The 1929 Nuremberg Rally

The Day of Composure (1st-4th August)

By the beginning of 1929, the tide of public opinion was turning in favour of the Nazi Party.
Hitler found supporters amongst the most influential members of German industry including Alfred Hugenberg, the director of the Krupp organisation.
Due to this support, the Nazi Party felt strong enough to hold another Party Congress.

Hitler (with Rudolf Hess) parades through the streets of Nuremberg during the 1929 rally......the "Day of Composure".

Once again, the Luitpoldhain (Luitpold Grove) was the major location used outside of the city centre.

A film, "Nürnberger Parteitag des NSDAP" directed by Baldur von Schirach (later the leader of the Hitler Youth organisation) shows the events of 1929.

The film is very much in need of editing but it shows 'behind the scenes' activities that were rarely photographed.......planning meetings, straw arriving for bedding, queueing for soup & bread and the washing facilities as well as events in the city centre and the Luitpold Grove.

A section of the film can be viewed in the Propaganda Videos section.....unfortunately, it is overlayed with a timer.

Local Communist and Social Democrat supporters were drawn to Nuremberg and there were clashes across the city leaving the police struggling to keep control.

Complaints included........"organised troublemaking, hospitality most shamefully abused, brutal acts of terror, many case of assault, provocation and abuse, mortal injuries".

Serious violence included a party member being shot dead by a sniper and another stabbed and killed.

There were many others who were injured in violent clashes (including five policemen).

The New York Times carried a short article blaming the Nazi Party for the violence.

The application for the 1930 rally was rejected by the city council due to the riots of 1929.
In 1931, the Nazi Party rejected the council's offer on account of the stringent requirementss that would have to be met.
There was no application for 1932 as the party was extremely short of funds due to intense campaigning for the Reichstag elections.

The future for the rallies looked bleak but, by 1933, there had been a significant change in fortune.......The Wall Street Crash and Hitler becoming Chancellor of Germany.