God-favored list

The Gottbegnadeten-Liste was a 36-page list compiled by Joseph Goebbels and Adolf Hitler in the final phase of the Second World War in 1944, in which 1041 artists were listed who seemed important to the National Socialist regime . The name is based on the file title of the list and was therefore the official term used by the Reich Ministry.

General

Already at the beginning of the National Socialism there were lists of ostracized or desired artists. Shortly before the Second World War, which began with the attack on Poland , Goebbels from the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda had drawn up a list of “ cultural workers ” who were indispensable for the Nazi state in order to free them from joining the Wehrmacht . By order of Hitler, desirable artists such as writers, sculptors, architects, painters, singers, musicians and actors were released from the front line in October 1939 as indispensable, as they were supposed to devote themselves mainly to Nazi propaganda . The exemption was only valid until revoked and was therefore checked from time to time.

In 1941, Ernst Lothar von Knorr , in his role as music advisor to the Army High Command, together with Eduard Wagner, the general and later resistance fighter of July 20, 1944, created another list that Hitler signed and that meant that 360 musicians were released. Knorr also employed various musicians as teachers at the army music schools, which meant that they were released from active military service. In 1941, Hans Severus Ziegler also created his own list for the “highly gifted youngsters”.

Selection criteria

As a result of the total war announced in 1943, the theaters were closed on September 1, 1944 in the final phase of the Second World War . Many artists were drafted into military service or employed on the home front in the armaments industry. Only a minority of 1,041 people among the approximately 140,000 members of the Reich Chamber of Culture were excluded from this and were named on the God-gifted list. These selected "God-gifted" were still considered to be obligated to serve, but should only be used for events in the sense of cultural propaganda and for troop support. The persons who represented “outstanding national capital” and were named on special lists were completely excluded from this.

When creating the lists, Goebbels mainly named actors whom he needed for his propaganda films . There were a total of 280 actors, 227 actresses, 78 film authors, 18 film authors and 35 film directors.

For his “Führerliste” Hitler chose the writers, composers, musicians, visual artists and other actors who were indispensable in his eyes. Building on this, Hitler created several special lists in which he named the indispensable and in his eyes most important artists among the "God-gifted".

The cultural workers excluded from the war received a letter stating that “Mr. Reichsminister, in his capacity as President of the Reich Chamber of Culture, released you from the armed forces and labor due to your artistic achievement. […] This exemption, which was given in recognition of your special artistic abilities, was given under the condition, of course, that you make yourself available to comprehensive artistic support without reservation. [...] I ask you to take this letter in the sense of the measures of the total war effort as your service obligation for the artist war effort center led by me. "

This cover letter was considered an official communication that had to be "submitted to the responsible employment office".

Regulations from December 1944

When the defeat of the German Reich was foreseeable, the last reserves were to be mobilized. A letter from the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda of November 30, 1944 shows that the artists released from military service and even the "irreplaceable artists" named on the special lists, such as Wilhelm Furtwängler , should be called in to the Volkssturm .

Special lists of the "irreplaceable artists"

The twelve most important visual artists were on the special list

• the sculptors
  • Arno Breker (1900–1991), "Reichskultursenator"
  • Fritz Klimsch (1870–1960)
  • Georg Kolbe (1877–1947)
  • Josef Thorak (1889–1952), "state sculptor"
• The painters
  • Hermann Gradl (1883–1964), landscape painter and illustrator
  • Arthur Kampf (1864–1950), history painter
  • Willy Kriegel (1901–1966)
  • Werner Peiner (1897–1984)
• the architects
  • Leonhard Gall (1884–1952), "Reichskultursenator"
  • Hermann Giesler (1898–1987), "Reichskultursenator"
  • Wilhelm Kreis (1873–1955), last president of the Reich Chamber of Fine Arts
  • Paul Schultze-Naumburg (1869–1949)

The six most important writers were on the special list

• Gerhart Hauptmann (1862–1946), Nobel Prize Winner for Literature (1912)
• Hans Carossa (1878–1956), poet and narrator
• Hanns Johst (1890–1978), playwright and "Reichskultursenator"
• Erwin Guido Kolbenheyer (1878–1962), novelist, playwright and poet
• Agnes Miegel (1879–1964), writer, journalist and ballad poet
• Ina Seidel (1885–1974), novelist and poet

On the special list with the three most important musicians of the Third Reich were

• Hans Pfitzner (1869–1949), composer
• Richard Strauss (1864–1949), composer
• Wilhelm Furtwängler (1886–1954), conductor and composer.

There were also four theater actors on the list as a pencil entry:

• Otto Falckenberg (1873–1947), director of the Münchener Kammerspiele
• Friedrich Kayßler (1874–1945)
• Hermine Körner (1878-1960).
• Hedwig Bleibtreu (1868–1958)

Other "God-gifted"

Apart from the persons listed on the special lists, the other God-favored persons according to Oliver Rathkolb were in "artistic war deployment", but should not be used for military service. The so-called guide list included visual artists, musicians and some actors, 15 writers, 16 composers and 15 conductors.

writer

In addition to the writers on the special list, the following names were named:

1. Hans Friedrich Blunck (1888–1961)
2. Bruno Brehm (1892–1974)
3. Hermann Burte (1879–1960)
4. Gustav Frenssen (1863–1945)
5. Friedrich Griese (1890–1975)
6. Hans Grimm (1875-1959)
7. Max Halbe (1865-1944)
8. Heinrich Lilienfein (1879–1952)
9. Börries Freiherr von Münchhausen (1874–1945)
10. Wilhelm Schäfer (1868–1952)
11. Wilhelm von Scholz (1874–1969)
12. Emil Strauss (1866-1960)
13. Lulu von Strauss and Torney (1873–1956)
14. Helene Voigt-Diederichs (1875–1961)
15. Josef Weinträger (1892–1945)
16. Heinrich Zillich (1898–1988)

Composers

According to Rathkolb, this included the composers Richard Strauss and Hans Pfitzner named on the special lists only 16 people:

1. Johann Nepomuk David (1895–1977)
2. Werner Egk (1901–1983)
3. Gerhard Frommel (1906–1984)
4. Harald Genzmer (1909-2007)
5. Ottmar Gerster (1897–1969)
6. Kurt Hessenberg (1908-1994)
7. Paul Höffer (1895–1949)
8. Karl Höller (1907–1987)
9. Mark Lothar (1902–1985)
10. Josef Marx (1882–1964)
11. Gottfried Müller (1914–1993)
12. Carl Orff (1895–1982)
13. Ernst Pepping (1901–1981)
14. Max Trapp (1887–1971)
15. Fried Walter (1907-1996)
16. Hermann Zilcher (1881–1948)

Conductors

In addition to Wilhelm Furtwängler, who was included in the special list of irreplaceable artists, the lists included the following 15 names:

1. Hermann Abendroth (1883–1956)
2. Karl Böhm (1894–1981)
3. Karl Elmendorff (1891–1962)
4. Robert Heger (1886–1978)
5. Eugen Jochum (1902–1987)
6. Oswald Kabasta (1896-1946)
7. Herbert von Karajan (1908–1989)
8. Hans Knappertsbusch (1888–1965)
9. Joseph Keilberth (1908–1968)
10. Rudolf Krasselt (1879–1954)
11. Clemens Krauss (1893–1954)
12. Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (1900–1973)
13. Paul Schmitz (1898–1992)
14. Johannes Schüler (1894–1966)
15. Carl Schuricht (1880–1967)

Other artists such as architects, painters and musicians, theater actors

Apart from the above-mentioned writers, composers and conductors, according to Rathkolb, there were 34 sculptors, 73 painters, 51 architects and 23 commercial artists and designers on Hitler's list of “fine arts”. 17 pianists, 9 violinists, 4 cellists, 2 organists, 3 quartets and 9 concert singers were among the musicians; various theater actors and opera singers were also on the list.

• Instrumental soloists (selection)
  • Hans Beltz (1897–1977), pianist and music teacher
  • Michael Raucheisen (1889–1984), pianist
  • Ludwig Hoelscher (1907–1996), cellist
  • Elly Ney (1882–1968), pianist
  • Walter Morse Rummel (1887–1953), pianist
  • Günther Ramin (1898–1956), organist and choirmaster
  • Walter Gieseking (1895–1956), pianist
  • Wilhelm Kempff (1895–1991), pianist
  • Wilhelm Stross (1907–1966), violinist
  • Gerhard Taschner (1922–1976), violin virtuoso, initially position in the uk at Hitler's request on October 24, 1942.
• Theater and Opera (selection)
  • Jürgen Fehling (1885–1968), director and actor
  • Elisabeth Flickenschildt (1905–1977), according to Klee, she was on “the list of irreplaceable actors of the Reich Propaganda Ministry approved by Hitler”.
  • Heinrich George (1893–1946), theater and film actor
  • Josef Greindl (1912–1993), opera singer bass
  • Gustaf Gründgens (1899–1963), actor, director and artistic director
  • Marianne Hoppe (1909–2002), actress, according to Klee she was on "the Hitler-approved list of irreplaceable actors of the Reich Propaganda Ministry"
  • Werner Krauß (1884–1959), actor and Reich Senator for Culture
  • Eugen Klöpfer (1886–1950), actor and imperial culture senator
  • Helge Rosvaenge (1897–1972), opera singer, tenor
  • Karl-Heinz Stroux (1908–1985), actor and director
  • Heinrich Schlusnus (1888–1952), opera and lieder singer, Reich Senator for Culture, baritone
  • Wilhelm Strienz (1900–1987), opera and concert singer, bass
  • Paula Wessely (1907–2000), actress
• Fine arts (selection)
  • Karl Albiker (1878–1961), sculptor
  • Claus Bergen (1885–1964), marine painter
  • Ludwig Dettmann (1865–1944), war painter
  • Kurt Edzard (1890–1972), sculptor
  • Erich Erler (1870–1946), painter
  • Fritz von Graevenitz (1892–1959), sculptor and painter
  • Richard Klein (1890–1967), painter, sculptor, graphic artist and medalist
  • Fritz Mackensen (1866–1953), Worpswede painter
  • Alfred Mahlau (1894–1967), painter and illustrator
  • Leo Samberger (1861–1949), portrait painter
  • Richard Scheibe (1879–1964), sculptor
  • Friedrich Hermann Ernst Schneidler (1882–1956), typographer and calligrapher
  • Franz Stassen (1869–1949), painter and illustrator
  • Joseph Wackerle (1880–1959), sculptor
• Architects (selection)
  • Clemens Klotz (1886–1969), architect of training buildings for the NSDAP and the DAF
  • Ernst Neufert (1900–1986), architect and university professor
  • Bruno Paul (1874–1968), architect and designer
  • Friedrich Tamms (1904–1980), architect, professor, building officer
  • Theodor Veil (1879–1965), architect, university professor and Reich commissioner for building standardization

In addition, nine orchestras were named on the "Gottbegnadeten-list", the Berlin Philharmonic , the Vienna Philharmonic , the Prussian , Bavarian and Saxon State Orchestra , the Gewandhausorchester , the Bruckner Orchestra Linz , the Hamburg Philharmonic and the German Philharmonic Orchestra Prague, which formed in 1946 reorganized as the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra .

Actor on the Goebbels-initiated film list

That list included 280 actors, 227 actresses, 78 film writers, 18 film writers and 35 film directors, including:

• Wolf Albach-Retty (1906–1967), husband of Magda Schneider , father of Romy Schneider
• Hans Albers (1891–1960)
• Karl Dannemann (1896–1945), painter and film actor
• OW Fischer (1915-2004)
• Willy Fritsch (1901–1973)
• Johannes Heesters (1903–2011), actor and singer, named by Goebbels on the list of indispensable actors for film production, with the addition of "foreigners"
• Hans Holt (1909-2001)
• Attila Hörbiger (1896–1987)
• Paul Hörbiger (1894–1981)
• Viktor de Kowa (1904–1973)
• Curt Lucas (1888-1960)
• Ferdinand Marian (1902-1946)
• Karl Platen (1877–1952)
• Harry Piel (1892–1963), actor and director
• Heinz Rühmann (1902–1994)

Examples of the non-inclusion of previously released artists

A number of artists had originally been exempted from working with weapons, but their names were not included in the list of God-favored in 1944; including:

• Hans von Benda (1888–1972), conductor (and his chamber orchestra)
• Theodor Berger (1905–1992), composer
• Georg Böttcher (1889–1963), music teacher and choir director
• Cesar Bresgen (1913–1988), composer
• Hermann Diener (1897–1955), director of the Collegium Musicum in Berlin
• Heinz Drewes (1903–1980), conductor
• Hans Dünschede (1907–1999), orchestral musician (violinist)
• Otto Ebel von Sosen (1899–1974), conductor and composer
• Hans Ebert (1889–1952), composer, conductor
• Ernst Fleischhauer (1897–1991), concert and oratorio singer (baritone), music teacher
• Barnabás von Géczy (1897–1971), violinist, conductor
• Franz Grothe (1908–1982), composer, conductor
• Georg Haentzschel (1907–1992), pianist, composer
• Georg Ludwig Jochum (1909–1970), conductor
• Hermann Killer (1902–1990), musicologist, music writer
• Franz Kinzl (1895–1978), composer
• Curt Kretzschmar (1894–1973), conductor
• Walter Lutze (1891–1980), conductor
• Erwin Mausz (1899–1969), Kapellmeister
• Will Meisel (1897–1967), composer and music publisher
• Ernst Meyerolbersleben (1898–1991), deputy. Director of the Weimar Academy of Music
• Johannes Petschull (1901–2001), music publisher
• Leo Ritter (1887 – after 1945), director of STAGMA
• Gilbert Schuchter (1919–1989), pianist
• Heinrich Spitta (1902–1972), music teacher, composer
• Oskar Stalla (1879–1953), film music composer
• Hans Steinkopf (1901–1972), conductor, arranger
• Heinrich Strobel (1898–1970), music critic and writer ("uk" until summer 1944)
• Helmuth Thierfelder (1897–1966), Kapellmeister
• Erwin Völsing (1909–1986), music advisor in the office of Rosenberg
• Hermann Voß (1910–1980), head of the RMK's legal department in Cologne

literature

• Ernst Klee : The cultural lexicon for the Third Reich. Who was what before and after 1945 . S. Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 2007, ISBN 978-3-10-039326-5 ; Revised edition, S. Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2009, ISBN 978-3-596-17153-8 .
• Martin Lücke : Jazz in totalitarianism . Lit, Münster 2004, ISBN 3-8258-7538-5 .
• Fred K. Prieberg : Handbook of German Musicians 1933-1945 . Kiel 2004, CD-ROM lexicon.
• Oliver Rathkolb : Faithful to the leader and God's grace. Artist elite in the Third Reich . Österreichischer Bundesverlag, Vienna 1991, ISBN 3-215-07490-7 .

Edition

• Maximilian Haas: The 'Gottbegnadeten-List' (BArch R 55 / 20252a) , in: Juri Giannini, Maximilian Haas and Erwin Strouhal (ed.): An institution between representation and power. The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in the cultural life of National Socialism . Mille Tre Verlag, Vienna 2014, pp. 239–276. ISBN 978-3-900198-36-7 (= music context 7 ).

Web links

• Joachim Riedl: Who was Karl Böhm In: The time of November 17, 2005

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fuhrerreu und gottbegnadet , p. 173.
2. ↑ cf. Letter from Martin Schönicke (deputy head of the Reichssendeleiter) to Ministerialdirektor Fritzsche dated August 30, 1944, cf. Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 6296.
3. ↑ Fred K. Prieberg : Handbook of German Musicians 1933–1945 , CD-Rom-Lexikon, Kiel 2004, p. 5180.
4. ↑ Fred K. Prieberg: Handbook of German Musicians 1933–1945 , CD-Rom-Lexikon, Kiel 2004, p. 3784, on the date see Ernst Lothar von Knorr: Memoirs , PJ Tonger Musikverlag Cologne-Rodenkirchen 1996, ISBN 3-920950-25 -9 , p. 82.
5. ^ ^{A b} Fred K. Prieberg: Music in the Nazi State , Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag Frankfurt am Main, 1982, pp. 308–309.
6. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fuhrertreu und gottbegnadet , p. 146 and p. 175.
7. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fuhrertreu and gottbegnadet , p. 174.
8. ↑ Article in the time of November 17, 2005
9. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fuhrerreu und gottbegnadet , p. 173.
10. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fiihrertreu and gottbegnadet , pp. 173-174.
11. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fuhrertreu and gottbegnadet , p. 178.
12. ^ Names from Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon .
13. ↑ See for example Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 171.
14. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fuhrertreu and gottbegnadet , p. 178.
15. ↑ Quotation from Oliver Rathkolb: Führertreu und gottbegnadet , p. 174, as well as footnote 473, p. 282: ZSt., Promi. T 6400, M68-12, 1944 (“Gottbegnadeten-Liste”), p. 63 f.
16. ↑ Oliver Rathkolb: Fuhrertreu and gottbegnadet , p. 174.
17. ↑ Fred K. Prieberg: Handbook of German Musicians 1933–1945 , CD-Rom-Lexikon, Kiel 2004, keyword: Goebbels, Joseph, p. 2393 with reference to the source BA R 55/20616, sheet 81.
18. ↑ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 77, p. 311, p. 326 and p. 613.
19. ↑ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 194, p. 294, p. 338 and p. 452.
20. ↑ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 172, p. 183, p. 337 and p. 554.
21. ^ Names in Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 94, p. 222, p. 285, p. 326, p. 409 and p. 564.
22. ^ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, pp. 171, 456 and 598.
23. ↑ ^{a b} Viktor Reimann : Dr. Joseph Goebbels . Molden Taschenbuch Verlag, Vienna, Munich 1976, ISBN 3-217-05018-5 , p. 216.
24. ^ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 145, p. 299 and p. 324.
25. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Names with Oliver Rathkolb: Faithful to the Führer and gottbegnadet. Artist elite in the Third Reich , Österreichischer Bundesverlag Vienna 1991, p. 176.
26. ↑ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 76, not mentioned in Rathkolb.
27. ↑ see also Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 2060.
28. ↑ See also Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 5029.
29. ↑ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 452.
30. ↑ See also Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 6233.
31. ^ Names with Ernst Klee: Cultural encyclopedia for the Third Reich , with the respective name entry.
32. ^ For the UK position up to 1944 see Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 369.
33. ↑ See also Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 5950.
34. ↑ See also Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 3120
35. ^ Quote from Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 157.
36. ↑ Ernst Klee: Cultural Lexicon for the Third Reich. Who was what before and after 1945. Revised edition, S. Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2009, ISBN 978-3-596-17153-8 , p. 241.
37. ↑ Ernst Klee : Cultural Lexicon for the Third Reich. Who was what before and after 1945 , Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2009 (revised edition), p. 16.
38. ↑ Information according to Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , with the respective name entry.
39. ↑ Viktor Reimann : Dr. Joseph Goebbels. Molden Taschenbuch Verlag, Vienna / Munich 1976, ISBN 3-217-05018-5 , p. 217.
40. ↑ Rathkolb: Faithful to the Führer and god-gifted , p. 178.
41. ↑ Information according to Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , with the respective name entry.
42. ↑ Ernst Klee: Kulturlexikon , 2007 edition, p. 227.
43. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 376.
44. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 396.
45. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 666.
46. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 704.
47. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 1158.
48. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 1237.
49. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 1269.
50. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 1284.
51. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 1291.
52. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 1605.
53. ↑ ^{a b} gap: Jazz im Totalitarismus , p. 98 ff.
54. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 2324. and Lücke: Jazz im Totalitarismus , p. 98 ff.
55. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 3426.
56. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 3650.
57. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 3659.
58. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 3969.
59. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 4378.
60. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 4497.
61. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 4531.
62. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 4608.
63. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 5170.
64. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 5772.
65. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 2390.
66. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 6721; P. 6745.
67. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 4694.
68. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 8652.
69. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 7061.
70. ^ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 9282.
71. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 7426.
72. ↑ Prieberg: Handbuch , p. 7444.