Imperial estate of German industry
The Reichsstand der Deutschen Industrie (RStDI) arose at the beginning of National Socialist rule as a merger of the Reich Association of German Industry (RDI) and the Association of German Employers' Associations (VDA). It existed until it was transferred to the Reichsgruppe Industrie on January 12, 1935.
prehistory
After the beginning of the National Socialist rule, the pressure on the Reichsbund der Industrie to get closer to the National Socialists increased from inside and outside. Fritz Thyssen as a supporter of the NSDAP posed the question of power and demanded the participation of the RDI in the new regime. Unpleasant functionaries were pushed out of the leadership. Paul Silverberg, for example, who had recently campaigned for cooperation with the NSDAP, had to leave because of his Jewish origins. The association finally made a commitment to "absolute loyalty to the allegiance". On May 22, 1933, the RDI disbanded.
organization
The Reichsstand der Deutschen Industrie (RStDI) took its place as a merger of the former RDI and the VDA. This organization followed the leader principle. The director was Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach , the previous president of the RDI.
The economic policy department of the imperial estate emerged from the RDI. The managing director was only temporarily Jacob Herle and vice-president Albert Pietzsch . The social policy department emerged from the union of the German employers' associations with the managing director Roland Brauweiler and Carl Köttgen as vice-president.
Characteristic
The industrialists adapted to the new conditions, but at the same time maintained continuity. In principle, the industrialists succeeded in maintaining control over the new organization, despite the leadership principle, centralization and hierarchization.
Internally, the influence of heavy industry increased to the detriment of the organizations of the rather small firms.
The imperial estate offered a certain protection from direct intervention by the regime, but at the same time it was an important link between business and government.
There were definitely similarities with the new regime, for example in opposition to the trade unions and the announced arms plans. An expression of this commonality was the Adolf Hitler donation of the German economy initiated by Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach and Hjalmar Schacht since June 1, 1933. On August 22, 1933 the Reichsstand declared the Hitler salute to be binding in the factories.
The Reichsgruppe Industrie was formed at the end of 1934. The imperial estate of German industry was also incorporated into it.
literature
- Thomas von Winter / Ulrich Willems (ed.): Interest groups in Germany. Wiesbaden 2007 p. 74f.
- Daniela Kahn: The control of the economy by law in National Socialist Germany. The example of the Reichsgruppe Industrie. Klostermann, Frankfurt 2006, ISBN 9783465040125 , p. 163ff.