Adolf Hitler is viewed as the figure that incited the Second World War and encouraged the creation and implementation of the Holocaust. But in the late 1930s, Hitler was also an incredibly popular figure in Germany. In fact, his 50th birthday—April 20, 1939—was a huge affair in Berlin. The entire city came out in force on the declared holiday to celebrate the birth of their Chancellor and the Führer of the Third Reich, whether they were die hard supporters of his policies or not. A lot of the excitement and sheer thrill of the parade was due to the impressive stage management of the Nazi party, each portion of the parade’s marching and transportation details being planned down to minute details.
While studying the Holocaust and how Nazi policies affected Germany and Poland on our Maymester field study, we will be visiting the area this parade occurred, 76 years and 1 month ago. On May 15 we will spend the day walking around the city to multiple sites and locations; two of which are the Topography of Terror and Holocaust Memorial, right off Wilhelmstrasse and Friedrichstrasse, two of the main streets of the parade as well as the Brandenburg Gate. Additionally, numerous other locations we will be visiting are just a short distance from the central area Hitler’s birthday tour was in.
To be standing in roughly the same area as such a historical event will be truly humbling, particularly now that I better understand where I will be. This is just a small snapshot of my growing anticipation for May. Our entire trip will have thought-provoking and awe-inspiring moments such as this, not to mention emotionally impactful experiences.
So, what was the purpose of the birthday celebration do you think? To build support for the Nazis? To increase patriotic fervor? We don’t celebrate our leaders’ birthdays. Whatever it was, it didn’t generate support for German leadership when they declared war on Poland shortly thereafter.
I almost saw this celebration as the same as those had in current North Korea. As has become evident, the current economic status of North Korea is not good, and there are people who do not agree with the Supreme Leader’s ways much like how the book describes Hitler’s birthday celebrations with people coming merely to watch the spectacle of it all. When compared, Hitler’s birthday celebration has an almost uncanny resemblance to the birthday celebration for Kim Il-Sung, the founding president of North Korea. The size, spectacle, and even color scheme of both celebrations seems uncanny.
I don’t exactly believe that Hitler’s celebration was to build support for the Nazi’s as much as to build patriotic fervor (as Professor Strom has stated), and act as a sort of distraction, same as it is currently used in North Korea. These big celebrations look good but are really just diverting the attention away from the behind the scene’s work.
Great post, Rachel.
As the book notes, too, the weather was always pleasant on Hitler’s birthday–“fuhrer weather” it was often referred to.
As to Claire’s comment–well, we do in the U.S. celebrate some leaders’ birthdays; just not when they are alive.