Phönix-Kalender für die deutsche Jugend Führer durch das Jahr 1933 für Jungen und Mädchen. Mit Schreibkalendarium vom 1. Januar 1933 bis 1. April 1934. Neubearbeitet von Karl Hellwig – ” Phoenix Calendar for the German Youth Guide through the year 1933 for Boys and Girls. With writing calendar from January 1, 1933 to April 1, 1934. Re-edited by Karl Hellwig”. T
he “Phoenix” calendar for the German youth – 1933 – the last calendar issued before Hitler’s rise to power as German chancellor, without swastika symbols, without Nazi symbols, and without any mentions of the Nazi Party and its leaders. Berlin, 1932.
A detailed calendar for the German youth accompanied by many photographs of leisure activities for youth in Germany, various timetables, games, an extensive review of youth activities in the forest and field, many tables, articles about natural wonders, and a lot of informative material. The calendar was issued before Hitler’s rise to power about a month after publication, and it does not contain any mentions at all of the Nazi Party or its symbols. Germany’s transition from a weak and defeated superpower at the end of World War I to a dictatorship with a single ruler was effectively done in a single day. This is clearly evident in the “Phoenix” calendars issued each year. The next calendar issued for the years 1933-34 was already full of Nazi Party symbols, glorification of the Führer and party leaders, images of Hitler Youth with swastikas and more (see Dynasty auction 24 item 64). But, in the calendar before us issued at the beginning of that year before Hitler’s rise to power, there is no hint of any Nazi symbols, and no reference to the Nazi ideology. The photos shown here of activities of German youth (16 plates with photos over full pages, and many more photos in the body of the calendar), sports and leisure activities, are accompanied by “neutral” descriptions devoid of any German patriotism when the enjoyment and self-fulfillment of the young are the highlighted topics. The listing of historical events appearing toward the end of the calendar ends on April 10, 1932 with Hindenburg’s election as Reich president.
Attached to this calendar was also an illustrated wall calendar of “Phoenix” for the year 1933 in high-quality lithographic print, showing German youth in scenes of music and more. The illustrations in this calendar were made based on original photographs of the youth appearing in the calendar itself. Here too, without any hint of the Nazi era that conquered Germany in all its might just weeks after the calendar’s publication.
XIV, 367 [1], VII pages. 15 cm. Original impressive colorfully decorated hardcover with cloth, with an illustration of a German girl. Blue upper leaf cutting. As mentioned, a wall calendar 36×27 cm. enclosed (placed in a dedicated pocket on the back cover. See photos). Very good condition.
