TravelHitler's Southern Germany Tourist Guide 1936 - English
IntroductionTaken at face value, it looks harmless enough: a rather quaint pocket-size guide published for English-speaking visitors to Southern Germany in 1936. But when this guide book is placed in its historical context however, a rather more sinister picture emerges. In 1936, Hitler had already been Chancellor for three years and his Minister of Propaganda had been ordered to present Germany in a favorable light to the outside world in year of the Olympics in Berlin. To the 1930's tourist then, the booklet extolled the virtues of a nation steeped in history and blessed with some of the most magnificent countryside in Europe. Its highly-idealized image proudly reminded would be visitors of a nation's charming local customs, sporting prowess, scientific advances and sophisticated culture while masking the darker activities which were going on inside Germany at the time. Today, however, the guide presents an all-encompassing picture of how Hitler and the Nazis wanted the rest of the world to view Germany and how many indeed did view it. Visitors to Germany were clearly unaware that already by 1934, Dachau concentration camp had already been opened. Perhaps most ominous of all, the state railway company behind the the guidebook's publication, the Deutsche Reichsbahn, would later be responsible for transporting Jews to such camps. But in 1936, war seemed a far-off possibility and much of Europe was still intrigued by Hitler's National Socialism and taken by a massive tourist propaganda onslaught designed to paint a picture of Nazi Germany as civilised, economically stable, ordered and above all, peaceful. Contents'Southern Germany'. Introduction (2 pages)'The Mountains'. Covering the Alps with a casual mentioning and photo of Hitler at Berchtesgaden outside his mountain retreat, followed the Alpine Foreland, the Black Forest and other parts of Southern Germany (37 pages) 'The Large Cities'. Introduction to Munich mentioning the Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 and showing the memorial tablet at the Feldherrnhalle. Other buildings are mentioned as well such as House of German Art and the Brown House "the starting point for the conquest of Germany and still headquarters of the National Socialist party" (page 43). In the chapter about Nuremberg the annual party rallies are mentioned and how Hitler renovated the Imperial city. The city section covers as well Augsburg, Stuttgard, Karlsruhe und Wuerzburg (19 pages) 'Romantic Towns'. A selection of towns are listed including Bayreuth home to the annual Wagner Festival mentioning Hitler as its patron (pages 23) Book detailsTitle: Hitler's Southern Germany - A Third Reich Tourist GuidePaperback: 104 pages Pictures: 105 illustrations and one double page map of Southern Germany Publisher: Foxley Books Language: English ISBN-10: 1905742045 ISBN-13: 978-1-905742-04-2 Product Dimensions: B&W 7.5 x 9.25 in or 235 x 191 mm Perfect Bound on White w/Gloss Lam Price: UK £10.00 / US $15.00 / EU €12.50 / AUS $15.00 / CAN $15.00 Availability and distributionFoxley Book titles are distributed by Bertram, Gardners and Ingram. They are available online at Amazon, Barnes&Noble and from all good bookshops.Order directly from the publisherYou can as well order directly from the publisher. Order more than five Foxley Books titles and receive a 30% discount. Get in touch by emailBuy nowCanadaAmazon.caChinaAmazon.comFranceAmazon.frGermanyAmazon.deUnited KingdomAmazon.co.ukUnited StatesAmazon.comClick here to return to previous page |