Society Life In Nazi Germany

Northern Advocate, 21 October 1938, Page 10

Society Life In Nazi Germany

i Time was when society life in Nazi Germany was uniform. Immediately after the great moral “clean-up”, of the Nazi revolution, society was quiet, simple, well-behaved, almost puritanical in its obedience to Nazi ideals. Now, like Gaul, it is divided into three parts, writes Dorothea Schick in the “Adelaide Chronicle.”

Hitler belongs to none of them. He does not like society. He attends the minimum of social functions, and usually manages to fulfil all his obligations at his monthly receptions. For the rest, he the peasant atmosphere of his mountain home near Berchtesgaden. This is quietly, almost simply, furnished in a practical modern style. The only luxury the Fuehrer allows himself is are—beautiful pictures and carpets.

The three parts are the high officials of the Nazi party, the industrialists, and the officers of the Reichswehr.

Cue From Leaders

By far the most important of these is the Nazi part. Like all satellites, the high officials of the Nazy Party take their cue from those above them. While those on high were quiet and sober, the underlings were quiet and sober,, too, but it was all too good to last.

There always was considerable rivalry between the Fuehrer’s two chief lieutenants, burly blustering Goering, and small, suave Goebbels. Goering was too exuberant, a spirit to run in the Puritan harness for long, and very soon after the Nazi Revolution he began to blossom forth in a series of spectacular and unique uniforms which made his name a household word throughout the civilised world.

These uniforms also formed the declaration of war in the gigantic bally-hoo battle between Goering and Goebbels which has raged ever since.

Goering runs the Staatsoper in Unter den Linden, Berlin, so 'Goebbels runs an opposition establishment in Charlottenburg. There is great rivalry in die matter of gigantic parties for poor children, these being good publicity.

Goebbel’s Advantage

Talking about parties, Goebbels has had an advantage at Christmas because as a proud father he can attend them all. Wicked rumour says however, that sometimes his thunder is stolen, for Goering, with his great physical endowments, occasionally appears as Father Christmas.

For a time Goering lived in the Air Ministry, and a wonderful place he made it. He hung the walls with wonderful pictures, showing a decided preference for the rich cloying art of Rubens. In the magnificent halls he placed marble statues surrounded by daily renewed flowers.

When Hitler set a new fashion with his “berghof” (mountain home) at Berchtesgaden, Goering promptly established himself at his magnificent “shooting box” in the Schorfheide, north of Berlin, and called it the “Waldof" (forest home). Just as Hitler had his branch of the Chancellery at the Berghof, Geering had his branch of the Air Ministry at the Waldhof. He is passionately fond of hunting, possesses the largest hunting estate in Germany, and has made his diplomatic hunting parties almost as famous as his uniform. He is also passionately fond of food, and his banquets are gastronomical events. He has a steward and a gepius of a French chef, but he composes the menus for everyday meals and his banquets himself. He would never entrust such an important task to his wife. She, poor thing, of humble origin, could not do it, anyhow. She is far too- busy to keep pace with her husband’s magnificence. Frau Goering From the day when her bridegroom abandoned her at the cathedral steps to

review the guard of honour drawn up outside, Emmi Goering-Sonnemann’s life has been one continual struggle. She has made it her life work to appear and live exactly like Countess Elizabeth von Thuringen auf der Wartburg. She is very active in charity work, and spends much time visiting the poor. Never in any way a great actress she is determined to live in the history of the theatre, and so founded at Weirmar a home for old and ageing actors and actresses.

She is said to have been responsible for the famous preparations for the opera ball, when workmen worked for a week to hang the walls of the Opera House with thousands of yards of white silk bound with thousands of yards of heavy gold thread. Ladies were ordered to appear only in white or pastel-coloured dresses, and she herself wore a magnificent long ermine cloak. Goebbels Replies

Goebbels tries to combat the effect of Geering’s massive splendour with taste and refinement, although he is not above taking a leaf out of his rival’s book when need be. There was the famous festival on beautiful Peacock Island, near Potsdam, when the army was called out to build a pontoon bridge from the mainland to provide easier access for the guests, and all the theatrical forces at the disposal of the Minister for Propaganda were mobilised for the occasion to perform on an open-air stage lit by thousands of Chinese lanterns. As a matter of fact, with the theatre war between Goebbels and Goering so highly developed, actors are in a quandary. Knowing not which master to follow', they attend every function given by each of them and hope for the best. His Summer Villa In summer Goebbels lives in a palatial villa on Schwanenwerder Island, also near Potsdam, which formerly belonged to the Jewish banker Sobernhoem. As Goering monopolises hunting Goebbels has taken Up yachting. In comfort, of course. His motor yachts on which he sails around the lakes near Berlin, is the most magnificent thing ever seen on German inland waters. Frau Magda Goebbels is a great help to her husband. She learnt her technique during her married life with her first husband, Magdeburg, sugar magnate Quandt, and is now a perfect hostess at her husband’s tasteful receptions. She has also made herself the fashion dictator of Germany and achieved the reputation of being Germany’s smartest woman.