Showcasing the Third Reich: The Nuremberg Rallies

How the annual rallies in Nuremberg were organised and their importance in the rise of National Socialism in Germany

Full of then-and-now illustrations, this book is an up-to-date investigation into the notorious Nuremberg rallies and the part they played in the Nazi's quest to establish their vaunted 1,000 Year Third Reich. Between 1923 and 1938 the Nazis held 10 'Reich National Party Conventions in Nuremberg. Each rally was bigger than the last, with the number of visitors growing to more than half a million, and this growth reflected the spread of National Socialism across Germany. This book explores how the rallies were organized, what the daily schedules were, who spoke at them, and who attended. The development of the Rally Grounds under Albert Speer's direction is also explored. The importance of the rallies in Joseph Goebbels' propaganda campaign is explored as is the story of Leni Riefenstahl's filming of the rallies, in particular Triumph of the Will in 1934. The author trawled through the Hoffmann archives in Washington to select the most dramatic and informative images and visited Nuremberg to gain new insight.

Andrew Rawson is a freelance writer and the author of 14 books, including Bridge at Remagan and Walcheren.