Heldengedenktag
Nazi-era commemoration day
The Heldengedenktag ("Heroes' Memorial Day") was a holiday in Nazi Germany in commemoration of the fallen soldiers of World War I. It was introduced on 27 February 1934 to replace the Volkstrauertag.
In the process, the Nazis completely changed the character of the holiday: the emphasis shifted to hero worship rather than remembering the dead.
Joseph Goebbels, as Propaganda Minister, issued guidelines on content and implementation, instructing that flags no longer be flown at half-mast. The 1939 order prohibited entertainment events on this day unless they had "soldierly and heroic character", at first until 6PM (from 1943, until midnight).
The last Heldengedenktag was celebrated in 1945.
Date
Originally, the Heldengedenktag was observed on the fifth Sunday before Easter (Reminiscere). In 1939, it was moved to March 16, the day of the reintroduction of conscription, or on the Sunday before, if March 16 was a business day. The propaganda impact of the day was considered so significant that all crucial steps in the preparation for war up to and including 1939 were scheduled for a date very close to Heroes' Memorial Day.
March 17 1935
March 8 1936, one day after the remilitarisation of the Rhineland
February 21 1937
March 13 1938, one day after the Anschluss
March 12 1939, three days before the occupation of Czechoslovakia
March 10 1940
March 16 1941
March 15 1942
March 21 1943 (exceptionally postponed by one week)
March 12 1944
March 11 1945
See also
Nazism and the Wehrmacht
Heroes' Day
References
Sources
Janz, Nina (2013). Der Heldengedenktag in der Wehrmacht (PDF) (M.A. thesis) (in German).
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