Rathausausstellung 2026 - Tafel 05: Konflikte in der Hamburger Kulturpolitik | Town-hall Exhibition 2026 - Panel 05: Conflicts in Hamburg’s cultural policy

Key institutions When it came to National Socialist cultural policy, various state and party institutions competed for influence and opinion leadership. The central guidelines were issued by the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda under Minister Joseph Goebbels. He was also head of the Reich Chamber of Culture, which oversaw large areas of cultural life. The Propaganda Ministry and the Reich Chamber of Culture had regional offices in Hamburg, which restricted the influence of Hamburg’s own cultural administration. At times, notions as to the nature and content of National Socialist cultural policy diverged widely. While the disagreements led to conflicts, in some cases they also opened up opportunities to undermine guidelines without showing outright defiance.