The Nuremberg Rallies

A Typical Rally Timetable

The Nuremberg Rally (from 1934 onwards) was a week-long festival of march pasts, torch light parades, speeches, fireworks, military displays and meetings.
Each organisation arranged their meetings across the city where their leaders explained their plans to the senior delegates.
These meetings were somewhat 'one-way' and there was the expectation that delegates would share and act upon the information when they returned home.
At the same time, outdoor parades and military manoeuvres were arranged to keep the rank and file entertained.

Hitler believed that one of the main functions of the Congress was to explain his vision for the Third Reich and get his ideas across to the Party members.
An apocryphal summary of Hitler's philosophy seems appropriate when looking at the timetable ......"I use emotion for the many and reserve reason for the few." 
The Reichsparteitage were much more than extravagant parades and ceremonies.

DAY 1: THE DAY OF GREETING

Hitler arrived by train at Nuremberg Station.
Press Reception in the House of Culture at 3:30pm
Nuremberg's churches rang their bells at 5:30pm to open the Party Congress
Reception for Party leaders and government officials in Nuremberg City Hall at 6:oopm
Performance of Richard Wagner's 'Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg' at the Nuremberg Opera House at 7:30pm (the opera lasted four hours)

DAY 2: THE OPENING OF THE CONGRESS

Opening ceremony in the Luitpold Congress Hall at 11:00am 
Cultural meeting at the Nuremberg Opera House at 8:00pm 

DAY 3: THE REICH LABOUR SERVICE DAY

The Reich Labour Service Rally, starting at 10.00am in the Zeppelinfield
Part 1 of the Party Congress in the Luitpold Hall at 5:30pm
In the evening, a torchlight parade along the Frauentorgraben in front of Hitler's hotel

DAY 4: THE DAY OF THE POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS

The day began with four early morning meetings around the city
Organisation for Ideological Indoctrination at the Opera House
Association of National Socialist Jurists at the House of Culture 
National Socialist Students Association in the Katherine Building 
Overseas Organisation for ex-patriots at the Apollo Theatre

Part 2 of the Party Congress in Luitpold Hall at 10:30am

Three afternoon meetings took place around the city.
The National Socialist Press Association at the City Hall 
The Committee on Finance and Administration at City Hall
The War Victims Welfare Service in the House of Culture

The Political Leaders Rally in the evening at the Zeppelinfield (90,00 participants having marched there via the city centre).
The German Women's League Rally in the Luitpold Hall (time not recorded)

DAY 5: THE HITLER YOUTH DAY

Review of the Hitler Youth in the Franken Stadium (Municipal Stadium) at 10:00am
Meeting of the Labour Front in the Luitpold Hall starting at 11:30am
Meeting of the Welfare Organisation in the House of Culture at 12:00 noon
Part 3 of the Party Congress at the Luitpold Hall at 3:00pm

DAY 6: THE DAY OF THE SS  AND SA


Parade of the SS and SA in the Luitpold Arena at 8:00am
March Past through Adolf Hitler Platz (formerly Hauptmarkt) beginning at 11:30am
Part 4 of the Party Congress in the Luitpold Hall at 6pm
Session of the Reichstag in the House of Culture at 6:00pm

EXTRA: THE DAY OF THE COMMUNITY

For 1938, this extra day was added to the programme before the Armed Forces Day
It consisted of massed athletic exhibitions held on the Zeppelinfield and in the Franken Stadium
Men from different organisations and females from the Faith & Beauty organisation took part in these exhibitions

DAY 7: THE ARMED FORCES DAY

A 9:00am military display on the Zeppelinfield (without Hitler)
NSDAP political leadership at the Nuremberg Opera House
Propaganda officials at the Apollo Theatre
The Committee on Agrarian Policies at the Katherine Building
The Economic Policies Committee at the House of Culture
The Committee for Industry at the City Hall
The National Socialist Jurists Association at the City Hall
The Committee for Community Policies at the Congress Hall
The National Socialist Teachers' Association at the Apollo Theatre

A second 2:00pm military display on the Zepelinfield (with Hitler in attendance)
The final part of the Party Congress in the Luitpold Hall at 6:30pm
A night-time military tattoo on the Zeppelinfield
A midnight closing ceremony outside Hitler's hotel

The flag outside Hitler's hotel was lowered, bringing to an end the Party Congress