Kunstanstalt Zerreiss & Co. of Nürnberg. The series consisted of 51 different cards all featuring scenes from the rally as well as Adolf Hitler. The cards are numbered on the bottom right-hand corner of the front of the card.
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 1 - The Leader in Nürnberg
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 4 - The Leader in Nürnberg
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 5 -The Leader in Nürnberg
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 6 - The Leader in Nürnberg
ABOVE LEFT: G.K.Z & Co. No. 12 - Camp Langwasser
ABOVE RIGHT: G.K.Z & Co. No. 14 - Flag tent with the new flags of our armed forces
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 27 - The Leader greets from the balcony of the German court
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 37 - Appeal of the political leaders on the Zeppelin Field: The leader speaks
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 47 - Appeal of the political leaders on the Zeppelin Field
ABOVE: G.K.Z & Co. No. 52 - The SA, The SS, The NSKK and NSFK in the Luipold Arena
VERLAG INTRA, NÜRNBERG
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
There was yet another series of black and white postcards issued, this time from publisher Verlag Intra, of Nürnberg. The series consisted of 72 different cards all featuring scenes from the rally as well as Adolf Hitler. Two different numbering systems were used: 1937/XX for the first half of the series and Nr. XX for the remainder.
ABOVE: 1937 Nr.19 - The Leader greets from the balcony of the German court
ABOVE: 1937 Nr.27 - K.d.F City
ABOVE: 1937 Nr.28 - Appeal of the Reich Labor Service on the Zeppelin Field
ABOVE: 1937 Nr.32 - The leader is happy about his workmen
ABOVE: 1937 Nr.33 -The Reich Labor Service march past
ABOVE: 1937 Nr.37 - The torchlight procession of the political leaders
ABOVE: 1937 Nr.43 - The Leader speaks at the rally of the Nazi women's group
VERLAG ANDRO, NÜRNBERG
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
Andro Verlag of Nürnberg also published a series of cards of unknown quantity (but at least 12).
STOJA-VERLAG PAUL JANKE, NÜRNBERG
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
This card from Stoja-Verlag Paul Janke is number 601.
VERLAG HERMANN HUNSINGER, NÜRNBERG
This panoramic view of the Zeppelin Field was published by Verlag Hermann Hunsinger of Nürnberg. The card is number 33219 and this particular example has been postallly used 6 years after the rally on 18th Jun 1943.
VERLAG RIFFELMACHER, FURTH
This Verlag Riffelmacher card is unnumbered and has been cancelled during the rally in Nürnberg. The stamp that has been used is one of four available on a special souvenir sheet that was issued to commemorate this year's rally. The card itself shows an image of the Zeppelin field.
KUNSTVERLAG LIEBERMANN, NÜRNBERG
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
BRUNO PANZER, NÜRNBERG
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
VERLAG O. STRUCK, BERLIN
(6th to 13th Sep 1937)
