| Führer und Reichskanzler (“Leader and Reichchancellor”) Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 – April 30, 1945) reviews Hitlerjugend (HJ; “Hitler Youth”) from the balcony of the Siemenshaus, attached to the Deutscher Hof, during the 9th Party Congress Reichsparteitag der Arbeit (“Rally of Labor”) celebrating reduction of unemployment since the Gleichschaltung (“Coordination”) of the Nazi State in 1933. The hotel was built in 1913 for the Lehrerheim Association. From 1920 onwards, Adolf Hitler regularly stayed at the Deutscher Hof Hotel during his stays in Nuremberg. Hitler’s connection to the Deutscher Hof probably went back to the Lehrerheim Association’s tenant at the time, World War I Kaiserliche Marine (“Imperial German Navy”) veteran Johannes Klein (March 8, 1890 – May 5, 1968), who was known for his right-wing extremist views. Traditionally, the 5th day of the Party Congress celebrated the Hitler Youth. The day began at the Katharinenkirche (“Saint Katherine’s Church”) the Zentralamt (“Central Administration Office”) of the Hitler Youth would meet for prayer and leadership. This was the main council of the HJ that met at 0800 Hours. By 1000 Hours, the review of the Hitler Youth in the Municipal Stadium would begin. Starting in the early morning, endless columns of Hitler Youth units marched from Langwasser camp, the tent city where the youth slept, into Franken Stadium and while the majority paraded on the sports field, others took their places in the grandstands. While the choirs and musical groups faced the stadium platform, navy units paraded to the left and right of the platform. Long before Hitler was due at the height of the parade at 1000 Hours, 50,000 members of the Hitler Youth were in their places waiting for drummers and buglers on the timber watchtowers to announce the arrival of the guests of honor. Reich Leaders Reichspressekammer (“President of the Reich Press Chamber”) Max Amann (November 24, 1891 – March 30, 1957), Reichsleiter and Secretary to Deputy Leader Hess Martin Bormann (June 17, 1900 – May 2, 1945), Oberster Parteirichter (“Supreme Party Judge”) Walter Buch (October 24, 1883 – September 12, 1949), Head of the Reichsüberwachungsamt (“Reich surveillance office”) and Reichsleiter Alfred Rosenberg (January 12, 1893 – October 16, 1946), Chef des Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF – “German Labor Front”) Doctor Robert Ley (February 15, 1890 – October 25, 1945), Reichsleiter and Reichspressekammer (“Vice-President of the Reich Press Chamber”) Dr. Otto Dietrich (August 31, 1897 – November 22, 1952) and the Gauleiters that represented various district organizations of the Nazi Party. The 3 military leaders, Reich Minister General Hermann Göring (January 12, 1893 – October 15, 1946) of the Luftwaffe (“Air Force”), General Werner von Fritsch (August 4, 1880 – September 22, 1939) of the Heer (“Army”) and Admiral Erich Raeder (April 24, 1876 – November 6, 1960) of the Kreigsmarine (“Navy”), represented the Wehrmacht, while Sturmabteilung Stabschef (“Chief of Staff”) Victor Lutze (December 28, 1890 – May 2, 1943) and Reichsführer-Schutzstaffel (SS) Heinrich Himmler (October 7, 1900 – May 23, 1945) represented their organizations. Other military leaders, party and state officials and diplomatic bureaucrats sat behind. A loud command alerted the assembly and everyone stood to attention as the Führer’s motorcade entered the stadium. Loud cheers virtually drowned out the fanfare of bugles as Hitler and Stellvertreter des Führers (“Deputy Führer”) Rudolf Hess (April 26, 1894 – August 17, 1987) walked between the lines of SS guards to the podium followed by Reichsjugendführer (“Reich Youth Leader”) Baldur von Schirach (May 9, 1907 – August 8, 1974) and HJ-Stabsführer (“Chief of Staff”) Hartmann Lauterbacher (May 24, 1909 – April 12, 1988). Once they reached the stage, silence fell across the crowd as Schirach opened the rally and introduced the Führer to the Hitler Youth, many of them who had never seen him before. To be 1 of the chosen few to attend the rally was a great privilege, and they returned the Führer’s greeting “Heil, my youth” with a hearty “Heil Hitler.” Then a blare of trumpets announced the beginning of the ceremony as the assembly sang the 1st of many songs. A young announcer read the formal introduction to the Führer and as a 2nd, slower song began. Hitler Youth flag standards entered the stadium led by the Herbert Norkus standard (it honored a young Nazi martyr killed by Communists in February 1932). The standards had been carried from their headquarters across Germany, on the great Adolf-Hitler-March, the Hitler Youth’s contribution to raising support for the rally. Some HJ had marched 500 miles (800 kilometers) across Germany. A 3rd song filled in the time as the bearers found their place. Schirach then stepped forward and introduced the crowd to Hitler, detailing their achievements and the enthusiasm and hard work required to make them happen. Cheers marked the end of the speech and a hush fell over the crowd as Hitler began to speak. He explained his vision for the immediate and long term future of Germany and the Hitler Youth’s part in it achieving it. When his speech ended, a command silenced the cheers and the young men and boys stood to attention ready for the inspection parade. A drum rhythmically beat out a slow march as the Führer left the stage and walked along the endless ranks. More songs followed but the highlight for many, particularly those at the back of the stands, was when the Führer was driven slowly around the running track. The motorcade left the stadium as the boys sang the Hitler Youth anthem, but the cheers continued long after Hitler was out of earshot. Yet again the Führer had reaffirmed his connection with a selection of Germany’s male youth; they in turn had had an unforgettable experience. The next day the Party Congress would parade through the Nuremberg City Center. Nuremberg’s castle sits on top a hill, looking down on the city. At the foot of the hill is Hauptmarkt, where the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) stands over the large square used as a focal point during the early rallies. Stands were erected around the edge of the square for the crowds while Hitler stood in a car surrounded by his closest followers, including Rudolf Hess, Hermann Göring and Victor Lutze. SS-Standartenführer Jakob Grimminger (April 25, 1892 – January 28, 1969) stood with the Blutfahne (“Blood Flag”), the Nazi banner stained with the blood of the honored dead from the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, behind the car. The car stood next to 1 of Nuremberg’s landmarks, the Schöner Brunnen (“Beautiful Fountain”), a replica of a late 14th-century structure. The square was renamed Adolf-Hitler-Platz in 1933; and while the parade remained the same, it took longer and longer each year. All morning SA and SS units gathered south of the River Pegnitz, waiting their turn to march past their Führer. The 1st ones set off at 1130 Hours and crossed the river via Fleisch Bridge, or Meat Bridge, a wide 16th-century structure. They entered the square with the cheers of the crowds ringing in their ears and then, with arms raised in the Nazi salute, it was eyes right as they marched past the Führer’s entourage. The march continued up the hill past Sebalduskirche (“Saint Sebaldus Church”) on the left and the Town Hall to the right, and ended in front of the castle gates at the top of the hill. After all the build-up and excitement, the troops faced a long march back to their Langwasser campsite. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0510.jpg |
| Image Size | 596.42 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2049 x 1613 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | September 7, 1937 |
| Location | Siemenshaus |
| City | Nuremberg |
| State or Province | Bavaria |
| Country | Germany |
| Archive | United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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