Description:

ADOLF HITLER AND JOSEPH GOEBBELS CONTROL GERMAN MUSIC
ADOLF HITLER (1889 - 1945) Fuhrer of Germany and Nazi Party leader, Hitler's bloody rise to power, his military seizure of most of Europe and North Africa and his genocidal racial policies culminated in suicide in his Berlin bunker as Russian troops approached. Important D.S., 2pp. 4to., Berlin, July 4, 1933, headed: 'Act on Mediation of Music Performing Rights from July 4th 1933' This is the text of a law demonstrating yet further control by the Nazi government over all aspects of German life, in this case, performance of music and associated rights. It reads, in part: '...The Reich Government has passed the following law...The commercial conveyance of rights for the public performance of musical work...is only permitted with the approval of the Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda [Joseph Goebbels]...The conclusion of contracts for the exploitation of performance rights in one's own name...can be revoked at any time...The public performance of a musical work that is subject to copyright is not permitted if the music organizer is unable to prove that he or she has acquired the right to perform. Both the police and the authorized person can demand proof...In the event that a contract on the amount of the performance remuneration does not come about...an arbitration board composed of equal numbers shall decide whose Chairman is determined by joint order of the Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, the Reich Minister of Justice and the Reich Minister of Economics...The Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda may issue provisions for the implementation of this law. In doing so, he can cancel contracts with brokers who are no longer authorized...' The document is signed by Hitler and counter-signed by JOSEPH GOEBBELS (1897-1945), Nazi Minister of Propaganda with Hitler from the earliest days, a master of manipulation of the masses who took his life and those of his family members in the last days of the war. At the bottom of the last page, a handwritten note indicates that the law has been published and that a copy is to be kept in a special folder. Folds, slightly soiled, very good. The Nazi quest to purify the German music world from ‘degeneracy', and return it to its mythic Germanic-ness – a notoriously indefinable category – motivated an enormous amount of activity, planning, and policy-making. Almost immediately after Hitler was proclaimed Chancellor in January 1933, Nazi supporters, in a continuation of the early activities of the Kampfbund fur Deutsche Kultur (Combat League for German Culture), began to disrupt musical performances by Jewish artists. In March 1933, Goebbels took control of all German radio stations and the press, summarily firing all of the art and music critics who did not support his aesthetic agenda. In November 1933, the Reichsmusikkammer (Reich Music Chamber or RMK), the branch of the Reich Cultural Chamber responsible for music, was initiated, an organization that required a membership card, and thus ‘Aryan' status, for musical employment.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

January 25, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000