On 16 July 1933, the Sachsentreffen Gauparteitag took place in Leipzig. Hitler delivered two speeches at what was known as the “Saxon Meeting,” the Gau Party Congress of Saxony held in Leipzig. At the imposing Völkerschlachtdenkmal monument, constructed to commemorate the Battle of the Nations of 1813, Hitler announced to 140,000 men of the SA, SS and the Stahlhelm that they were to become “soldiers of our Weltanschauung” (Worldview). A massive parade was also held in the main city square, the Augustusplatz, of Leipzig. There Hitler stated before a gathering of 25,000 Amtswalters that “The religions and the Churches will maintain their freedom. But we are in charge of politics.” Just ten days prior to the Party Congress, at a gathering of high-ranking Nazi officials in Berlin, Hitler had declared the success of the National Socialist seizure of power; this was now the time to consolidate its control.

At the monument commemorating the Battle of the Nations of 1813, Hitler announced to 140,000 men of the SA, SS and the Stahlhelm:

“Today we are not leading a mere thirteen or seventeen million, but the entire Volk, and hence the gigantic task accrues to us of training the millions of people who do not yet inwardly belong to us to become soldiers of this Third Reich, to become soldiers of our Weltanschauung.”

Hitler Serves as a Witness

On 25 September 1930, Adolf Hitler testified in Leipzig as a witness before the Reichsgericht, the German Supreme Court, during the trial of three Reichswehr officers accused of treason. He used the platform to bring attention to his movement and promised a violent, authoritarian future for the country under Nazi leadership.

Wagner Memorial Festival

A special commemoration was held in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Richard Wagner’s death on 12 February 1933. World renowned classical music conductor Karl Muck spoke with Adolf Hitler during his visit to the Leipzig Gewandhaus for the concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Richard Wagner.

Wagner National Memorial

On 6 March 1934, Adolf Hitler laid the foundation stone in Leipzig for the national monument to his favorite composer, Richard Wagner. The location was the Elster flood basin, on the east bank of the river where the Richard-Wagner-Hain is today. By 1944, sculptor Emil Hipp had completed most of his reliefs, modeled on classical designs depicting characters and scenes from Wagner’s operas. It was to be a national monument built entirely to Hitler’s taste and specifications. The Reich Chancellor had made building the largest Wagner monument of all time his top priority. The structure was intended to be roughly the size of a football field. The monument was never completed due to the onset and progression of World War Il. The project was abandoned after the war, and Hipp’s completed reliefs were all lost or dispersed.

“In accordance with the wishes and will of the great master, I lay—as an eternal testament and perpetual reminder—the foundation stone of the German National Monument to Richard Wagner.” -Adolf Hitler on 6 March 1934, in Leipzig, the birthplace of Richard Wagner.

Leipziger Messe

On the morning of 6 March 1934, before laying the Wagner Memorial foundation stone, Hitler had paid a visit the Leipzig Trade Fair (“Leipziger Messe”). He attended several exhibitions including Sachsenfleiß, the technical fair (Technische Messe) and the Saarausstellung. Also in attendance to the massive annual exhibition of the arts, crafts, and industries of Saxony were officials Carl Friedrich Goerdeler, Raimund Köhler, Martin Mutschmann and Max Heinzelmann. Hitler visited the booths of various Saxony manufactures – such as Meissen and Dresden porcelain, Erzgebirge wood and toys, lace, textiles, hats, furs, shoes, watches and timepieces, machinery, musical instruments, measuring instruments, metal and ceramic works. Hitler visited the Technische Messe in Leipzig on the same day with Robert Georg Lenk, economics minister of Saxony.

Mystery Sachsen Meeting

I have discovered three photographs from a Gau Sachsen meeting held circa 1929, I’m working on getting the exact date and place of this meeting, Hitler looks a bit bored and disengaged from the proceedings. On 18 February 1928 Hitler had spoken at a Reichsführer meeting held at the hotel Sachsenhof. This hotel was later destroyed by allied bombing and was located on the Johannisplatz, these three photographs may be from this place and event. Based on Hitler’s uniform this is likely no earlier than this date and no later then very early 1930.