January 1, 1939
National Socialists! Party Comrades!
National Socialist Germany
emerges from the year 1938 with deeply moved gratitude for the merciful workings
of Providence. The sixth year after the National Socialist Revolution-and the
newly erected leadership of the people and state wrought thereby-has come to a
close as the most eventful year in the history of our Volk in many a century.
In the five years from 1933, the prevailing ambition of the National Socialist
Movement and our Party was to overcome our domestic difficulties: the Volk’s
political, social, and economic misery. We have mastered the greatest foreign
policy obstacle facing us within these twelve months which lie behind us now.
Who can help being deeply
moved, seeing today’s Greater German Reich which we erected, as he reflects on
the situation we faced a mere six years ago? In face of the incredible changes
wrought in the life of our Volk, who can any longer deny the righteousness of
the forces and methods employed? In Germany, no one can-unless he consciously
wishes our Volk ill. Abroad, of course, all those will deny this who have an
interest in opposing the resurrection of the Reich-for whatever reason.
When I reflect on this year of
the most bountiful harvest ever in our history, I feel tremendous gratitude
first to Providence and second to my Party! The National Socialist Movement has
wrought this miracle. The Good Lord provided for this, and the Party served as
His instrument.
The Party stood by me in
unyielding loyalty for nearly two decades. It became instrumental in creating
the prerequisite conditions to herald, and indeed to force, Germany’s
resurrection. Throughout the years, its untiring exertions forged the inner consolidation
of the Volkskorper. Knowing this concentrated force stood firm behind me, I was
in a position, at a decisive moment, to stand up for the right to life of our
Volk even at the risk of the last and most formidable consequences. All of us
can reflect on 1938 with great pride and satisfaction: the men and women
constituting the leadership of the Party, its fighting organizations, and the
associations connected with it; the millions of active, albeit anonymous Party
comrades; and all those active in the National Socialist Movement. Through
their labor, they contributed to and rendered feasible the creation of this
Greater German Reich.
National Socialism wrought a
new sense of community within the Volk and provided it with a steadfast
political regime which allowed me to carry out the build-up of a new German
Wehrmacht. It has passed the test this year. Officers and enlisted men
zealously competed with one another in their dedication to the National
Socialist Greater German Reich. Once more the German Volk stands proud of its
soldiers! The state itself and its administration have resolved in masterly
fashion a foremost task in the course of this year.
Above all, I reach out in
gratitude to the entire German Volk. Its marvelous behavior has greatly contributed
to robbing an inquisitive surrounding world of the last flicker of hope that
the ancient affliction (altes Erbubel) of the Germans would once again
be aroused. In the past year, not one of these so-called democratic statesmen
could claim to truly speak for his people more so than I.
This allowed for the
resolution, without recourse to war, of this one European question which had to
be resolved in one way or another.
The enterprising spirit of the
German peasant assured production of foodstuffs for the German Volk. The German
worker contributed to an exceptional increase in the productivity of our
economy. I am grateful above all to those hundreds of thousands who transformed
the Western Front of the Reich into a wall of steel and cement of which we know
that no power on earth will ever be able to penetrate it.
In this same period, the
organizational power of our Volk has celebrated triumph upon triumph. The
glorious feats accomplished by our Wehrmacht were paralleled by no less
glorious achievements in the sphere of economics and public administration.
And, one day, the history books will remark on the intriguing fact that,
despite great political tensions and gigantic exertions and accomplishments,
cultural life was not brought to a standstill but that, to the contrary, it
witnessed astounding advances.
Within the past year, in all
spheres of our communal life, the rich and multifaceted life of the National
Socialist Volksgemeinschaft has compensated for the crimes committed against
our Volk in certain decades and certain centuries. May this be of consolation
to those who suffered throughout the years, throughout the decades, never
yielding in their belief in our Volksgemeinschaft; and to those who were not
fortunate enough to live to see the day of the restoration of the Greater
German Reich. May they rejoice, from beyond their graves, in the happiness of
uncounted millions which springs forth from their earthly remains. They did not
suffer in vain; their deaths were not in vain.
The year 1938 constituted a
solemn pledge on the part of the Volk. Twice within this year, Germans were
called on to cast their votes. The first time, the Germans from the Old Reich
stepped up to the ballot-box, alongside our Volksgenossen from the new German
Ostmark. On the second occasion, Sudeten Germans having just returned to the
Reich lined up beside them. And thus, for the first time in the history of our
German Volk, all of Germany was allowed to freely and solemnly express its
political will: to stand with the Greater German Reich and to never, ever again
be severed from it-come what may!
The future exacts fulfillment
of the following tasks: Our first and foremost task will remain what it has
always been in the past and as it poses itself to us today: the education of
our Volk in the spirit of the National Socialist community. The second task
lies in the build-up and reinforcement of our Wehrmacht. And third, we face the
task of implementing the Four-Year Plan, resolving the manpower shortage, and integrating
the new Reich provinces economically.
Germany occupies a
well-defined position in international politics. We stand firm and unyielding
by the obligations resulting from our friendship with Fascist Italy. The
realization of the historic role played by Mussolini in the preservation of
peace in the past year compels us to profound gratitude. We are grateful also
to those other statesmen who in this year have undertaken to search for and to
find a peaceful resolution to these questions which, at the time, allowed for
no further postponement.
As regards world politics
today, the Anti-Comintern Pact determines our political stance. Beyond this we
have only one desire: May the coming year allow us to contribute to a general
pacification of the world. May the Lord’s mercy accompany our German Volk on
its fateful path. Long live the National Socialist Movement! Long live our
German Volk and Reich!
Berchtesgaden, December 31, 1938
Adolf
Hitler
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