'PREPARING FOR GOVERNMENT?' : WILHELM FRICK AS THURINGIA'S NAZI MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR AND OF EDUCATION, 23 JANUARY 1930 - 1 APRIL 1931 Kevin John Crichton A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of St Andrews 2002 Full metadata for this item is available in St Andrews Research Repository at: http://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/ Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10023/13816 This item is protected by original copyright “Preparing for Government?” Wilhelm Frick as Thuringia’s Nazi Minister of the Interior and of Education, 23 January 1930 - 1 April 1931 Submitted. for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of St. Andrews, 2001 by Kevin John Crichton BA(Wales), MA (Lancaster) Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) (c) 2001 KJ. Crichton ProQuest Number: 10170694 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. uest. ProQuest 10170694 Published by ProQuest LLO (2017). Copyright of the Dissertation is held by the Author’. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code Microform Edition © ProQuest LLO. ProQuest LLO. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.Q. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 CONTENTS Abstract Declaration Acknowledgements Abbreviations Chapter One: Introduction 1 Chapter Two: Background 33 Chapter Three: Frick as Interior Minister I 85 Chapter Four: Frick as Interior Ministie II 124 Chapter Five: Frickas Education Miannsti^r' 200 Chapter Six: Frick a.s Coalition Minister 268 Chapter Seven: Conclusion 317 Appendix Bibliography 332. DECLARATION (i) I, Kevin John Crichton, hereby certify that this thesis, which is approximately 73,303 words in length, has been written by me, that it is the record of work carried out by me and that it has not been submitted in any previous application for a higher degree. dat^^. 2 3 signature of candidate: (ii) I was admitted as a research student in September 1995 and as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in September 1995; the higher study for which this is a record was carries out in the University of St. Andrews between 1995 and 1998. date: y-cJd signature of candidate: (iii) I hereby certify that the candidate has fulfilled the conditions of the Resolution and Regulations appropriate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of St. Andrews and that the candidate is qualified to submit this thesis in application for that degree. date: / 4 2coSa signature of supervisor: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the course of this research I have run up many debts, and, therefore, I would like to thank the following individuals and institutions, which assisted the research for this degree. First and foremost I would like to thank my parents for their support. I would also like to thank the following individuals for their assistance: Prof. A.G. Jones, Dr. C. Mclnnes, and the late Dr. M. Hughes, all University of Wales, Aberystwyth; Dr. R. Henig and Dr. G. Philips, University of Lancaster; Mr. I. Farr, University of East Anglia; Dr. P.D. Stachura, University of Stirling; Prof. J. Caplan, Bryn Mawr College, PA., USA; Professor. P. Pulzer, All Souls College, University of Oxford; Dr. L. Pine, University of Luton; Dr. A. Steinweis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA; Dr. C.C.-W. Szejnmann, University of Middlesex; Dr. P. Weindling, Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, University of Oxford; Dr. B. Stenzel, the Weimarer Stift^^n^g^; and, finally, Dr. J. Matthews, Fleetwood. I would also like to thank the following institutions and staff for their assistance with my research and enquiries. In the Federal Republic of Germany: the Bundesarchiv Berlin-Lichterfelde and Bundesarchiv Koblenz, and its previous Aussenstellen in Berlin-Zehlendorf and Potsdam; Herr Archivdirektor Dr. B. Post and Herr Archivrat Marek, Thuringischc Hauptstaatsarchiv Wcimar; the Hcrzogin Anna Amalia Bihliothch, Weimar; the Hauptlesesaal and the Universitatsarchiv of the Fricdrich' Schillcr Univcrsittit, ]cna; the Landcszcntralc fur politischc Bildung Thiiringcn, Erfurt; the ^hcinlandischc Landcsbibliotkck, Koblenz; the Stadtbibliothek, Koblenz; the Univcrsittit Kohlcnz'-Landau; and the Senatsbibliothck, the Staatshibliotkek ZB Bcrlin (Htiusc 1 und 2), and the Bcrlin-Brandcnhurgischc Akadcmic dcr Wisscnschaft, Berlin. In the United States: the National Archivcs, Washington D.C., and College Park, MD.; the University Library, Univcrsity of Michigan, Ann Arhour, ML; the Unitcd. Statcs Holocaust Mcmorial Muscum, Washington D.C. In the United Kingdom: the Public Rccord Officc; the Gcrman Historical Institute; the Wicncr Library, London; the library staff of the Univcrsity of East Anglia, the Univcrsity of Lancaster, the Univcrsity of Manchcstcr, the Univcrsity of St. Andrcws, the Blackpool and thc Fyldc Collcgc of Furthcr Education, and Fkctwood. Ccntral Library. Last but not least, I would like to thank the following institutions, organisations, and individuals for their role in helping me to secure funding for this project: the Gcrman Historical Instit^^t^^; Dr. Peter Stachura, the Univcrsity of Stirling; my supervisor Dr. Anthony McElligott, Lorna Harris, Susan Whitehead, and Professor Wilkinson and Professor Guy, and the Russell Trust Research Awards Committee, all of the University of St. Andr^ews. ABBREVIATIONS BABL=Bundesarchiv Berlin" Lichterfelde BAIGBundesarchiv Koblenz BDC=Berlin Document Center BkBlatt BlLBlatter DDP=Deutsche Demokratische Partei DNVP=Deutsche Nationale Volkspartei DVFP=Deutsch"Volkische Freiheitspartei DVP=Deutsche Volkspartei FO=Foreign Office, Great Britain fr=frame number GVG=Grobdeutsche Volksgemeinschaft GL=Gauleitung I<dfK=Kampfbund fur deutsche Kultur KPD=Kommuniste Partei Deustchlands LB=Landbund MdL=Mitglied des Landtags MdR=Mitglied des Reichstags NA=National Archives, Washington, D.C., USA NL=Nachlaft NS=NationalsoziaIistische NSDAP=Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterspartei NSFB=Nationalsozia!istische Freiheitsbewegung NSFP=Nationalsozialistische Freiheitspartei OPG=Oberparteigericht (NSDAP) OVG=Thuringische Oberverwaltungsgerichtjena PK=Partei Korrespondence (NSDAP) PROPublic Record Office, Kew RIM=Reichsinnensminister RI<=Reichskanzlei RL=Reichsleitung RMdI=Reichsministerium cles Innern RS=Reverse Side RStH=Reichsstatthalter SA=SturmabteiIung SPD=Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands SS=Schutzstaffel StGH=Staatsgerichtshof fur das Deutsche Reich ThFiMin=Thuringisches Finanzministerium ThHStAW=Thuringisches Hauptstaatsarchiv Weimar ThMdI=Thuringisches Ministerium des Innern ThIM=Thuringische Innensminister ThM.-P =Thuringische Minister-President ThStM=Thuringisches Staatsministerium ThVbM=Thuringisches Volksbildungsministerium ThWiMin=Thuringisches Wirtschaftsministerium VFTh=Volkische Fuhrerring Thuringen V-SB=Volkisch-Soziale Block WP=Wirtschaftspartei WTB=Wolffs Telegraphisches Buro Chapter One: Introduction Chapter One: Introduction Problems and Perspectives of Interpretation The ministerial activity of Wilhelm Frick in Thuringia, from 23 January 1930 to 1 April 1931, has suffered from an analytical imbalance. Both German and non-German scholars have largely considered Frick’s period in office from a deterministic standpoint, frequently drawing a straight line from the events in Thuringia between 1930-1931 to the Nazi seizure of power throughout Germany in 1933-1934. “There can be little doubt that the Thuringian case represented a model for the Nazi seizure of power in 1933”1 “The Frick ministry illustrates Hitler’s tactics so clearly as to constitute a general model for the assumption of power”2* *1 “What happened gives an indication of the way at this time the ‘seizure of power’ in the Reich itself was envisaged”? 1 M. Broszat, M., Hitler and the Collapse of Weimar Germany (Leamington Spa/'ilambungNew York, 1987), p.78 1 D.R. Tracey, “The Development of the National Socialist Party in Thuringia, 1924-1930”, Cmitral European History (i-March), Volume 8,1975, p.48 1 I. Kershaw, Hitler, 18891936: Hubris, p.319. For similar comments, see also: H. Heiber, The Weimar Republic (Oxford, 19^3), p.l74; EJ. Feuchtwanger, From Weimar to Hitler: Germany, 1918-4933 (Basingstoke, 1993), p.225; G. Schulz, Von Brtmingzu Hitler. DerWandeldespolitischen Systems in Deutschland 19301933. Band III. Zwischen Demokratic und Diktatur. Verfassungspolltik und Reichsreform in der ‘Weimarer Republik’ (Berlin/New York, 1992), p.140 1 Chapter One: Introduction These interpretations have arisen from a retrospective analysis of German interwar history, which cannot provide a satisfactory analysis of Frick’s period in office. The aim of my research is to provide an alternative to this picture, by undertaking a complete analysis of Frick’s activity as Thuringia’s Minister of the Interior and of Education on its own terms. The main areas of investigation are: the origins, drafting, and implementation of Frick’s measures; his impact upon Thuringia’s civil service and administration; the nature of the relationship with his coalition partners; the perception of him by the opposition parties; and finally, his relationship with, and portrayal by, the NSDAP in Thuringia and the Reich. The interpretative framework focuses upon the significance