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This is a wonderful, rare Third Reich photo book called Volk und Kanzler (The Nation and Its Chancellor) by Otto Grube. The sub-title Mit dem Tonfilmwagen durch das Dritte Reich roughly translates as “With the Sound Movie Car through the Third Reich” and refers to the fact that silent movies were outdated and that the National Socialists took advantage of modern technology - moving pictures with sound.

The Tonfilmwagen was a
“moving film studio” that made it
possible to bring Hitler closer to his
nation and its people.

In the foreword, author Otto Grube explains that many people only witnessed the extraordinary achievements of the ‘Revolutionary Year” of 1933 from afar, but that there was a desire by citizens of the German nation to know more about Adolf Hitler, to see him in different circumstances, to create a closer relationship between the people and chancellor. The source of the photos in Volk und Kanzler was UfA Wochenschau, a weekly news program shown in theaters that informed German citizens about the latest news in Nazi Germany and abroad, entertainment, sport, etc.

The book starts with the historic day, 30 January 1933, when the “National Socialist dream came true”. There are full-page photos of Hitler waving to saluting fans from a window in the Reichschancellery in Berlin, followed by photographs of the Reichstag arson fire, 21 March 1933 in Potsdam, the commissioning of Panzerschiff ‘Deutschland’, Hitler Youth gatherings with HJ Leader Baldur von Schirach, the “Day of the Black Guard” SS parades in Berlin, President von Hindenburg’s 85th birthday, Tannenberg, Dr. Joseph Goebbels with young Italian Fascists and Italian Ambassador Vittorio Cerutti, the ‘Graf Zeppelin’ above the Nazi Party Day Stadium in Nürnberg, men of the Reichsarbeitsdienst at work, Hitler’s visit to the Siemens Factory on 10 November 1933, etc., as well as many photos of camera men at work.

Aside from some wear and damage to the front cover and black linen spine, this example of Volk und Kanzler is in very nice little-used condition. The glossy pages of the book are in very nice condition, the spine is tight. It has no odor. There is a round eagle and swastika rubber stamp of a public school on the title page .

This 7-¼ x 9-¾ inch, hardcover 104 page Nazi photo book was published by Verlag der Reimar Hobbing of Berlin in 1934. However, a slip added to the title page shows that Freiheitsverlag Berlin took over the rights of this book from Verlag der Reimar Hobbing in September 1934. A similar note is attached between page 58 and 61, where the new publisher removed a page due to "historical events".

Page Many photos in Volk und Kanzler are not found in other Third Reich publications such as the Heinrich Hoffmann books.