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SPECIAL 1937 NAZI PHOTO MAGAZINE BERLIN 700 YEARS EDITION

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In 1937 Reichshauptstadt Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany marked its 700th year of existence. Many events were organized and many souvenirs were produced to mark the important historic event. This is the Sonderheft or special edition of Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung called Heimat Berlin published for the 700th anniversary celebrations, only 125,000 of which were printed for distribution in a city of nearly 4 million! Few copies of the magazine have survived.

Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung was a very popular tabloid newspaper published by Ullstein AG every Thursday from 1892 to 1945. It was one of the first news publication in Germany that attracted readers with eye catching photographs and could be purchased without a subscription at newsstands, in hotels and shops.

The striking cover illustration is by well-known graphic artist, designer and illustrator Fritz Koch-Gotha and shows the Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin in the past and with modern buildings of the Nazi era in the background.

This very heavily illustrated 10-3/8 x 14-1/4 inch, 144 page BIZ Special Edition starts with a photo feature on Albert Speer’s design of the new Reichschancellery. This is followed with information and pictures of the government quarter of Berlin showing the new Air Ministry (above) and the Propaganda Ministry accompanied by photos of Hermann Goering and Dr. Joseph Goebbels.

This 87 year old heavily illustrated Nazi magazine has great photo content. Pictures include stylish Berlin women, Reichsminister Frick, actor Emil Jannings, trendy nightlife spots, Tempelhof Airport, a NSKK event at the Deutschlandhalle, the Nazi Sport Academy and Reichssportführer Hans Tschammer und Osten, airplanes with Nazi swastika markings, the Royal Palace, Brandenburg Gate, marching Nazi soldiers, Kaiser Wilhelm I on his deathbed (shown below), Dr. Joseph Goebbels during the Kampfzeit, race cars on the Avus, sunbathing Berliners, Otto Lilienthal and his family, and of course, photos of Adolf Hitler at various events.

There is a substantial amount of advertising by companies such as BEWAG, KaDeWe, Elizabeth Arden, Deutsche Luftpost, Berliner Reichstheater, Hertie, Uralt Lavendel, Pilsner Urquell, Adlon Hotel, Reemtsma cigarettes, AEG, Hotel Esplanade, Siemens, Tobis Film Produktion Company, WMF, Osram, Gold Pfeil, Kroll Opera garden café, Deutschlandhalle, Otto Boenicke cigars, etc.

Above, a picture of Albert Speer's planned Honor Courtyard of the New Reichschancellery. The Arno Breker statues "The Army" and "The Party" which would flank the entrance are not part of this 1937 Heinrich Hoffmann photo.

This rare Third Reich BIZ Sonderheft is complete and in good used condition with normal wear for a 85+ year old magazine. The spine is taped and there is a 1-1/2 inch round blue and white sticker of the Mitteleuropäisches Reiseburo on the right edge of the front cover which also has two small tape repairs on the inside. No writing, no odor.

Above, Hitler shown with French Ambassador André François-Poncet (center) during a diplomatic reception.

There is historical information about the growth of the capital accompanied by maps. Other heavily illustrated articles cover working women in Berlin, industrial buildings in the city, Old Berlin and new Nazi construction, theater and other entertainment in Berlin, the Olympic sport facilities built for the XI Olympiade in 1936, Nazi military parades, the beach at Wannsee, Berlin museums, the zoo, Berlin cuisine, the development of German police headgear, the National Socialist government, the distinctive Berlin dialect, Berlin hospitality and nightlife, the Berlin movie industry, European royalty visiting Berlin over the years, Otto Lilienthal’s influence on aviation in Germany and the world, etc., etc.