Collection of Blut und Boden

[DrPMC]

Its taken me three years or so to gather this small collection of objects related to Nazi Blut und Boden. They are displayed in the ubiquitous Ikea Detolf cases, to which I have added some home assembled LED lighting. Apologies for the grainy pictures – cheap camera and shaky hands.



‘Blut und Boden’ is perhaps not a mainstream collecting interest but certainly an important part of the ideology of the Third Reich generally and Himmler’s SS in particular.

The contents of the different compartments are probably self-explanatory – most are associated in some way with the Reichsnährstand – the Reich Food Estate.

Regards, Philip

1. Neuadel aus Blut und Boden: Although first coined by the Social Democrat August Winnig, ‘Blood and Soil’ (Blut und Boden) became the motto of the Reichsnährstand, the Nazi agency responsible for food and farming, and before that figured in the title of a Walther Darré’s important book Neuadel aus Blut und Boden (A New Nobility From Blood And Soil, first published 1930).



2. The Odal Rune: “Odal” is one of the characters in the runic alphabet used by Germanic tribes between the 2nd and 8th centuries, and signified inherited property, nobility, lineage and kinship. The runes were revived among Völkisch thinkers in Germany from the late 19th century onwards and subsequently adopted by the Nazis. In National Socialist Germany the Odal rune chiefly symbolised the ideology of Blut und Boden, whose central concept melded nation, race and the land. In Nazi Germany the Odal rune was also the symbol for the Erbhof – the hereditary farm – the sign for which is at the back of the display.





3. Reichsnährstand awards for long service, with an Emailschild for Ortsbauernführer



4. A marked grain sack and bread plate



5. Two Fahnenspitzen with a display of day badges.



6. Reichsnährstands-Ausstellung: In Nazi Germany the Reichsnährstands-Ausstellung was the annual national agricultural exhibition, acting as a celebration of the best animals and produce of German farmers and a showcase for the manufacturers of machinery and other products. The annual travelling exhibition (Wander-Ausstellung) had previously been organised by the Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG; German Agricultural Society), an independent civic body founded in 1885. It was taken over by the Reichsnährstand from 1934 onwards and held every year (except 1938) until the outbreak of war.





7. Various awards for animal breeding (etc.) awarded by the Reichsnährstand and affiliated organisations.





8. The Reichs-Gartenschau: This was organised by the Reichsnährstand – in conjunction with the relevant city authorities – on three occasions: 1936 in Dresden; 1938 in Essen; and 1939 in Stuttgart.

Also included are several badges relating to the of Reichsbund der Kleingärtner und Kleinsiedler (Allotment Gardeners and Small Holders). Incidentally, the first leader of the Reichsbund was Hans Kammler, who ended his career as an SS Obergruppenfuhrer.





9. Two Reichsnährstand metal signs.



10. Reichsverband für Zucht und Prüfung deutschen Warmbluts: Almost all German organisations associated with animals were affiliated to the Reichsnährstand including the main national organisation for horses (Reichsverband für Zucht und Prüfung deutschen Warmbluts/ Reich Association for breeding and testing German Warmblood).





11. Der Kräutergarten / The Herbgarden (Verlag: Berlin, Nordland Verlag, ca. 1941)

Full title: K. O. Bäcker, und R. Lucass, Der Kräutergarten: Ein Führer durch die spezielle Heilpflanzenkunde. Zugleich eine Zusammenstellung aller Heil- und Gewürzpflanzen, die auf deutschem Boden ihren natürlichen Standort haben oder angebaut werden können. [The Herb Garden: A Guide to the special medicinal plants. At the same time a compilation of all medicinal and aromatic plants which have their natural habitat on, or can be grown on, German soil.]

This book is dedicated to Heinrich Himmler and has a foreword by SS Gruppenführer Oswald Pohl. Its authors were SS-Obersturmführer Dr. K. Otto Bäcker (Referent für Heilpflanzenkunde [Expert for Medicinal Plants] in der Reichsführung SS) and SS-Obersturmführer Rudolf Lucass (Gartenmeister, Referent für Heil-und Gewürzpflanzenanbau [Expert for medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation] in der Reichsführiung SS). Bäcker and Lucass were responsible for the cultivation of medicinal herbs at KZ Dachau, on the so-called ‘Plantation’.

[wizardman]

Very good and extensive

[TrondK]

Interesting collection. You have several historical objects i have never seen before.

[HPL2008]

An excellent, focussed collection, and attractively displayed, too.

This may not be as "glamorous" a collecting field as, say, combat awards and decorations, but given both the wide range of items related in one way or the other to the whole concept of "blood and soil" and its central importance to Nazi ideology, it is surely an underappreciated and underrated one.

Thanks for sharing!

[No1canuck]

A very interesting collection of items and well put together for display Phillip.

Steve

[Chopperman]

Very nicely done

[SteveR]

Very impressive collection Sir.

[harryamb2]

imprest

[Silberkreuz]

Wow, specialist collecting, the amount time and effort here in putting this collection together is a pleasure to see. Congrats, thanks for showing

[Danmark]

All new to me but very interesting.
Thanks for showing us.

Dan