In April 1933, the recently installed Nazi government declared 1 May the “Day of National Work”, an official state holiday, something the Weimar government before it had never done. Hitler’s new government stripped the holiday of its former class struggle and Marxist associations and integrated it into the fascist ideology of the Third Reich. Any separate celebrations held by Communists, Social Democrats or labor unions were thus forth banned. A new slogan was chosen for the holiday, which appeared to elevate the working class without promoting class conflict: “Honor the work, and respect the worker.” Hitler stressed that the reimagined holiday would both celebrate German workers and represent German unity across classes, declaring “It is necessary to teach each rank and class the significance of the other ranks and classes.”

To gain the support of German workers Hitler declared May 1st “National Labor Day” and made it a paid legal holiday. May Day 1933 was celebrated with massive parades and rallies throughout Germany. The festivities attracted almost complete participation by labor unions. President Hindenburg delivered his first speech in honor of the holiday at Berlin’s Lustgarten. I’m not certain exactly what Hindenburg said in his speech that confounded or disgusted Hitler and Goebbels to the extent seen in the photographs below, but just twenty-four hours later all trade unions were disbanded and henceforth banned.