What Was The Third Reich?: Berlin's Dark Transformation 1926-1933
Berlin's streets hide secrets of a wild past where democracy fell and tyranny rose. From 1926 to 1933, the Nazi Party took power and transformed not just the German capital but the whole of the German Reich and the world. Follow us as we explore the key events, people and places that shaped this period and the steps that led to one of humanity's darkest hours.
Berlin in the late 1920s was a city of contradictions and growing unease. The city was a hotbed of culture and liberal thinking and simultaneously economic hardship and political chaos after the First World War. The Weimar Republic, Germany's fragile democracy, struggled to keep the lid on rising extremism from the left and right. Into this volatile mix, the Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, was looking to spread its influence beyond its Bavarian heartland. Berlin, a city that was largely hostile to Nazi ideology, was the prize, and the task fell to a man who would become the master of propaganda and manipulation: Joseph Goebbels.
Key Terms and Definitions
Before we get into the transformation of Berlin, it's good to understand some key terms and concepts:
Third Reich: Literally "Third Empire" or "Third Realm", this refers to Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, seen as a successor to the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire of 1871-1918. The Nazis used this term to mean a new powerful German state.
Nazi Party: Short for National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), a far-right political party led by Adolf Hitler. Founded in 1920, it rose to power in the 1930s and became the ruling party of Germany.
Nazi Government: The political regime led by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1945 was characterised by totalitarian control, aggressive expansionism and the implementation of Nazi ideology.
Weimar Republic: The unofficial name for Germany from 1919 to 1933, a democratic regime established after World War I and before Nazi rule. Named after the city where the constitution was drafted, the Weimar Republic faced many challenges, including economic instability and political extremism.
Propaganda: Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. A vital tool in the Nazi rise to power. The Nazis used various forms of propaganda, including radio broadcasts, films, posters and mass rallies to spread their ideology and maintain control.
Antisemitism: Prejudice, hostility or discrimination against Jews. A core tenet of Nazi ideology that would lead to the Holocaust. Antisemitism had deep roots in European history, but the Nazis took it to unprecedented extremes implementing policies of persecution and, ultimately, genocide.
Totalitarianism: A system of government that is centralised and dictatorial, requiring complete subservience to the state. Under Nazi rule, Germany became a totalitarian state, with the government controlling nearly every aspect of citizens' lives.
Gleichschaltung: A Nazi policy of forced coordination and synchronisation of all aspects of society, including politics, culture and the economy to align with Nazi ideology.
Lebensraum: Literally "living space", the Nazis used this concept to justify territorial expansion, particularly in Eastern Europe, to provide land and resources for the German people.
Führer: German for "leader" or "guide" This title was adopted by Adolf Hitler as the supreme leader of Nazi Germany, combining the roles of Chancellor and President.
Gestapo: Short for Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Police), this was the official secret police of Nazi Germany known for its brutal methods and role in suppressing opposition to the regime.
These will give you context for what happened in Berlin during this period. They are the ideological framework, political structure and societal changes of Nazi Germany and its capital. As we look at Berlin's transformation, these will help us understand the impact of the Nazi regime on the city and its people.
Joseph Goebbels: The Man Who Would Shape Nazi Berlin
On a cold November day in 1926, 29-year-old Joseph Goebbels stepped off a train at Anhalter Bahnhof with a task that seemed impossible: to win Berlin for the Nazis. The city, as Mark Twain called it, "the Chicago of Europe", was a city of many political ideologies, from communists to social democrats to monarchists.
Joseph Goebbels
NSDAP regional office in Berlin, Potsdamer Straße.
Goebbels' first stop was Potsdamer Straße 109, the Nazi Party headquarters. The basement office, nicknamed the "opium den", was smoky and stank of stale beer – not exactly the most promising start for a movement with big plans. But it was from here that Goebbels would launch a campaign of propaganda and violence that would bring Berlin under Nazi control.
Goebbels' Plan: Propaganda and Intimidation
To turn the Nazi's fortunes into "the reddest city in Europe after Moscow", Goebbels used a two-pronged approach that would become a Nazi staple:
Propaganda
Street violence
Key points:
Reorganise party leadership to get rid of internal opposition
Make provocative public speeches that played on people's fears and resentments, based on the Nazi ideology called for the elimination of 'racially inferior' peoples and the establishment of Aryan supremacy.
Mobilise the SA (Sturmabteilung) to intimidate and attack political opponents.
Use modern technology like radio and film for mass communication.
Goebbels, a failed novelist with a PhD in literature, knew the power of words and images. He created a narrative of German victimhood and Nazi salvation that many disaffected citizens would buy into.
The Art of Speech
Goebbels was a great orator; he could get crowds excited with his speeches. He knew the power of repetition and simplicity. His speeches often focused on:
The "stab-in-the-back" myth is that internal enemies caused Germany's defeat in WWI.
The threat of "Jewish-Bolshevism" to German culture and society.
The promise of a strong Germany under Nazi leadership.
These were carefully staged affairs, with dramatic lighting, music, and crowd control to create a religious atmosphere. Goebbels knew politics was as much about emotion as it was about policy.
The Pharussäle Incident: Violence Breaks Out
Pharussäle beer hall Post Card
On February 11, 1927, Goebbels' strategy paid off. At the Pharussäle beer hall in Wedding, a working-class district of Berlin, a Nazi rally turned into a violent fight with communist protesters. The SA, led by the brutal Kurt Daluege, beat back the opposition with brass knuckles and rubber truncheons. Goebbels spun the event into a propaganda victory, with the Nazis as heroes against "red terror".
After Pharussäle
The Pharussäle incident was a turning point in the Nazi's Berlin strategy. It showed they were willing to use violence to get what they wanted and could control the narrative through propaganda. In the days after the fight, Goebbels' newspaper Der Angriff (The Attack) published sensationalised stories of communist brutality and Nazi heroism.
Der Angriff (The Attack) Newsletter
This also energised Nazi supporters who saw themselves as soldiers in a political war. The SA, in particular, grew in numbers and audacity after Pharussäle and more and more violent clashes with political opponents on Berlin's streets.
Economic Crisis: Perfect Storm for Extremism
The late 1920s were a time of economic collapse in Germany:
Hyperinflation destroyed the German economy, wiped out savings and undermined democratic institutions.
The 1929 Wall Street Crash triggered a global depression that hit Germany hard.
By 1932, unemployment in Berlin was 600,000, and breadlines and soup kitchens were familiar sights.
Piles of worthless inflated Reichsmarks
It was desperation time. Families were being evicted from their homes, and once proud workers were begging on street corners. This economic chaos was the perfect breeding ground for extremist movements promising simple solutions to complex problems.
The Human Toll of Economic Collapse
The economic crisis of the late 1920s and early 1930s had a daily impact on life in Berlin:
Families had to sell their belongings to buy basic necessities.
Children went to school hungry and couldn't concentrate.
Suicide rates soared, especially among the middle class, who had lost everything.
Crime rates increased as people turned to theft and prostitution to survive.
These conditions created a sense of hopelessness and anger, and the Nazis were quick to capitalise on it. They offered not just economic solutions but scapegoats for Germany's problems.
The Nazis' "Socialism of Action"
Goebbels took advantage of this and launched a "Socialism of Action" campaign. Party members opened their homes to the unemployed and offered hot soup and a sense of belonging. Nazi welfare organisations like the National Socialist People's Welfare (NSV) provided food, clothing and medical care to those in need – but only to "racially pure" Germans.
This worked even on die-hard communists who saw the Nazis as the only ones doing something to help. Of course, the ultimate goal was not charity but a dependent population loyal to the Nazi cause.
Walk in their footsteps: Our tours take you through the working-class neighbourhoods where the Nazis' empty promises of economic salvation found willing ears. See the buildings where soup kitchens operated and hear the stories of those who were seduced by Nazi propaganda.
“Our last Hope: Hitler” - propaganda poster
The Dark Side of Nazi Charity
While the Nazis' welfare programmes provided relief to many Germans, they also had a darker purpose. These programmes were used to:
Gather information on individuals and families for future use.
Brainwash recipients with Nazi ideology.
Exclusion and further marginalise groups deemed "unworthy" by the regime.
The NSV, in particular, was instrumental in implementing Nazi racial policies, deciding who was worthy of assistance based on racial and political criteria. This seemingly charitable organisation would later be complicit in some of the regime's worst atrocities.
The Beer Hall Putsch: A Turning Point in Nazi Tactics
The Nazi Party's rise to power in Berlin was influenced by the lessons of the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich in 1923. Hitler's failed attempt to seize power by force led to his arrest and the temporary ban of the Nazi Party. However, it also gave them valuable experience that would inform their future strategy and ultimately lead to their rise to power in Germany.
Hitler pitched with esteemed General Ludendorf during the Beer Hall Putch Trial
The failed putsch was a turning point for Hitler and his followers, forcing them to re-evaluate their strategy and long-term goals. Here are the lessons they drew from this experience:
The rule of law: After his release from prison, Hitler decided to get power through apparently legal means, manipulating the democratic system rather than overthrowing it. This change of approach allowed the Nazis to operate within the Weimar Republic while working to undermine it from within.
Martyrdom: The failed putsch allowed the Nazis to present themselves as persecuted patriots, those who died in the attempt as party martyrs. This narrative of sacrifice and dedication to the cause became a powerful tool for recruitment and propaganda, appealing to national pride and victimhood.
The breadth of support: The putsch's failure showed the need for a mass movement and support from key institutions like the military and big business. Hitler realised that to succeed, the party had to extend its appeal beyond its core base and build alliances with influential parts of German society.
Propaganda: The events surrounding the putsch demonstrated the power of media coverage and public perception. This led to an increased focus on propaganda and message control, with Joseph Goebbels later becoming the master of Nazi propaganda.
Timing: The failed coup taught Hitler and his followers the importance of waiting for the right moment to strike. They learned to be patient and opportunistic, capitalising on crises and public discontent to advance their agenda.
Soldier’s in the streets during the Beer Hall Putsch
In Berlin, Goebbels put these lessons into practice with brutal effectiveness. The party focused on propaganda, electoral politics and the gradual penetration of existing power structures. The SA's violent tactics were now balanced with a layer of respectability, allowing the Nazis to appeal to a broader base while still intimidating their opponents.
The Nazis' new approach in Berlin included:
Massive rallies and parades to show off their strength and popularity.
Using modern technology like radio and film to disseminate their message.
Targeting specific groups with tailored propaganda.
Infiltrating local government and civic organisations.
Building a network of informants and supporters across all levels of society.
See the transformation: Our tours show how the Nazis' approach in Berlin was different from their earlier, more overt attempts at revolution. Visit the places where the party held rallies and campaign events, where they showcased their new "legal" strategy for power. You'll see how the Nazis went from a marginal group to a major force in the capital.
As you walk through Berlin, you'll get to see how the lessons of the Beer Hall Putsch were put into practice in real-time, how the Nazi Party's tactics were shaped and how it led to their rise to power. This tour is a chilling warning about the dangers of extremism and the importance of defending democracy.
Hitler's Final Push for Power
As the 1932 elections loomed, the Nazi propaganda machine went into overdrive, using new tactics that would change the face of politics:
Hitler flew around Germany, a new campaign tactic that allowed him to speak in multiple cities in one day.
Huge rallies, like the 80,000-strong one in Berlin's Lustgarten, showed off the party's growing strength and popularity.
In his speeches, Hitler called for drastic measures to restore Germany to its former glory, further mobilising support for the Nazi cause.
Hitler proclaimed the necessity to utilise all means to inflict lasting damage on the striking power of the enemy.
The SA flooded the streets with swastika flags and mobile loudspeakers, making the party omnipresent.
Posters of Hitler's piercing gaze and promises of "Work and Bread" covered the city walls.
The Nazis also used modern technology, producing films like "Hitler Over Germany", where their leader was portrayed as a messianic figure descending from the skies to save the nation.
See where history was made: Visit the Lustgarten on our tour and hear the roar of the crowd as Hitler's words boomed across the square. Our guides will explain the psychological impact of these mass events on the German people.
Nazi Imagery
The Nazis knew the power of visual propaganda. Their use of symbols and imagery was designed to elicit strong emotions:
Hitler gives a speech at the third Nazi Party Congress in Nuremberg, August 1927.
The swastika, an ancient symbol hijacked by the Nazis, was everywhere in German cities.
The Nazi flag's bold red, white and black design was chosen for maximum visibility.
Uniformed SA and SS men created an image of power and order.
Posters and films showed Hitler as a messianic figure, often with religious imagery.
These elements combined to make the Nazis seem pervasive and unstoppable before they even had power.
Election Victory and the Road to Dictatorship
In the November 1932 election, the Nazis became the largest party in Germany, with 33.1% of the vote. They didn't quite have a majority but were strong enough to demand concessions from the weakened political elite.
Through backroom deals and political wrangling, orchestrated in part by former Chancellor Franz von Papen, Hitler was appointed Reich Chancellor on January 30, 1933. The Nazis had power through a legal loophole, a fact they would later use to justify their regime.
Hitler pitched in Berlin shortly after his appointment as Chancellor of Germany
The Final Days of Democracy
The period between Hitler's appointment as Chancellor and the complete Nazi takeover was a rapid dismantling of democracy:
Opponents were arrested or silenced.
The free press was gradually gagged through censorship and intimidation.
Civil liberties were curtailed in the name of "national security".
The Reichstag was sidelined as Hitler ruled by decree.
Many Germans, even those who hadn't voted Nazi, hoped Hitler would bring stability and an end to the political violence that had been plaguing the country. Few realised how fast and how far the Nazis would tear down Germany's democratic institutions.
The Reichstag Fire: Democracy's Death Blow
On February 27, 1933, less than a month after Hitler became Chancellor, the Reichstag building went up in flames. The Nazis quickly blamed the communists and used the fire as an excuse to suspend civil liberties and crush the opposition. A young Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was arrested at the scene, but many historians believe the Nazis themselves were behind the arson.
Reichstag on fire during the night of February 27/28, 1933
The day after the fire, President Paul von Hindenburg signed the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended most civil liberties in Germany, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to assemble. This was the green light for the mass arrests of communists, social democrats and other Nazi opponents.
The Enabling Act followed shortly after and gave Hitler absolute power, the end of German democracy. The Weimar Republic was dead, and the Third Reich had begun.
See the aftermath: Our tour includes a visit to the rebuilt Reichstag, where you'll learn how this act of arson became a catalyst for Germany's slide into tyranny. Stand in the modern Bundestag and consider the fragility of democratic institutions.
The Debate Continues
The actual cause of the Reichstag fire is still debated among historians. The Nazi regime claimed it was the work of communist agitators; many scholars believe it was a false flag operation by the Nazis themselves. Key points of contention:
The speed of the Nazi reaction with prepared legislation.
Inconsistencies in the official version of van der Lubbe's actions.
SA men were seen entering the building before the fire.
Whatever the truth behind the fire, the Nazis used it to their advantage and crush the opposition.
Berlin: Capital of Nazi Germany
As the Nazis took power, Berlin changed. Symbols of the new regime appeared everywhere:
The swastika flag flew from government buildings and private homes.
Jewish-owned businesses were boycotted and vandalised.
Book burnings in the Opernplatz (now Bebelplatz) destroyed "un-German" literature.
The Olympic Stadium was built for the 1936 Games, a propaganda showcase for Nazi Germany.
Our tour takes you to these locations and helps you see the physical and psychological transformation of Berlin under Nazi rule.
SA men standing outside Jewish businesses to intimidate customers
Vandalism of a Jewish owned business
The Persecution Begins
As the Nazis consolidated their power, Berlin became a city of fear for many of its inhabitants. The vibrant Jewish community, which had contributed so much to the city's cultural and intellectual life, was increasingly marginalised and persecuted:
April 1, 1933, the Nazis organised a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses, with SA men standing outside shops to intimidate customers.
The "Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service" on April 7, 1933, expelled Jews from government jobs.
The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 stripped Jews of their citizenship and banned marriages between Jews and people of German or related blood.
Our tour visits key locations in Berlin's Jewish history, including the site of the Great Synagogue on Oranienburger Straße, which was damaged during Kristallnacht in 1938.
The Human Cost
The Nazi persecution of Jews and other "undesirables" had a devastating effect on Berlin's social fabric:
Families were split as some members fled abroad while others stayed.
Long-standing friendships ended as non-Jews distanced themselves from their Jewish neighbours.
Talented professionals, artists and scientists were forced out of their jobs, a brain drain.
The city's cultural life was impoverished as Jewish contributions were erased or suppressed.
Our tour brings these human stories to life and helps you understand the personal tragedy behind the history.
Berlin's Cultural Revolution
The Nazis didn't just want to change the political landscape of Berlin; they also wanted to reshape its cultural life. A rigid, state-controlled cultural policy replaced the cosmopolitan, free-spirited Berlin of the Weimar years:
The Reichskulturkammer (Reich Chamber of Culture) was established to control every aspect of cultural life.
"Degenerate art" exhibitions were held to mock and stigmatise modern art.
Jazz and swing music was denounced as "Negro music" and banned.
The Underground
Despite the oppressive climate, there was still resistance in Berlin's cultural scene:
Some jazz musicians played in secret clubs.
Artists developed codes to express dissent in their work.
Writers and intellectuals met in private homes to discuss banned books and ideas.
These acts of cultural resistance may have been small, but they kept the flame of free expression alive during the darkest of times.
The Road to World War II
As Berlin became the capital of the Third Reich, it also became the hub of Nazi aggression:
Young SS recruits
The Wehrmacht High Command was based in Berlin, planning the military campaigns that would send Europe to war.
The invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 marked a new level of Nazi Germany's war of annihilation in Eastern Europe.
The Wannsee Conference in 1942 in a villa on the outskirts of Berlin formalised the plans for the "Final Solution".
Our tour shows how Berlin became the hub of a regime that would soon threaten the world.
Military Berlin
Germany's rearmament in breach of the Treaty of Versailles was a central part of Nazi policy. Berlin was at the heart of this process:
Model of Germania. This new city hides it’s militarisation in plain sight
Secret weapons research was carried out in labs across the city.
Factories were converted for military production.
The city's infrastructure was upgraded for rapid mobilisation.
All this was hidden in plain sight and set the stage for the war to come.
Conclusion
The rise of the Third Reich in Berlin is a sobering reminder of how fragile democracy is. By visiting these sites and understanding the complexities that led to Nazi rule, we can learn valuable lessons to prevent this from ever happening again.
Berlin from 1926 to 1933 is not just a story of politics and street violence. It's a warning about economic desperation, the seduction of simple solutions to complex problems and complacency in the face of extremism.
Join our "Rise of the Third Reich" tour, walk in the footsteps of history, and experience this critical period like never before. Our expert guides will bring the past to life and show you how a democracy can fall to extremism. You'll see how individual and institutional decisions can shape the fate of a nation.
Remembering
As we visit the dark parts of Berlin's history, we are reminded of the importance of remembrance and education:
The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe near the Brandenburg Gate is a place for contemplation on the Holocaust
The Topography of Terror on the site of the former SS and Gestapo headquarters has in-depth exhibitions on Nazi crimes
The German Resistance Memorial Centre is for those who risked their lives to resist the Nazi regime
All these and many more sites across Berlin are a warning of the dangers of hatred and the need to stand up for democracy and human rights.