Reichstag seating questions.
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Reichstag seating questions.
Hello everyone, I have some questions that have been on my mind for some time. These questions are in regard to the seating arrangement of the Reichstag sessions held in the Kroll Opera House. All I know is the president of the Reichstag(Herman Goering) sat above the speaker podium.
Some questions I have, if anyone knows the answer, please let me know.
What was the difference/significance of those who sat in the desks around where President spoke, and those who sat in the "audience" if you will, and
why they sat where they did.
Where did the top Nazis who attended the sessions sit?
Where did Hitler sit when he wasn't speaking.
Sorry if my grammer was incorrect, im not the best writer!
Some questions I have, if anyone knows the answer, please let me know.
What was the difference/significance of those who sat in the desks around where President spoke, and those who sat in the "audience" if you will, and
why they sat where they did.
Where did the top Nazis who attended the sessions sit?
Where did Hitler sit when he wasn't speaking.
Sorry if my grammer was incorrect, im not the best writer!
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Hi, welcome to the forum
Looking at the speaker podium, you have the government, with Hitler sitting in the first seat, at the left - on the other side I guess you had the "Schriftführer" etc. of the Reichstag, you'd also see adjudants etc here.
Best
Halfdan S.
Looking at the speaker podium, you have the government, with Hitler sitting in the first seat, at the left - on the other side I guess you had the "Schriftführer" etc. of the Reichstag, you'd also see adjudants etc here.
Best
Halfdan S.
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
From 1933 to mid 1938 there were 4 seating sections with seating based on the representatives districts although the Reichsleiters tended to sit near the front of each sections although not in the first rows. In 1939 to late 1941 the seating was changed to only to sections with a center aisle. Those Reichsleiters that were not Reichsministers all sat in the front row with the gauleiters filling out the front rows and the second rows. In 1942 the center aisle was removed but the Reichsleiters still sat in the front row dead center. The Reichsministers sat on Hitler's side of the rostrum with the State Secretaries sitting on the other side. Adjutants to Hitler and the Ministers usually sat behind them. At the Speakers rostrum always sat Julius Schaub, Hitler's adjustant, Reichsleiter Otto Dietrich the Reichspresschef, Dr. Hans Lammers, Reichsminister and Wilhelm Brueckner, Hitler's Chief Adjutant -- he was replaced in 1941 by Albert Bormann when Brueckner was relieved of his post. Behind them sat Goering as President of the Reichstag. Sitting on either side of Goering were the various men who held Vice Presidencies in their various capacities. These men changed a lot over the years.
Mark Costa
Mark Costa
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Thank you so much Mark and Halfdan for replying. I really appreciate it. I understand it much better now! I just have a couple more questions.
1.This one I already said, but if you cant answer me on that, just let me know:
What was the difference/significance of those who sat in the desks around the podium, and those who sat in the "audience" if you will, and
why they sat where they did.
2. Who were the men that stood at the very top, in the back, kinda looking shoved back there. Some seem to be military officers, which goes with my next question.
3. Is it normal for a government to have military personal in its parliament? If so, what is their purpose?
Thanks,
Alex
1.This one I already said, but if you cant answer me on that, just let me know:
What was the difference/significance of those who sat in the desks around the podium, and those who sat in the "audience" if you will, and
why they sat where they did.
2. Who were the men that stood at the very top, in the back, kinda looking shoved back there. Some seem to be military officers, which goes with my next question.
3. Is it normal for a government to have military personal in its parliament? If so, what is their purpose?
Thanks,
Alex
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
I thought we answered your questions but here goes again.
1. Those on the top near the speakers platform were the Reichsministers on the left and their State Secretaries on the right. Hitler sat in the first seat on the left side with the Ministers. The men around Hitler's speakers podium were Hitler's two Chief Adjutants -- Schaub and Bruckner (Later Albert Bormann). Lammers who was also a Reichsminister was sitting there as he was Chief of the Govt's Presidential Chancellery. Otto Dietrich was the Reichspresschef. The audience sitting in the sections facing the podiums were all the Reichstag representatives like the US Congress. As I stated before there were several variations on the sections but they basically sat together based on their districts -- with the Reichsleiters and Gauleiters having front row seats.
2. The men at the back were members of Hitler's staff mostly. Usually his SS bodyguards, doctors, military adjutants etc. Some were also adjutants of the Reichsministers and Goering etc.
3. The answer here is YES. Military men were members of the Reich Govt as Military representatives. The US Cabinet has a Secretary of Defense well so does the Third Reich -- War Ministers.
Mark Costa
1. Those on the top near the speakers platform were the Reichsministers on the left and their State Secretaries on the right. Hitler sat in the first seat on the left side with the Ministers. The men around Hitler's speakers podium were Hitler's two Chief Adjutants -- Schaub and Bruckner (Later Albert Bormann). Lammers who was also a Reichsminister was sitting there as he was Chief of the Govt's Presidential Chancellery. Otto Dietrich was the Reichspresschef. The audience sitting in the sections facing the podiums were all the Reichstag representatives like the US Congress. As I stated before there were several variations on the sections but they basically sat together based on their districts -- with the Reichsleiters and Gauleiters having front row seats.
2. The men at the back were members of Hitler's staff mostly. Usually his SS bodyguards, doctors, military adjutants etc. Some were also adjutants of the Reichsministers and Goering etc.
3. The answer here is YES. Military men were members of the Reich Govt as Military representatives. The US Cabinet has a Secretary of Defense well so does the Third Reich -- War Ministers.
Mark Costa
Re: Reichstag seating questions.
I think TheBestSmurfEver is talking about a photo from December 11th 1941, where a large number of military personnel was present "backstage". Photos I've seen from before the war, have mostly civilians and people in party uniforms standing there, not many of them anyway.
Perhaps they were also guests invited to hear Hitler speech as there were no balconies in the Opera?
Plan from 1939:
Perhaps they were also guests invited to hear Hitler speech as there were no balconies in the Opera?
Plan from 1939:
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Yes there were balconies at the Kroll Opera House. Here is a photo of those balconies. photo taken in 1939.
Mark
Mark
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Thank you for clearing this up! I do remember reading that the people in the balconies were spectators.
Alex
Alex
Re: Reichstag seating questions.
A great photo, Mark...but I don't see those balconies in the seating schematic provided by GregSingh...? I wonder whether those balcony seats might have been for visitor/general public seating, and if so, that may be the reason why they are not shown on the schematic? If the floor-level ("orchestra" or "stalls") seating was reserved for only the official 'Members of the Reichstag,' then that may be why the balcony seating doesn't show up?
Br. James
Br. James
Br. James
Br. James
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Br. James -- that is exactly why the seats do not show on the schematic as the balconies were reserved for visitors and special guests. The floor seats were reserved for members of the Reichstag only.
Mark
Mark
Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Thanks, Mark -- much appreciated!
Br. James
Br. James
Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Hi friends, do you have somebody a photo of the youngest Reichstag member - Leopold Mitterbauer, please? I would be very grateful for help...
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Here is the way that Leopold Mitterbauer (3.Nov.1912) appears in "Großdeutsche Reichstag 1938."Perry8 wrote:Hi friends, do you have somebody a photo of the youngest Reichstag member - Leopold Mitterbauer, please?
Fred
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
Oh Fred thats great! Thank you so much!...Is this photo from any newspaper or any book? Where did you find it? Is any chance to find it in better quality, please? - Tom
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Re: Reichstag seating questions.
That photo comes from a scanned copy of the 1938 Reichstag Handbook ("Großdeutsche Reichstag 1938"). Sorry, it is the only quality I have.Perry8 wrote:Is this photo from any newspaper or any book? Where did you find it? Is any chance to find it in better quality, please?
Fred