Reichskulturkammer
Encyclopedia
The Reichskulturkammer ("Reich Culture Chamber") was an institution of Nazi Germany
. It was established by law on 22 September 1933 in the course of the Gleichschaltung
process at the instigation of Reich Minister Joseph Goebbels
as a professional organization of all German creative artists. Defying the claims raised by the German Labour Front
(DAF) under rivaling Robert Ley
, it was meant to gain control over the entire cultural life in Germany promoting art created by "Aryans" and seen as consistent with Nazi
ideals.
Any artist had to apply for membership on presentation of an Aryan certificate
. A rejected inscription de facto resulted in a profession ban
.
The RKK was affiliated with the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
with its seat in Berlin
. Headed by Goebbels himself, a state secretary
of his ministry served as vice president:
SS
officer Hans Hinkel
was one of the officers in charge of the chamber and Goebbels' special commissioner for the removal of Jews
from German cultural life.
Different subdivisions of the RKK dealt with music
, visual arts, film
, architecture, and literature, organized in seven departments:
One notable project of the RKK's bildende Künste (visual arts) division was the Entartete Kunst
touring exhibition, of works deemed "degenerate."
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. It was established by law on 22 September 1933 in the course of the Gleichschaltung
Gleichschaltung
Gleichschaltung , meaning "coordination", "making the same", "bringing into line", is a Nazi term for the process by which the Nazi regime successively established a system of totalitarian control and tight coordination over all aspects of society. The historian Richard J...
process at the instigation of Reich Minister Joseph Goebbels
Joseph Goebbels
Paul Joseph Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945. As one of Adolf Hitler's closest associates and most devout followers, he was known for his zealous oratory and anti-Semitism...
as a professional organization of all German creative artists. Defying the claims raised by the German Labour Front
German Labour Front
The German Labour Front was the National Socialist trade union organisation which replaced the various trade unions of the Weimar Republic after Adolf Hitler's rise to power....
(DAF) under rivaling Robert Ley
Robert Ley
Robert Ley was a Nazi politician and head of the German Labour Front from 1933 to 1945. He committed suicide while awaiting trial for war crimes.- Early life :...
, it was meant to gain control over the entire cultural life in Germany promoting art created by "Aryans" and seen as consistent with Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
ideals.
Any artist had to apply for membership on presentation of an Aryan certificate
Aryan certificate
In Nazi Germany, the Aryan certificate was a document which certified that a person was a member of the Aryan race. Beginning in April 1933 it was required from all employees and officials in the public sector, including education, according to the Law for the Restoration of the Professional...
. A rejected inscription de facto resulted in a profession ban
Profession ban
Profession ban is law, laws or practice, which means that a person is hindered to perform one or more occupations. There is also another meaning of the term profession ban, namely: profession ban may prevail even if a ban does not exist...
.
The RKK was affiliated with the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
The Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was Nazi Germany's ministry that enforced Nazi Party ideology in Germany and regulated its culture and society. Founded on March 13, 1933, by Adolf Hitler's new National Socialist government, the Ministry was headed by Dr...
with its seat in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. Headed by Goebbels himself, a state secretary
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
of his ministry served as vice president:
- Walther FunkWalther FunkWalther Funk was a prominent Nazi official. He served as Reich Minister for Economic Affairs in Nazi Germany from 1937 to 1945, tried as a major war criminal by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg.-Early life:...
(1933-1938) - Karl HankeKarl HankeKarl August Hanke was an official of the National Socialist German Workers Party . He served as governor of Lower Silesia from 1941 to 1945 and as the final Reichsführer-SS for a few days in 1945.- Early life :Hanke was born in Lauban in Silesia, on 24 August 1903, the son of a locomotive...
(1938-1941) - Leopold Gutterer (1941-1944)
- Werner NaumannWerner NaumannWerner Naumann was a State Secretary in Joseph Goebbels' Propagandaministerium during the Third Reich. He was appointed head of the Propaganda Ministry by Führer Adolf Hitler in his political testament after Dr. Goebbels was promoted to Reichskanzler.-Early life and political career:Naumann was...
(1944-1945)
SS
Schutzstaffel
The Schutzstaffel |Sig runes]]) was a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Built upon the Nazi ideology, the SS under Heinrich Himmler's command was responsible for many of the crimes against humanity during World War II...
officer Hans Hinkel
Hans Hinkel
Hans Hinkel was a German journalist and ministerial official in Nazi Germany....
was one of the officers in charge of the chamber and Goebbels' special commissioner for the removal of Jews
History of the Jews in Germany
The presence of Jews in Germany has been established since the early 4th century. The community prospered under Charlemagne, but suffered during the Crusades...
from German cultural life.
Different subdivisions of the RKK dealt with music
Reichsmusikkammer
The Reichsmusikkammer was a Nazi institution. It promoted "good German music" which was composed by Aryans and seen as consistent with Nazi ideals, while suppressing other, "degenerate" music, which included atonal music, jazz, and music by Jewish composers...
, visual arts, film
Reichsfilmkammer
The Reichsfilmkammer was a public corporation based in Berlin that regulated the film industry in National Socialist Germany between 1933 and 1945...
, architecture, and literature, organized in seven departments:
- ReichsrundfunkkammerReichs-Rundfunk-GesellschaftThe Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft , which can be loosely translated as the State Broadcasting Company, was a national network of German regional public broadcasting companies active from 1925 until 1945...
(until 1939) - ReichsfilmkammerReichsfilmkammerThe Reichsfilmkammer was a public corporation based in Berlin that regulated the film industry in National Socialist Germany between 1933 and 1945...
, headed by Carl FroelichCarl FroelichCarl August Froelich was a German film pioneer and film director.-Apparatus builder and cameraman:...
from 1939 - ReichsmusikkammerReichsmusikkammerThe Reichsmusikkammer was a Nazi institution. It promoted "good German music" which was composed by Aryans and seen as consistent with Nazi ideals, while suppressing other, "degenerate" music, which included atonal music, jazz, and music by Jewish composers...
, headed by Richard StraussRichard StraussRichard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
, from 1935 by Peter RaabePeter RaabePeter Raabe was a German composer and conductor. Graduated in the Higher Musical School in Berlin and in the universities of Munich and Jena. In 1894-98 Raabe worked in Königsberg and Zwickau. In 1899-1903 he worked in the Dutch Opera-House . In 1907-20 Raabe was the 1st Court Conductor in Weimar... - Reichskammer der bildenden Künste, headed by Eugen HönigEugen HonigEugen Honig was one of Adolf Hitler's architects.In 1931 Honig, along with other German architects such as Alexander von Senger, Konrad Nonn, German Bestelmeyer and especially Paul Schultze-Naumburg were deputized in the National Socialist fight against modern architecture, in a para-governmental...
, from 1936 by Adolf ZieglerAdolf ZieglerAdolf Ziegler was a German painter and politician.He was tasked by the Nazi Party to oversee the purging of "Degenerate art", made by most of the German modern artists. He was the favoured painter of Hitler... - Reichstheaterkammer
- Reichsschrifttumskammer, headed by Hans-Friedrich BlunckHans-Friedrich BlunckHans-Friedrich Blunck was a jurist and a writer. In the time of the Third Reich, he occupied various positions in Nazi cultural institutions.- Life :...
, from 1935 by Hanns JohstHanns JohstHanns Johst was a German playwright and Nazi Poet Laureate.Hanns Johst was born in Seehausen as the son of an elementary school teacher. He grew up in Oschatz and Leipzig. As a juvenile he planned to become a missionary. When he was 17 years old he worked as an auxiliary in a Bethel Institution... - Reichspressekammer, headed by Max AmannMax AmannMax Aman was a German Nazi official with the honorary rank of SS-Obergruppenführer, politician and journalist.-Biography:Amann was born in Munich on November 24, 1891...
One notable project of the RKK's bildende Künste (visual arts) division was the Entartete Kunst
Degenerate art
Degenerate art is the English translation of the German entartete Kunst, a term adopted by the Nazi regime in Germany to describe virtually all modern art. Such art was banned on the grounds that it was un-German or Jewish Bolshevist in nature, and those identified as degenerate artists were...
touring exhibition, of works deemed "degenerate."