| A series of still frames from film of Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reichchancellor”) Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) as he addresses the 6th Congress of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP; “National Socialist German Workers Party”) in the Luitpoldhalle in Nuremberg. These images demonstrate the power of Hitler’s oratory; he radiated energy and crowds responded to his words with enthusiasm. Hitler’s gift for oratory was a contributing factor in his cult of personality, and he used his whole body while giving speeches. The 6th Party Congress was held in Nuremberg, September 5-10, 1934, which was attended by about 700,000 Nazi Party supporters. Initially it did not have a theme; later it was labeled the Reichsparteitag der Einheit und Stärke (“Rally of Unity and Strength”), Reichsparteitag der Macht (“Rally of Power”), or Reichsparteitag des Willens (“Rally of Will”). The Night of Long Knives on June 30, 1934, saw the execution of Stabschef of the Sturmabteilung (SA) Ernst Röhm and his entourage. The Leni Riefenstahl film Triumph des Willens (“Triumph of the Will”) was made at this rally to reorient the focus away from the SA and towards the Schutzstaffel (SS). The 6th Party Congress was particularly notable due to Nazi Party Chief Architect Albert Speer’s (March 19, 1905 – September 1, 1981) “Cathedral of Light” — 152 searchlights that cast vertical beams into the sky around the Zeppelin Field. Hitler was introduced by Stellvertreter des Führers (“Deputy Führer”) Rudolf Hess (April 26, 1894 – August 17, 1987) who simply announced, “Hitler speaks!” “The Sixth Party Rally is coming to an end. What millions of Germans outside our ranks may simply have rated as an imposing display of political power was infinitely more for hundreds of thousands of fighters; the great personal, political and spiritual meeting of the old fighters and battle comrades. And perhaps, in spite of the spectacular forcefulness of this imposing review of the armies of the Party, many among them were wistfully thinking back to the days when it was difficult to be a National Socialist. For when our Party comprised just seven people, it already formulated two principles: it wanted to be a truly ideological party; it wanted, uncompromisingly, sole and absolute power in Germany.” “We, as a party, had to remain a minority, because we mobilized the most valuable elements of fight and sacrifice in the nation, and they are never a majority but always a minority. And since the best racial component of the German nation, proudly self-assured, courageously, and daringly, demanded leadership of the Reich and the people, the people followed its leadership in ever greater numbers and subordinated themselves to it.” “The German people are happily aware that the eternal flight of appearances has now been replaced by one stable pole, which sensing and knowing that it represented the very best German blood, rose to the leadership of the nation and is determined to keep this leadership, and exercise it, and never give it up again. There will always be only one segment of a people who will be really active fighters, and more is demanded of them than of the millions of other people. For them it is not enough to simply say, ‘I believe;’ they take an oath, ‘I shall fight.” “The party will for all times be the leadership reservoir of the German people, unchangeable in its teachings, hard as steel in its organization, pliable and adaptable in its tactics, and in its total appearance the manifestation of the spirit of the nation. Again it must be that all decent Germans become National Socialists. Only the best National Socialists become party members.” “Formerly, our opponents saw to it that through prohibition and persecution our movement was periodically purged of the light chaff that began to settle in it. Now we must practice selectiveness ourselves and expel what has proved to be rotten and therefore not of our kind. It is our wish and intent that this state and this Reich shall endure through the millennia ahead. We can rejoice in the knowledge that the future belongs totally to us.” “Where the older generations might still waver, the youth is sworn to us and given to us, body and soul. Only if we realize in the Party the ultimate essence and idea of National Socialism, through the joint effort of all of us, will it forever and indestructibly be a possession of the German people and the German nation. Then the splendid and glorious army of the old and proud armed services of our nation will be joined by the no less tradition-bound leadership of the Party and together these two establishments will form and firm the German people and carry on their shoulders the German state and German Reich.” “At this hour, tens of thousands of party comrades are beginning to leave town. While some are still reminiscing, others are getting ready for the next roll call, and always people will come and go, and always they will be gripped anew, gladdened, and inspired, for the idea and the Movement are expressions of the life of our people and therefore, symbols of eternity.” “Long live the National Socialist Movement. Long live Germany!” Hess concluded, “The Party is Hitler! Hitler, however, is Germany – just as Germany is Hitler! Hitler! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! (“Hail Victory!”) | |
| Image Filename | wwii0506.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.93 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4666 x 6244 |
| Photographer | Leni Riefenstahl |
| Photographer Title | Triumph of the Will |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1937 |
| Location | Luitpoldhalle |
| City | Nuremberg |
| State or Province | Bavaria |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |
| Record Number | 871762374 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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