Accession Number: 2022.02.10.3.14
Stamp: N/A
Postmark: N/A
Historical background:
One aspect of the Hitler’s strategy to integrate the Nazi Party into the values of German citizens was to control trade unionism. In furtherance of this plan, he created the German Labor Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, DAF) to take over leadership of the existing workers organization, the Nationalsozialistische Betriebszellenorganisation (NSBO) in 1933, and appointed Robert Ley to head the organization. This merge caused tension between the traditional syndicalist NSBO rank and file and the propaganda-oriented DAF leadership. NSBO union cells inconvenienced the DAF by agitating in the factories on issues of wages and conditions. In 1934, Hitler passed a law effectively disbanding the power of unions by placing questions of wages and conditions in the hands of the Trustees of Labour.
Once his power was established, Ley began to abuse it in a way that was conspicuous even by the standards of the Nazi regime. On top of his generous salaries as DAF head, Reichsorganisationsleiter, and Reichstag deputy, he was known to embezzle large amounts of DAF funds for his personal use. By 1938 he owned a luxurious estate near Cologne, a string of villas in other cities, a fleet of cars, a private railway carriage and a large art collection. His alcoholism became publicly visible and combined with his raunchy private life, increasingly led to embarrassing public scenes. The DAF is considered to be one of the most corrupt of all the major institutions of the Third Reich, primarily due to Robert Ley alone.
As Nazi Germany collapsed in early 1945, Ley was among the government figures who remained fanatically loyal to Hitler. He was a frequenter of Hitler’s top secret Führerbunker, seeing Hitler last 10 days before his suicide. Ley was captured by American paratroopers on May 16th, 1945, and was indicted under Count One (“The Common Plan or Conspiracy to wage an aggressive war in violation of international law or treaties”), Count Three (War Crimes, including among other things “mistreatment of prisoners of war or civilian populations”) and Count Four (“Crimes Against Humanity – murder, extermination, enslavement of civilian populations, persecution on the basis of racial, religious or political grounds”).
On 24 October, three days after receiving the indictment, Ley strangled himself to death in his prison cell using a noose made by tearing a towel into strips, fastened to the toilet pipe. The Chief Medical Office of the Military Tribunal, Lt. Col Rene Juchli, made a report to Major General Donovan regarding the effect the suicide had on other prisoners, stating “It appears to be the unanimous consensus of opinion among the witnesses that no bereavement was indicated over the self-inflicted death of the late Dr. Ley.”
Front:
Der Normalverbraucher und Reichswohnungskommissar Reichsleiter Dr. Robert Ley in “Angriff” vom 12. Oktober 1943:
“…Wir Nationalsozialisten kennen keinen ‘Diplomatenhaushalt’. Jeder, ob Reichsminister oder Reichsleiter, muß genau so von seinen Karten leben wie der einfache Arbeiter, Handwerker, und Beamte. Aber selbst die Normalkarte reichte, für alle, denn ich probiere sie täglich aus, da auch ich zu den Normalverbrauchern gehöre.”
[Translation]
The average consumer and Reich Housing Commissioner, Reich Leader Dr. Robert Ley, in the October 12, 1943 edition of “Angriff”:
“…We National Socialists do not recognize a ‘diplomat budget.’ Everyone, whether Reich Minister or Reich Leader, has to live off their ration cards just like any ordinary worker, craftsman, or civil servant. But even the average card was sufficient for everyone—I use it daily, as I am also an Average Joe.”
Back:
Die Verordnung, die Diplomaten, Behördenleiter und politische Führer der NSDAP. Von der allgemeinen Rationierung befreit, und die es, nach Herrn Lez, nicht gibt, kann jeder finden, der Lust hat nachzulesen, in den Ausführungsbestimmungen des Reichsnährungsministers zu der Verordnung über diplomatische Verpflegung . 26,1,43, R.E.M. I, 237/43, gez. Staatssekretär Backe. Da heißt es u.a.:
“Die Chefs der Auslandsvertretungen, die Behördenleiter und die pol. Führeränge der NSDAP., soweit sie unter die im Führerlaß v. 2,10,39 aufgeführten Kategorien fallen, erhalten:
- Für ihre eigenen Personen und ihre Familien: Alle bewirtschafteten Lebensmittel in voller Höhe des gestellten Antrags. Ausgenommen sind Tee und Kaffe, für die die Höchstmengen von 125gr Tee und 250gr Kaffe (bei Verheirateten 500gr Kaffee) bestehen bleiben.
- Für ihre in- und ausländischen Mitarbeiterstamm folgende wöchentliche Rationen gegen Vorzeigen des Berechtigungsscheins:
- Fleisch 2kg, Fleischwaren 500gr, Fett 500gr, Butter 1kg, Käse 500gr, Speiseöl 250gr, Reis 500gr, Nährmittel 1kg, Mehl 1kg, Zucker 1kg, Tee 125gr, Kaffee 250gr (f. Verheir. 500gr) Vollmilch 1 Liter (täglich), Marmelade 150gr, Kakao 250gr, Eier 4.
- Für besondere unumgängliche Veranstaltungen der Behördenleiter können von Fall zu Fall zutatsächliche Lebensmittelmengen bewilligt werden. Die Entscheidung trifft allein das R.E.M.”
So frißt Lez, und so fressen zehntausende andere Amts- und Hoheitsträger der Partei mit ihren Stäben. Die einen machen’s mit dem Berechtigungsschein, die anderen machen’s mit Reisemarken. Nur der normale Volksgenosse hungert und steht Schlange.
Guten Appetit Herr Ley— der letzte Gang ist der schwerste!
[Translation]
The regulation that exempts diplomats, agency officials, and NSDAP political leaders from general rationing, which, according to Mr. Lez, does not exist, can easily be found by anyone who wishes to read it in the regulations of the Reich Food Minister for Diplomatic Provisions 26/1/43, R.E.M. I, 237/43, signed by Secretary Backe. It states:
“The heads of foreign missions, heads of agencies, and the political leaders of the NSDAP, insofar as they fall under the categories listed in the Führer Decree of 2/10/39, will receive:
- For themselves and their families: All foodstuffs in the full amount of the application. Except for tea and coffee, for which the maximum quantities of 125g tea and 250g coffee (500g coffee for married couples) remain in place.
- For their domestic and foreign staff, the following weekly rations upon presentation of the entitlement certificate:
- Meat 2kg, meat products 500g, fat 500g, butter 1kg, cheese 500g, cooking oil 250g, rice 500g, foodstuffs 1kg, flour 1kg, sugar 1kg, tea 125g, coffee 250g (500g for married couples), Whole milk 1 liter (daily), jam 150g, cocoa 250g, eggs 4.
- For special, unavoidable events of the heads of authorities, additional food quantities may be approved on a case-by-case basis. The decision is made solely by the R.E.M.
This is how Ley eats, and this is how tens of thousands of other officials and officials of the party and their staff eat. Some do it with authorization cards, others with travel stamps. Only the Average Joe goes hungry and waits in line.
Enjoy your meal, Mr. Ley—the last course is the hardest!
