The German Reichspost 1933–1945
Digest from Jan-Otmar Hesse review
The book Die Deutsche Reichspost 1933–1945: Eine politische Verwaltungsgeschichte discusses the transformation of leadership within the Deutsche Reichspost during the period of National Socialism, particularly focusing on the tenure of Wilhelm Ohnesorge and its implications for the organization. Ohnesorge’s appointment represented a significant shift in leadership ideology, characterized by the prioritization of political loyalty over professional qualifications. This shift was facilitated by the “Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service,” resulting in the retirement of a significant portion of the existing staff to make room for politically aligned individuals. This personnel overhaul had profound operational effects, though the exact economic impact remains implicit and warrants further investigation.
The concept of “National Socialization” within the Reichspost extended beyond mere political affiliations, encompassing intensive efforts to ideologically indoctrinate staff. Ohnesorge played a central role in promoting comradeship and advancing socio-political initiatives, both domestically and in occupied territories. The Reichspost became a platform for implementing Nazi racial policies, evident in its enthusiastic embrace of Aryanization and classification of personnel based on racial criteria. Despite initially assuming a seamless integration of the Reichspost into the totalitarian state apparatus, Lotz’s research reveals tensions between the organization and the Gestapo regarding cooperation in surveillance activities. The Reichspost’s commitment to preserving postal secrecy conflicted with the Gestapo’s demands for intensified surveillance, highlighting the organization’s complex position within the Nazi regime.
The absence of a summarizing conclusion in both volumes suggests coordination issues, leaving readers to compile the multitude of details presented. The transformation of the Deutsche Reichspost under National Socialism reflects a shift towards a politically-driven corporate culture, prioritizing ideals of comradeship and nationalism over profit motives. This ideological orientation, articulated by figures like State Secretary Jakob Nagel, redefined the organization’s mission as serving the cultural and national needs of the state, rather than purely economic objectives.
The second volume of the postal history delves into the utilization of the Deutsche Reichspost for the military objectives of National Socialism. However, the text notes that this volume presents challenges for readers due to structural issues and redundant information. The introduction to the second volume repeats much of the content from the first volume, including discussions on comradeship semantics and leadership structure within the Reich Postal Ministry. Furthermore, the transition from peacetime to wartime economy within the German Reichspost is only superficially addressed, focusing primarily on the functioning of the field post office while neglecting other significant aspects such as the abolition of the preliminary audit of the Reichspost budget.
A key concern highlighted in the text is the emergence of various organizational structures within the occupied territories, which resulted from personal conflicts between high-ranking officials. However, the operational implications of these organizational differences for the Reichspost are not adequately explored. The author criticizes the book’s chronological structure, which leads to the repetition of information and the loss of connections between topics. Redundancies, such as repeated mentions of statistics, detract from the book’s coherence and significance.
The text also critiques the treatment of important topics like forced labor, which is fragmented across different chapters without providing a comprehensive understanding. Information on foreign workers and their treatment is disproportionately minimal compared to other topics like Nazi war propaganda. Additionally, insights into the Reichspost’s personnel policy during wartime are presented inconsistently, with reports of conflicting priorities and failures to address personnel deficits. Despite these challenges, the text paradoxically celebrates the Reichspost’s achievements during the war, such as ensuring civilian postal traffic and expanding its workforce, without adequately addressing the underlying complexities and contradictions.
Furthermore, the text points to the intricate relationship between the Reichspost and the SS, highlighting their cooperation during the war. However, this relationship is fragmented and not systematically analyzed, leaving important questions unanswered regarding the extent of the SS’s influence on the Reichspost’s corporate policy. Overall, the text suggests that while the second volume offers valuable insights, its structural deficiencies and lack of comprehensive analysis hinder a thorough understanding of the Deutsche Reichspost’s role during the National Socialist era.
