Reichszeugmeisterei
Encyclopedia
The Reichszeugmeisterei formally located in Munich
, was the first and eventually the primary Zeugmeisterei (quartermaster
's office), as well as the national material control office of Nazi Germany
. It replaced the SA-Wirtschaftsstelle, the purchasing agency of the Sturmabteilung
.
, Adolf Hitler
ordered the wearing of brown shirts by members of the newly established NSDAP and the SA. These uniforms were complemented by brown caps and coloured badges in 1927, which could only be purchased at the SA-Wirtschaftsstelle. Due to an increasing number of members, Hitler instructed the SA command in 1928 to establish a Zeugmeisterei in Munich. This office was responsible for the central supply of all kinds of uniforms, uniform parts and equipment to members of Nazi organizations. Further "Zeugmeistereien" were established in other German cities, and the quartermaster office in Munich was renamed to Reichszeugmeisterei, to identify it with its leading role.
In 1930 the "Zeugmeistereien" were subordinated to Franz Xaver Schwarz
in his position as "Reichsschatzmeister" (National Treasurer) of the NSDAP. When the "Heimtückegesetz" (Insidiousness Law) of 1934 secured its exclusive right to license manufacturers and tradesmen, the Reichszeugmeisterei became the VIII Main Office of the NSDAP Procurement Office , and given responsibility for the coordination of all procurement of uniforms and equipment projects. The RZM office defined design, manufacturing and quality standards, and published an authoritative colour chart for textiles. A RZM licence could be bought and by the middle of 1934 there were about 15,000 licensed manufacturing factories and craft producers, 1,500 tradesmen, 75,000 master tailors and 15,000 so-called "brown shops" in the German Reich.
All pieces of equipment had to be labelled with a visible RZM copyright protection symbol and a product-assigned RZM number that contained encoded data about the textile sector, material group, producer number and year of production. All products were at first tested by World War I
veterans and invalids, but after the outbreak of World War II
prisoners of war
were used. Some equipment parts were also stored and shipped from the RZM in Munich.
technology. Construction started in 1935 and the building was almost finished by 1937. It was surrounded by accommodation blocks for the RZM workers.
After World War II, the American forces occupied the complex, and the Reichsadler
and the swastika
were removed from the main building's façade. The main building became block no. 7 of the US-McGraw Kaserne
. Since the withdrawal of American troops from Munich in the 1990s, the main building has been used by a satellite department of the Police Headquarters of Munich
.
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, was the first and eventually the primary Zeugmeisterei (quartermaster
Quartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
's office), as well as the national material control office of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. It replaced the SA-Wirtschaftsstelle, the purchasing agency of the Sturmabteilung
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
.
Tasks and organization
As early as 1925, to avoid identification problems during street fighting in the Weimar RepublicWeimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
, Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
ordered the wearing of brown shirts by members of the newly established NSDAP and the SA. These uniforms were complemented by brown caps and coloured badges in 1927, which could only be purchased at the SA-Wirtschaftsstelle. Due to an increasing number of members, Hitler instructed the SA command in 1928 to establish a Zeugmeisterei in Munich. This office was responsible for the central supply of all kinds of uniforms, uniform parts and equipment to members of Nazi organizations. Further "Zeugmeistereien" were established in other German cities, and the quartermaster office in Munich was renamed to Reichszeugmeisterei, to identify it with its leading role.
In 1930 the "Zeugmeistereien" were subordinated to Franz Xaver Schwarz
Franz Xaver Schwarz
Franz Xaver Schwarz was a German politician who served as Reichsschatzmeister of the Nazi Party during most of the Party's existence.-Early life:...
in his position as "Reichsschatzmeister" (National Treasurer) of the NSDAP. When the "Heimtückegesetz" (Insidiousness Law) of 1934 secured its exclusive right to license manufacturers and tradesmen, the Reichszeugmeisterei became the VIII Main Office of the NSDAP Procurement Office , and given responsibility for the coordination of all procurement of uniforms and equipment projects. The RZM office defined design, manufacturing and quality standards, and published an authoritative colour chart for textiles. A RZM licence could be bought and by the middle of 1934 there were about 15,000 licensed manufacturing factories and craft producers, 1,500 tradesmen, 75,000 master tailors and 15,000 so-called "brown shops" in the German Reich.
All pieces of equipment had to be labelled with a visible RZM copyright protection symbol and a product-assigned RZM number that contained encoded data about the textile sector, material group, producer number and year of production. All products were at first tested by World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
veterans and invalids, but after the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
were used. Some equipment parts were also stored and shipped from the RZM in Munich.
Office building
At first, before the RZM office building proper was finished, the RZM office was located in Schwanthaler Straße and later in offices of the former SA-Wirtschaftsstelle in Tegernseer Landstraße. The RZM building itself was built on the estate of the former Wagen- und Maschinenfabrik Gebr. Beißbarth OHG, which was acquired by the NSDAP from the Bayerische Hypotheken- und Wechselbank in 1934. Local architects Paul Hofer and Karl Johann Fischer were commissioned by the NSDAP Reichsleitung with the design of the RZM main building in the "new district" of Munich. Main construction management was overseen by Josef Heldmann. The huge construction was one of the first in Germany to be built using steel frameSteel frame
Steel frame usually refers to a building technique with a "skeleton frame" of vertical steel columns and horizontal -beams, constructed in a rectangular grid to support the floors, roof and walls of a building which are all attached to the frame...
technology. Construction started in 1935 and the building was almost finished by 1937. It was surrounded by accommodation blocks for the RZM workers.
After World War II, the American forces occupied the complex, and the Reichsadler
Reichsadler
The Reichsadler was the heraldic eagle, derived from the Roman eagle standard, used by the Holy Roman Emperors and in modern coats of arms of Germany, including those of the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany...
and the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
were removed from the main building's façade. The main building became block no. 7 of the US-McGraw Kaserne
McGraw Kaserne
The McGraw Kaserne is a former military installation in southern Munich, Germany, which was used by the U.S. Military during the occupation of Germany after World War II. The main building was one of the first ones in Germany to be built using steel frame technology. The kaserne was named after...
. Since the withdrawal of American troops from Munich in the 1990s, the main building has been used by a satellite department of the Police Headquarters of Munich
Polizeipräsidium München
thumb|Munich Police Headquarters, located at Ettstraße 2-4The Polizeipräsidium München is part of the Bavarian State Police. It consists of 7,100 officers and is located in Munich...
.
Literature
- Götz, Norbert, Weidlich, Peter Reichszeugmeisterei. In: München - "Hauptstadt der Bewegung" (German), exhibition catalogue, Munich city museum, October 22, 1993 - March 27, 1994. Munich 1993, p. 283-286.