unemployed in the country has dwindled, claiming that in the last six months the figure has been reduced two-thirds. Then, again with an eye to support from the farmers, he loudly announced that the Hitler government considers speculation in food a crime of the first magnitude. “The living standard,” he admitted, “is still too low for many, but we will never cease improving working conditions.”
Paul Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment, opened the Thanksgiving program. He sounded the cue for Hitler when he told the massed thousands.
“The whole German government is behind the farmer.”
Farmers from all sections attended the huge Bueckenburg meeting, which was featured by military manoeuvres. Hundreds of thousands of Hitler’s so-called “noblemen of labor” participated in the nation-wide thanksgiving ceremonies of this national harvest festival, which came off as scheduled after two thorough rehearsals yesterday for organized groups, including Reichswehr troops, members of the S. A., and labor service units.
Harvest emblems and mottoes decorated every hamlet, town and city throughout the breadth of Germany, with local rites taking place in the more remote villages. The Propaganda Ministry’s plans worked to perfection, slogans doing honor to agriculture were displayed everywhere.
“Wine, bread, love and fidelity” ran the inscription on millions of buttonhole miniatures on sale at all corners.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
