Reich Chamber of Culture

The Reich Chamber of Culture (Reichskulturkammer, abbreviated as RKK) was a government agency in Nazi Germany. It was established by law on 22 September 1933 in the course of the Gleichschaltung process at the instigation of Reich Minister Joseph Goebbels as a professional organization of all German creative artists. Defying the competing ambitions of the German Labour Front (DAF) under Goebbels' rival Robert Ley, it was meant to gain control over the entire cultural life in Germany creating and promoting Aryan art consistent with Nazi ideals. Every artist had to apply for membership on presentation of an Aryan certificate. A rejected inscription de facto resulted in an occupational ban. The RKK was affiliated with the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda with its seat on Wilhelmplatz in Berlin. Headed by Goebbels himself, a state secretary of his ministry served as vice president: Walther Funk (1933–1938) Karl Hanke (1938–1941) Leopold Gutterer (1941–1944) Werner Naumann (1944–1945) SS officer Hans Hinkel was one of the officers in charge of the chamber and Goebbels' special commissioner for the removal of Jews from German cultural life. Different subdivisions of the RKK dealt with film, music, visual arts, theatre, literature, media, and radio, organized in seven departments: Reichsfilmkammer, headed by Carl Froelich from 1939 Reichsmusikkammer, headed by Richard Strauss, from 1935 by Peter Raabe Reichskammer der bildenden Künste ("Reich Chamber of Fine Arts") (de), headed by Eugen Hönig from 1933, by Adolf Ziegler from 1936, and by Wilhelm Kreis from 1943 Reichstheaterkammer, headed by Rainer Schlösser 1935–1938, by Paul Hartmann from 1942 Reichsschrifttumskammer, headed by Hans-Friedrich Blunck, from 1935 by Hanns Johst Reichspressekammer, headed by Max Amann Reichsrundfunkkammer (tasks assigned to Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft in 1939) The RKK was ultimately dissolved and its assets confiscated by Law no. 2 (October 10, 1945) of the Allied Control Council.