The Third Reich is the informal name for Germany in the chronological period from the spring of 1933 to May 1945. Despite such a short life, he played a significant role in the history of the last century, leaving behind many still unsolved mysteries. Let's try to briefly describe the most significant stages in the fate of the state during that period. Naturally, we should start from the moment when Hitler came to power, remembering with what ideas he conquered the hearts of many Germans and poisoned their minds. But war is not the only thing that distinguished this politician. Under his wing, he gathered many outstanding scientists and gave them the opportunity to work and invent. This decision allowed Germany to acquire the most extraordinary technical devices, thanks to which the country quickly recovered from the horrific destruction.
origin of name
The phrase Drittes reich translated from German means “Third Empire”. Interestingly, it is translated into Russian differently. The term “Reich” can be interpreted as “state” and “empire”, but it is closest to the concept of “power”. But even in German it can acquire a mystical meaning. According to him, the Reich is a “kingdom”. The author of this concept was the German figure Arthur Möller van den Broek.
First and second Reichs
The Third Reich... This term is familiar to almost every person. But few can explain why the state was named that way. Why third? The fact is that van den Broek understood by this word an indivisible power, which was conceived as a haven for the entire German people. According to his ideas, the First Reich is the Roman Empire of the German nation.
Its destiny began in 962 and was interrupted in 1806 as a result of the defeat inflicted on it by Napoleon. The Second Reich was the name given to the German Empire, created in 1871, during the period when its history ended after the 1918 revolution. This is the so-called Kaiser's Germany. And the Third Reich, according to van den Broek, would act as the successor to the weakened Weimar Republic and should have become an ideal integral state. Adolf Hitler took this idea from him. Thus, the history of Germany, in short, just fit into the successive Reichs.
Short story
By the end of the 20s - early 30s. The world economy was under the grip of a global crisis, which also weakened Germany. The beginning of the fate of the Third Reich in 1934 is connected with this. The political situation in the state has become extremely tense. At the same time, the importance of the National Socialist Workers' Party increased. In the July 1932 elections, she received 37% of the vote. But, although it surpassed other parties, it was still not enough to form a government.
In the next elections the result was even lower (32%). All this year, President Hindenburg called on Hitler to become a member of the government and offered him the position of vice-chancellor. However, he agreed only to the position of Reich Chancellor. Only the following winter did Hindenburg succumb to these conditions. And already on January 30, Adolf Hitler took the post of Reich Chancellor.
Already in February, the Communist Party was banned, and severe persecution began against its leaders, to which almost half of its members were subjected.
The Reichstag was immediately dissolved, and the NDSAP won the elections held in March. The newly created government already at the first meeting, on March 23, approved Hitler’s emergency powers.
In July, all existing parties except the Nazi one were banned. Trade unions were also dissolved, and in their place the German Labor Front was formed. marked the beginning of the arrests and extermination of Jews.
Hitler's popularity was constantly growing. Propaganda played a significant role in this: the Kaiser’s Germany and the weak were condemned, and the defeat in the First World War was also recalled. Also, the rise in the Fuhrer's popularity was due to the end of the Great Depression and significant economic development. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that it was during this period that the country took a leading position in the production of metals such as aluminum and steel.
In 1938, Austria joined the Reich, followed by Czechoslovakia in 1939. The following year, the heads of the USSR and Germany signed a Non-Aggression Pact.
World War II and Third Reich
In September 1939, Reich soldiers entered Poland. France and Britain responded to this by declaring war on Germany. Over the next three years, the Reich defeated part of European countries. In June 1941, Germany attacked the USSR, occupying some of its lands.
A regime of intimidation was established in the conquered areas. This provoked the emergence of partisan detachments.
In July 1944, there was a coup attempt (which failed) and a failed attempt on Hitler's life. Underground partisan detachments were organized in the state.
On May 7, 1945, an act of unconditional surrender of Germany was concluded. May 9 marked the end of hostilities. And already on May 23, the government of the Third Reich was arrested.
State and territorial structure of the Third Reich
The head of the empire was the chancellor. Executive power was concentrated in the hands of the government. The legislative body was the Imperial Diet, which was elected by the people. Within Germany, only the National Socialist Workers' Party was allowed to operate.
The Third Reich was divided into fourteen states and two cities.
Countries that entered the state as a result of expansion, and those in which mainly ethnic Germans lived, were included in it as imperial districts. They were called "Reichsgau". Thus, Austria was divided into seven such entities.
Reichskommissariats were organized in the remaining occupied lands. A total of five such formations were created, and four more were planned to be formed.
Symbols of the Third Reich
Perhaps the most famous and familiar symbol characterizing the Third Reich is the red flag with a swastika, which is still banned in many countries. By the way, she was depicted on almost all state paraphernalia. It is interesting that the Reich's weapons, primarily cold steel, were created taking into account the characteristics of the uniform and national symbols. Another attribute was an iron cross with flared ends. The coat of arms was an image of a black eagle with a swastika in its talons.
"Song of the Germans"
The anthem of the Third Reich is the “Song of the Germans” created almost a century before the start of Hitler’s reign. The author of the text was Hoffmann von Fallersleben. The musical score was composed by Joseph Haydn. The anthem of the Third Reich is now the main composition of the united Germany. Interestingly, the “Song of the Germans” these days does not evoke such strong negative associations, for example, as the swastika. However, this does not apply to the military marches of the Third Reich.
At least some of them. For example, the composition written by Horst Wessel was a march of the assault troops and the anthem of the ruling party. Today it is prohibited by criminal law in Germany and Austria.
Most people associate the concept of “German Reich” with Nazi Germany, but such an analogy is not entirely accurate. The term “Third Reich” is associated with the Nazi period in the country’s history. But when in that case were the other two? Let's find out this by focusing especially on the concept of the “First Reich”.
Meaning of the term
What do historians generally understand by the word “Reich”? The translation from German into Russian is: “territory under the authority of a ruler.” The word is derived from rīkz - “ruler”, “lord”. A more simplified meaning is "empire".
The term itself entered the masses in the 20s of the last century. It was then, after the collapse of the Kaiser’s Germany in the First World War, that German patriots began to call it the “Second Reich.” They believed that the revival of the power of a great country was possible. These hopes were associated with the advent of the Third Reich. Later, these sentiments were used by Hitler’s propaganda, which began to refer to their state with this term.
But let's look deeper into history and find out what, according to the Germans who lived at the beginning of the last century, the term “First Reich” meant.
Attempts to revive the Roman Empire
During the period when the Roman Empire was falling apart, the barbarian Germanic tribes, although they contributed significantly to its destruction, nevertheless did not set such goals for themselves. They wanted to live on the lands of the empire, enjoy the benefits, but not liquidate it. Therefore, the leaders of these tribes, settling with their people on Roman lands, quite often accepted the title of foederati, that is, allies of the Romans.
Even the German commander Odoacer, who actually liquidated the Western Roman Empire, formally acted under the guarantee of the Eastern emperor. Having created his own barbarian state on the territory of Italy, he recognized it as part of the empire. Odoacer's rival and later Ostrogothic successor, King Theodoric, had a similar status. Even the Frankish ruler Clovis accepted consular insignia from the Emperor of Constantinople, thus formally becoming an official of the empire.
Hundreds of years later, after the fall of Rome, the rulers of numerous Germanic states in Europe dreamed of reviving the empire in the West. The Frankish king Charlemagne managed to do this. Having defeated the kingdom of the Lombards, who then lived in Italy, he was crowned Emperor of the West in 800 by the Pope. However, his state did not last very long, torn apart in the internecine wars of Charles’s heirs. But the beginning of the revival of the empire had been made.
Beginning of German statehood
The empire of Charlemagne broke up into three large states, which, in turn, were split into many smaller duchies. In 919, Duke of Saxony Henry the Birdcatcher took the helm of the East Frankish Kingdom. The history of Germany, according to a number of experts, dates back to this date. Henry was able to unite the scattered duchies into a single state, as far as was possible in conditions of feudal fragmentation, and even successfully pursued a foreign expansionist policy, mainly against the Slavs.
But in 936 Henry the Birdcatcher died. He was succeeded by his son, Otto I the Great. It is believed that it was he who founded the first Reich.
Founding of the Holy Roman Empire
The beginning of Otto's reign, as often happened at that time, was marked by the suppression of a number of internal uprisings and the strengthening of royal power. After this, his gaze turned to lands outside Germany.
One of the most attractive targets for the young German king was Italy. This flourishing country at that time was mired in internal strife and conflicts. The pretext for Otto to begin the campaign was the complaint of the widow of the Italian king Lothar Adelheida about oppression by Berengar, who had established himself on the throne. The German king undertook a successful campaign in Italy in 951, as a result of which its ruler, although he retained his title, had to demonstrate humility.
True, a little later Berengar showed obstinacy, which was the reason for Otto’s next campaign in 961. It was then that he deposed the rebellious Italian king and married Adelheide. A year later, Pope John XII crowned Otto with the imperial crown. This is how Germany and Italy were united under the scepter of one ruler, and this is how the Holy Roman Empire arose
Confrontation with the Papacy
The further history of the Reich was marked by a sharp confrontation between the emperor and the popes. It was associated with the struggle for primacy between spiritual and secular authorities, for the right to appoint bishops, for control over Italian cities, as well as a number of other political issues.
The confrontation began during the lifetime of Otto I and his immediate heirs, but especially escalated under two imperial dynasties: the Salic and Hohenstaufen. After several centuries of struggle, the papacy, with the support of the French monarchy, which was gaining particular strength in Europe, won a victory in the middle of the 13th century. Representatives of the Hohenstaufen dynasty were almost all exterminated, and the authority of the imperial power was reduced to zero.
New strengthening of the power of the emperors
The history of Germany in the period following these events is known as the Interregnum. It lasted 20 years. During this period, not a single feudal family could firmly gain a foothold on the imperial throne. The emperor's real power often did not extend beyond his own duchy. Moreover, quite often there were several contenders for the crown. Each of them considered himself the true emperor.
The existing state of affairs changed in 1273, when Rudolf of Habsburg, who was also Duke of Austria, ascended the imperial throne. He significantly succeeded in strengthening the power of the emperor. Although he was unable to pass it on by inheritance, nevertheless, it was his reign that served as support for the future rise of the Habsburgs.
Under the next dynasty of Luxemburgs, who were also kings of the Czech Republic, imperial power strengthened even more. True, for this, the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire had to make significant compromises with their vassals. In 1356, Charles IV issued the so-called “Golden Bull”, which regulated the procedure for electing emperors.
Rise of the Habsburgs
In 1452, Frederick III, a member of the Habsburg family, became emperor. From then on, representatives of this dynasty almost continuously, with one exception, were at the head of the First Reich until its death.
Frederick III's son Maximilian, thanks to successful dynastic marriages, managed to ensure Habsburg dominance in Europe under his descendants. Thus, his heir Charles V was simultaneously the Holy Roman Emperor, the ruler of the Netherlands, the king of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Spain, which brought the rich colonies of the New World, as well as a number of other smaller lands, under his control. After the death of this ruler, these territories were divided between his son Philip, who became king of Spain, and his brother Ferdinand I, who became emperor.
Thirty Years' War
But a number of subsequent events, although they did not lead to the complete collapse of the Habsburgs, significantly weakened their position in Europe. The main event that contributed to this was the Thirty Years' War, which began in 1618. Its reason was the desire of the German Protestant princes in the territories under their control to profess the religion that they desired. Naturally, this caused opposition from the Habsburgs, who were Catholics.
The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and bloodiest conflicts Germany has known. The Habsburg Reich alienated not only the Protestant princes, but also some Catholic kings. For example, France in this war acted as an ally of the Protestants, as it was a long-time rival of the Habsburg monarchy.
As a result, after thirty years of protracted conflict, the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1648. In accordance with it, the emperor agreed to respect the right of local princes to profess the religion they wish, and legally recognized the secession of Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands from the empire, although in fact this happened even earlier. Thus, the Habsburgs lost their dominance in Europe.
The final stage of the history of the Holy Roman Empire
This defeat did not yet mean the end of imperial power, although it was significantly weakened and now actually completely extended only to the family possessions of the Habsburgs - Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and a number of other lands. After the death in 1742 of Emperor Charles VI, who had no male issue, the crown even fell into the hands of the Bavarian house of Wittelsbach for three years, but was soon returned to the Habsburgs.
The reign of Empress Maria Theresa can be considered the last attempt to revive the power of the Holy Roman Empire. During her reign, some military victories were won, and art also developed rapidly. Reich coins from that time clearly demonstrate the influence of the Enlightenment on the Austrian court.
But this was the heyday before twilight.
End of the First Reich
From the end of the 17th century, a series of French revolutionary and Napoleonic wars began, shaking all of Europe. The coalition, which included the Holy Roman Empire, suffered one defeat after another. Particularly significant was Napoleon's victory over the Russian-Austrian army at Austerlitz in 1805. The very next year, Francis II was forced to renounce the crown of the Holy Roman Empire, retaining only the title of Austrian Emperor.
This is how the First Reich ended its history.
The next reichs
Meanwhile, after the fall of Napoleon, the kingdom of Prussia, which was located in northern Germany with its capital in Berlin, especially strengthened. This state waged a number of successful wars. During one of them, France was defeated in 1870. After this, the Prussian king Wilhelm united almost all German lands under his rule with the exception of Austria and took the title of emperor (Kaiser). This state formation is usually called the “Second Reich”. However, already in 1918, as a result of defeat in the First World War, imperial power in Germany was replaced by the Weimar Republic.
In the German state of the 20s of the 20th century, revanchist sentiments were quite strong, which were expressed in hopes of creating a Third Reich. It was on the wave of these aspirations that the National Socialist Party led by Adolf Hitler came to power. He managed to create an almost perfect machine for enslavement, plunging the whole world into the chaos of war. Nevertheless, the Allied forces managed to turn the tide of hostilities and win an unconditional victory over Nazi Germany.
Since then, the term “Reich” has been primarily associated with Nazism.
John Woods was a good executioner. When his victim hung in the air, he grabbed her by the legs and hung with her, reducing the suffering of the one dangling in the noose. But this is in his native Texas, where he has already executed more than three hundred people.
On the night of October 16, 1946, Woods abandoned his principles.
The American pro had to hang the bosses of the Third Reich: Goering, Ribbentrop, Keitel, Kaltenbrunner, Jodl, Sauckel, Streicher, Seys-Inquart, Frank, Frick and Rosenberg. In this group prison photo they are almost in full force.
The Nuremberg prison where the Nazis were held was in the American zone, so the executioner was also provided by the US government. In this photo, American Sergeant John Woods demonstrates his know-how - his legendary 13-knot loop.
Goering was supposed to be the first to ascend the scaffold, followed by Ribbentrop, but two hours before the execution, the Reichsmarshal committed suicide by taking a capsule of potassium cyanide, which (according to one possible version) his wife gave him with a farewell kiss during their last meeting in prison.
How Goering found out about the upcoming execution is unknown; its date was kept strictly secret from the condemned and the press. Before death, the convicts were even fed, offering one of two dishes to choose from: sausages with salad or pancakes with fruit.
Goering bit into the ampoule during dinner.
They were executed after midnight in the gym of Nuremberg prison. Woods built the gallows in just 24 hours: just the day before, the soldiers were still playing basketball in the hall. The idea seemed good to him: three gallows, replaceable ropes, body bags and, most importantly, hatches in the platforms under the feet of the guilty, into which they immediately had to fall when hanged.
No more than three hours were allotted for the entire execution, including the last word and conversation with the priest. Woods himself later proudly recalled that day: “Ten people in 103 minutes. That’s fast work.”
But the downside (or upside?) was that Woods hurriedly miscalculated the size of the hatches, making them very small. Falling inside the gallows, the executed person touched the edges of the hatch with his head and died, let’s say, not immediately...
Ribbentrop wheezed in the loop for 10 minutes, Jodl - 18, Keitel - 24.
After the execution, representatives of all the Allied powers examined the corpses and signed death certificates, and journalists photographed the bodies with and without clothes. Then the executed were loaded into spruce coffins, sealed and, under heavy escort, transported to the crematorium of the Eastern Cemetery of Munich.
On the evening of October 18, the mixed ashes of the criminals were poured into the Isar Canal from the Marienklausen Bridge.
Interior view of the solitary cell where the main German war criminals were kept.
People like Goering
Lunch of the defendants of the Nuremberg trials.
Goering at lunch in his cell.
Goering during lunch during a break in the Nuremberg trials in the common dining room for the accused.
Opposite him is Rudolf Hess
Goering, who lost 20 kg during the process.
Goering during a meeting with his lawyer.
Goering and Hess
Goering on trial
Kaltenbrunner in a wheelchair
The Foreign Minister of the Third Reich, Joachim von Ribbentrop, was the first to be hanged.
Colonel General Alfred Jodl
Chief of the SS Reich Security Directorate Ernst Kaltenbrunner
Chief of the Wehrmacht High Command Wilhelm Keitel
Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia Wilhelm Frick
Gauleiter of Franconia Julius Streicher
Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the NSDAP Alfred Rosenberg
Reichskommissar of the Netherlands Arthur Seyss-Inquart
Gauleiter of Thuringia Friedrich Sauckel
Governor General of Poland, NSDAP lawyer Hans Frank
The corpse of Heinrich Himmler. The Reichsführer SS committed suicide on May 23, 1945, while being detained in the city of Luneburg, by taking potassium cyanide.
The corpses of the leader of the National Fascist Party Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci, who shielded the Duce during the execution on April 28, 1945 on the outskirts of the village of Mezzegra.
The dead bodies of Mussolini and Petacci, along with six bodies of other fascist hierarchs, were transported to Milan and hung by their feet from the ceilings of a gas station in Piazza Loreto.
Deputy Fuhrer for the Party Rudolf Hess. The only one of the three defendants sentenced to life imprisonment who served the entire term - 41 years. In August 1987, 93-year-old Hess was found hanging from an electrical wire in the courtyard gazebo of Berlin's Spandau prison.
P.S. Nuremberg executioner John C. Woods died on July 21, 1950. According to legend, from electric shock when testing an electric chair of his own design. In life, everything is more prosaic: he actually died from an electric shock, but while repairing electrical wiring in his own house.
