Public libraries in National Socialist Germany (1933–1945). Part 1. Operation of Hitlerism. Cultural policy, reading, main thoughts related to public libraries

Abstract

The first part of the longer essay – after outlining the establishment and characteristics of the National Socialist dictatorship – analyses the divided nature of the management of cultural life, which was held hostage by ideology and the propaganda machine (Goebbels, Rosenberg, Hitler Youth, specialised ministries, etc.). This control began almost immediately with the book burning in May 1933, which was sharply condemned by Mihály Babits. 
Exclusively persons who were accepted by the authorities from a racial and political point of view were allowed to  participate in books and periodicals publishing within the organization of the  Imperial Chamber of Culture (Reichskulturkammer). The evolution of reading was facilitated by the fact that along with the publication of a large number of books faithful to the system there was an opportunity to publish ‚neutral‘ works (e.g. M. Mitchell‘s novel Gone with the Wind was a great success in the pre-war period). 
German public libraries began to spread more widely in the mid-19th century, not least because of the American example. Besides social initiatives, the Catholic Church played a major role (Borremäus
Association). A new American encouragement came at the end of the century, after C. Nörrenberg participated in the Chicago World Fair’s Librarianship Conference. From the second decade the 20th century the so called „Richtungsstreit“ (dispute over direction) which was sparked off by the Dresden librarian W. Hofmann, divided professional public opinion for twenty years. Hofmann in Hungary – due to his political background in Germany – was positively evaluated in the last century, although his professional opponents represented the progressive approach. 
The development of German (public) librarianship was greatly supported by the gradually emerging professional journals, training centres, regional library organisations and professional associations.