KDF: Keeping the good will of the people

“Adolf Hitler and the Nazis”. Saying this short phrase to most people in our modern world conjures up visions of a demonic leader who seized power, then led a group of homicidal fanatics to keep his countrymen in a slave-like grip.

While some of that may be certainly true, the more frightening aspect concerning this stain on Germany’s history is that Hitler was not a supernatural force, but rather a mere mortal, one who was an especially driven and astute politician who took advantage of the circumstances in his time. He conquered his nation using legitimate, but often unethical means, rising to the country’s head through the then legal processes. At the same time that he became publicly viewed as the unshakable and idolized “Fuhrer” of Germany, his inner circle saw a man with two “very human” traits: an “over-the-top” personal narcissism in his decision making and a paranoid insecurity concerning his leadership position. His political followers, though some unquestionably fanatical to a fault, consisted mainly of commonplace disgruntled soldiers, professionals, businessmen and farmers who wanted to better themselves and their country. Many others in post-WW1 Germany simply felt the need for a strong leader like Hitler following the defeat in a brutal war, soul-crushing treaty and years of economic and social depression which they were told was caused by age-old “inferior” members of their society.

During and after his rise to dictatorship, Hitler always considered himself a revolutionary, and feared that if those below him were not kept content and under control, they could turn against the regime. By utilizing a network of political, civil, private and youth members to spy on their peers throughout the country, he kept tabs on what the common people were thinking about the government’s economic, social and military operations. To utilize the information he received, Hitler and his confidants developed a combination of “carrot and stick” control tactics, threatening citizens with the dreaded and deadly secret state police, or “bribing” them through desirable social programs. This two-fold approach prevented opposition groups from ever gaining enough of a foothold to overthrow the Nazi party and their charismatic leader.

One of the most influential Third Reich NSDAP (Nazi) organizations that attempted to give average working Germans the leisure activities and diversions that they wanted was the “Nationalsozialistische Gemeinschaft Kraft Durch Freude” (NSG KDF – National Socialist Community Strength Through Joy), a section of the “Deutscher Arbeit Front” (DAF – German Labor Front). The DAF had become the Nazi-sponsored group which combined all major German unions into one state-controlled body. Robert Ley, leader of the DAF, created the KDF on Nov. 27, 1933 as a way to offer workers incentives and entertainment without raising their wages in the cash-strapped country feeding Hitler’s burgeoning rearmament programs.

The largest office of the KDF was the “Amt. Reisen, Wandern und Urlaub” (Travel, Hiking and Holidays). As its name implies, this branch sponsored a series of events ranging from simple field day outings, to longer trips on ships and trains, allowing many Germans to visit new leisure spots for the first time. All of these holidays and events were partially paid for by the government, or given by employers as prizes for work competitions. This made them more affordable for the average working-class participants.

Other sections of the KDF included the “Sportamt” (Sports department), dealing with sporting games attendance and participation. Each year more than 7 million people took part in KDF sporting events throughout the country. The “Schonheit der Arbeit” (Beauty of Labor) addressed worker safety, attire and hygiene while employed in cleaner workplaces with proper safety standards, ventilation and noise control. The “Volksbildungswerk” (Adult Education) propagandized adults with National Socialistic approved culture through authored book readings, lectures, and the study of selected arts. The “Amt Feierabend” (Leisure Time department) offered discounted tickets to workers for theatres and concerts. In addition to using outside performers, the KDF had its own full-time orchestra that moved from place to place, entertaining German workers. The “Amt fur Volkstum und Heimat” (Folklore and homeland) was used to promote German folklore and the expansion of the Reich through Lebensraum. This last branch was short-lived, being disbanded in 1934.

Overall, the KDF did an excellent job of accommodating citizens both in and out of the workplace. In small rural communities, where proper buildings were not always available to accommodate KDF programs, mobile theaters were erected to show films, or allow traveling orchestras and actors to perform on portable stages. In urban areas with larger on-site facilities, KDF units came to workshops, factories, and public buildings in order to give those interested easily accessible places in which to participate after their work days were done. Outside of the workplace, the KDF organized summer horseback riding, swimming, sailing and track events. In the winter, skiing, skating and hiking became popular for people both in the cities and the country. Joining in these events for the pure joy of it was emphasized by the organizers to instill the feeling of participant equality without the undo stress of heated competition. Doing this helped each person to feel a part of the “Volksgemeinschaft’ (National community), which broke down class distinctions, making all “Aryans” equal. The KDF and the NSDAP both shared this concept of promoting the National Community over the importance of single individuals.

KDF-organized train trips often carried travelers to picturesque areas in the mountains or seashores where they could stay at a resort, hike, relax and enjoy the beauties of nature. For more extended journeys, a fleet of KDF luxury liners were brought into service. Some of these were leased from shipping companies such as Norddeutscher LLoyd, while other liners, including the “Wilhelm Gustloff” and the “Robert Ley” were specifically built for the highly popular vacation voyages. A long-term plan had been laid out for the building of 30 KDF ships over time, but this was cut short by the beginning of the war. To maintain the equality principle of Volksgemeinschaft when faced with the varied accommodations on leased vessels, officials of the KDF assigned vacationers from first class to steerage cabins by lottery. On the two KDF-built ships, cabins were all fit and finished in the same basic design, differing only in their structural size and corresponding number of bunks.

On these massive vessels (the Robert Ley was 668 feet long and accommodated 1,750 passengers plus a crew of 435), travelers would be treated to a variety of well-prepared German meals served in conservatively finished, but comfortably appointed dining areas. “Bordgeld” (ship currency) was exchanged for Reichsmarks at the beginning of the voyage. This could be used to purchase additional food, drinks, tobacco and other small necessities while on the ship. Dances were held on deck or in large ballrooms where orchestras played, or at other times, movies and shows were shown. Libraries, lounges and gymnasiums provided a variety of activities for those not wanting to sun themselves on the spacious, but crowded decks. Educational courses steeped in Nazi ideology on race and the benefits of National Socialism were taught to captive audiences in classrooms staffed by KDF employees or ideologically loyal volunteers. Though relaxation was key to the ship travels, onboard discipline was still strictly promoted. Passengers were instructed to get up no later than 8 a.m., while the “Ruhe im Schiff” (quiet on ship) was enforced at midnight.

Despite all of the amenities and entertainment offered onboard, the highlights of KDF cruises were the destinations. Liners traveled to faraway ports in Norway, Spain, Italy and other areas deemed “safe” by the Nazi regime. While there, passengers would not be exposed to any anti-Nazi influences as they would likely be in less “friendly” countries.

The popularity and propaganda value of the low-cost cruise ships and other KDF travel programs were immense. DAF leader Robert Ley once outlined the goal of the program as: “Every worker or employee shall by the will of the Fuhrer be able to undertake at least one affordable KdF-holiday per year, not only to the most beautiful German holiday regions but also by sea travel to destinations abroad”.

Another program undertaken by the KDF proved to be an abysmal propaganda failure and an economic fiasco for over 336,000 middle-class Germans. Hitler wanted to give the German people a limited amount of modern mobility and freedom in a country were many citizens still used horse-drawn wagons, bicycles and limited train routes. This was envisioned by manufacturing a “Volkswagen” (VW — people’s car), an affordable no-nonsense automobile which would be purchased through the KDF using a prepaid installment plan.

In 1938, engineer Ferdinand Porsche, using DAF provided funds, built a VW factory at Fallersleben, part of the city of Wolfsburg. Though a handful of VWs were produced and distributed to top Nazi officials and other VIPs, mass production at the factory never took place due to the outbreak of the war in 1939. At that time the factory was converted to produce the military “Kubelwagens”, “Schwimmwagens” and a few modified command cars. As such, those people who had paid part of the purchase price of their future automobiles (at 5 RM per week) lost their investments. However, some of these funds were later recovered when the postwar VW company offered KDF pre-payers a 200 Deutsch Mark refund against the cost of a new VW beetle.

Hitler’s war in Europe spelled the end of travels abroad for the KDF organization. Cruise liners entered war service as hospital ships or troop transports, some to meet a violent end at the hands of Allied bombers or submarines. In 1939, the KDF had more than 7,000 employees and 135,000 volunteers in its ranks, many of whom would go into the service of the Wehrmacht. Other employees were merged into the “Truppenbetreuung” (troop care units) department, similar to the leisure and entertainment units of the United States USO. Traveling KDF shows boosted morale by producing light performances, shows, sports and other diversions to entertain the troops of the German Wehrmacht and “Schutzstaffel” (SS). By doing this, they attempted to help keep soldiers physically and mentally healthy as the Hitler’s war in Europe slowly spiraled into the abyss.

When the armed forces of the Third Reich finally surrendered in the spring of 1945, the KDF, as part of the Nazi DAF organization, was outlawed by the Allied forces and quickly forced to disband.