862.00/3163
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 14.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that the Reich Chamber of Culture, mentioned in section 10 of despatch No. 172 of September 29, 1933,65 was formally constituted in Berlin on November 15 with impressive ceremonies.
The Chamber of Culture, according to Dr. Goebbels, is to be the representative body of German intellectual life. It is presumably another step towards a corporative system of “estates” which is to constitute the structure of the Third Reich. Membership in the various chambers composing the Reich Chamber is compulsory for all intellectual workers as well as for those who are engaged in the reproduction, sale or the dissemination of the products of their labor. Thus the Press Chamber will include the typesetters, the Chamber of Music, the music publishers, etc.
The Minister for Propaganda, Dr. Goebbels, is President of the Chamber, while Dr. Funk, the Secretary of State in his Ministry, is Vice President. Dr. Richard Strauss, the renowned musical director and composer, is President of the Chamber of Music; Professor Eugen Hönig, a member of a well-known firm of Munich architects, is President of the Chamber of Creative Arts; Herr Otto Laubinger, the head of the State Workers Society, is President of the Theater Chamber; Herr Hans Friedrich Blunck, [Page 269] a novelist, is President of the Chamber of Literature; Herr Max Amann, for many years head of the National Socialist Publishing Association is President of the Press Chamber; Herr Horst Dressler-Andress is President of the Chamber of Broadcasting; Dr. Fritz Scheuermann is President of the Film Chamber. It should be pointed out that apart from Dr. Richard Strauss, the heads of the other chambers are men of whom little is known outside of Nazi circles.
The press, the radio, and the film became vehicles for Nazi propaganda immediately after Hitler’s accession to power. In addition, the theater, literature, the creative arts, and even music, are now to be subordinated to the Nazi aims and ideals. Through this control over all cultural life in Germany, the Minister for Propaganda will be able to regiment and mould public opinion to an extent inconceivable in the United States and many other countries. That the effect will be stimulating to the artist, the author or the composer seems extremely doubtful.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor of Embassy
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