Hitler in Gera

The Thuringian Gau Party Congress was held exactly 95 years ago on the weekend of 6 September 1931. Hitler arrived in Gera mid-morning and first paid a visit to the tent city of the Hitler Youth set up on the Schützenplatz. He also addressed the SA assembled there on the large open field before taking a passing parade march of the SA on the market square of Gera. He delivered two more speeches on this day, one on the Roßplatz (later Platz der Republik) after the parade, and an evening speech in the Gasthof Heinrichsbrücke in Heinrichstraße 49 in front of 2000 listeners.

(Original Caption) Herr Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazis, took the salute at a monster parade of his followers at Gera, in Thuringia, as he drove past crowds in a flower bedecked car. (Photo by George Rinhart)

The Nazi administrative region of Gau Thuringia was formed in March 1925 under Artur Dinter, who was later succeeded by Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel in 1927. Unlike other parts of Germany where Adolf Hitler faced public speaking bans after his Putsch arrest, Thuringia allowed the NSDAP to hold open rallies again in late 1925. Thuringia was chosen to host many major early gatherings because of its receptive political climate, helping the party consolidate local power and build momentum ahead of its national rise.

A little girl is offering Adolf Hitler a small bouquet during Gera’s Gauparteitag. Hitler is accompanied by Wilhelm Frick (behind young woman with braids), Georg Von Detten, Manfred von Killinger, Adolf Hühnlein, and Rudolf Hess.

In August 1923 the first local branch of the NSDAP was founded in Gera. The group was soon banned after the failure of the Putsch staged by Adolf Hitler on 9 November 1923. The local branch of the NSDAP was reestablished on 5 February 1925 in Gera with 12 registered party members. Hitler visited Gera for the first time on 13 November 1925 with his deputy Rudolf Hess. He delivered a speech to about 1800 people in the establishment “Gasthaus Heinrichsbrücke”. Before and after the meeting there were several serious clashes between the Nazis and those taking part in a communist counter-demonstration.

Illustrierter Beobachter report: *“Eine reizende Episode vom Hitlertag in Gera: Jungdeutschland grüßt den Führer”* (A charming episode from Hitler Day in Gera: Young Germany greets the Leader).

The city of Gera holds a specific place in Nazi institutional history. In May 1926, a youth branch was established in Gera for young men between 14 and 18 years old. This specific group was the very first in Germany to officially bear the name “Hitlerjugend“ (Hitler Youth), shortly before the wider organization was formally titled and restructured nationally in July 1926.

“Adolf Hitler, the Chief of Staff Ernst Röhm, and group leader von Killinger visit the Hitler Youth camp, which gave our Führer an enthusiastic reception.”

The two youngest participants, a three and four year old ‘SA-man’ at the Gautag of the NSDAP in Thuringia on 6 September 1931 in Gera.

Hitler tours the Hitler Youth camp in Gera with Manfred Von Killinger, head of the SA Mitteldeutschland (covering the Prussian Provinces of Saxony, Anhalt, and parts of Thuringia) on 6 September 1931.

Gera’s Gauparteitag was a regional Nazi Party meeting held in Gera on the 5th and 6th of September 1931. The commemorative badge for the 7th NSDAP Gautag Thüringen (Thuringia District Rally) featured three stylized figures and was designed by Ferdinand Hoffstätter.

On the morning of 6 September a celebration was held on the Schützenplatz, an old shooting range once located near the Debschwitz neighborhood, where the Radrennbahn and Spielplatz am Schützenplatz stand today. The event consisted of a roll call, flag consecration, and honor ceremony for the fallen. Hitler delivered several short speeches before departing back towards the city center. At 12:30 a march was formed of 12,000 uniformed Nazis who paraded past Hitler on the market square. Hitler gave a short speech at the end of the march on the Rossplatz.

Gera.- Gautag der NSDAP Thüringens in Anwesenheit von Adolf Hitler; Adolf Hitler, Ernst Röhm (rechts neben Hitler), Wilhelm Frick (3.v.l. vorn), Rudolf Hess, Heinrich Himmler (2.v.r. vorn) mit zum Hitlergruß erhobenen Händen während des Feldgottesdienstes

Nationalsozialistischer Gautag in Gera September 1931. Hitler nimmt die Parade ab.

Der grosse Hitlertag in Gera! Der Führer der Nationalsozialisten Adolf Hitler schreitet die Front der Banner ab.

Adolf Hitler reviews SA troops in Gera’s Gauparteitag on 6 September 1931.

Adolf Hitler reviews SA troops with Ernst Röhm during Gera’s Gauparteitag on 6 September 1931.

Adolf Hitler schreitet die Front der SA auf dem nationalsozialistischen Gautag in Gera ab September 1931.

“Standartenweihe in Gera” (Standard consecration in Gera)

The Führer’s Address to the Standard Bearers

Hitler beim Abschreiten der Ehrenfront auf dem nationalsozialistischen Gautag in Gera September 1931.

All eyes turned towards the speaker’s podium as the Führer addresses a crowd of 13,000 gathered for the celebrations in Gera.

The massive field was still too small to contain the enormous mass of brownshirts.

The turnout at the Gautag was considerably larger than at the Reich Party Congress in Nuremberg in 1927.

The population, in indescribable jubilation, showered the S.A. with flowers.

For hours the Brownshirts marched past the Führer (In the background the exceptional equipment of two American sound film companies)

The Führer. (In the foreground, Prince August Wilhelm and State Councillor Marschler)

“The enthusiastic and moving march past our Führer Adolf Hitler by the S.A. and S.S. at the Roßplatz.”

A division of the Sturmabteilung Musikkorps march past Hitler at the Marktplatz in Gera.

Adolf Hitler takes the salute at a march-past of his followers in Gera, 6 September 1931.

Members of the Hitler Youth gather flowers strewn across the parade path in front of Hitler.

Adolf Hitler salutes the parade on the occasion of the Gautag in Gera

Hess, Himmler, Röhm and Frick join Hitler to observe the parade.

The Sturmabteilung Musikkorps performs for Hitler at the Marktplatz in Gera, the distinctive “schwalbennester” (swallow’s nest) stripped shoulder badges are clearly visible on their upper sleeves.

The Gera branch of the SA march past Hitler at the 1931 Gautag.

Hitler comes to Gera on the occasion of the 7th Gauparteitage (the NSDAP’s “District Party Day”) and gives a speech in the market place.

”Germany awakes! The day of freedom in Gera. Hitler Rally in Gera: 5-6 September 1931. Gera was another milestone in our movement’s march to victory. Every time our opponents hope that we have reached our highpoint, that things will be downhill from now on, the opposite happens. Once again, tens of thousands marched in Gera under our movement’s victorious symbols. The Führer and Germany showed the whole world that not only the S.A., but the whole movement, is marching in step toward victory. And the fascinating rhythms of the brown columns find an ever stronger and happier reception in the hearts of those who until now have stood afar from us, but are now ready to give themselves fully for the good of their people. The demonstration in Gera was a meaningful expression of the millions of Germans who believe fanatically in the victory of our movement. That which Adolf Hitler and all the other leaders expressed in these moving days was at the same time the wish and hope of millions, joined in the unshakable will to earn Germany respect, honor, and freedom internationally, and work and prosperity at home. This brutal will is determined to fight until final victory, even if the world is full of devils.” -Wilhelm Brückner, Illustrierter Beobachter report

Hitler spoke in the double room of the Gasthof Heinrichsbrücke on the evening of 6 September 1931 at 17.00 for one hour. The meeting, which was attended by 2,000 people, was chaired by Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel and opened with a brief welcome. Hitler’s speech formed the conclusion of the Thuringian Gautag which had opened the day before with a meeting of all political leaders, followed by a torchlight procession, an SA concert on Schützenplatz and a firework display which, according to the police report, was attended by around 20,000 spectators.