Franz Eher Nachfolger
Encyclopedia
Franz Eher Nachfolger GmbH ("Franz Eher and Successors, LLC", usually referred to as the Eher-Verlag "Eher Publishing") was the central publishing house of the Nazi Party
and one of the largest book and periodical firms during the Third Reich. It was acquired by the party on December 17, 1920 for 115,000 Papiermark
.
In addition to the major papers, the Völkischer Beobachter
and the Illustrierter Beobachter
, the publishers also printed novels, maps, song books, and calendars. Adolf Hitler
's Mein Kampf
was also published by the firm from 1925 through many editions and millions of copies.
Handelsregister on December 2, 1901. However, the firm was actually founded with the name Münchener Beobachter on January 2, 1887. After Eher's death, Rudolf von Sebottendorf
took over the firm in 1918 and on September 30, 1919 transformed it into a limited liability company
in order to avoid possible bankruptcy.
The headquarters were in Munich
, and from 1933, the entire party literature was printed and published by Eher-Verlag. Later branches in Berlin, Vienna, and additional branches in Munich were established. Between 1933 and 1943, Rolf Rienhard was chief administrator. He was relieved by Wilhelm Baur
who remained until the end of the war.
The key figure leading the publishing house's expansion, however, was Max Amann
, who took over the firm in the 1930s. He also doubled as Reich Press Leader and president of the Reich Press Chamber. In addition to the Eher-Verlag, he controlled nearly the entire economic function of the press in Germany. Often, Amann (in his government role) expropriated rival papers, then had the Eher-Verlag buy them for a pittance. During the 1930s the Nazi Party purchased parts of the Alfred Hugenberg
concerns and a number of other publishing houses. By the 1940s, these tactics turned the Eher Verlag into one of the largest newspaper chains in the world.
In 1945, the publisher was banned and dismantled. The firm's buildings and intellectual property (including Mein Kampf) were transferred to the state of Bavaria
.
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
and one of the largest book and periodical firms during the Third Reich. It was acquired by the party on December 17, 1920 for 115,000 Papiermark
German papiermark
The name Papiermark is applied to the German currency from the 4th August 1914 when the link between the Mark and gold was abandoned, due to the outbreak of World War I...
.
In addition to the major papers, the Völkischer Beobachter
Völkischer Beobachter
The Völkischer Beobachter was the newspaper of the National Socialist German Workers' Party from 1920. It first appeared weekly, then daily from February 8, 1923...
and the Illustrierter Beobachter
Illustrierter Beobachter
Illustrierter Beobachter was an illustrated propaganda magazine which the Nazi Party published. It was published from 1926 to 1945 and was published in Munich....
, the publishers also printed novels, maps, song books, and calendars. 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...
's Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is a book written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitler's political ideology. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926...
was also published by the firm from 1925 through many editions and millions of copies.
History
The publishing house was registered by Franz Eher in the MunichMunich
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...
Handelsregister on December 2, 1901. However, the firm was actually founded with the name Münchener Beobachter on January 2, 1887. After Eher's death, Rudolf von Sebottendorf
Rudolf von Sebottendorf
Rudolf Freiherr von Sebottendorff was the alias of Adam Alfred Rudolf Glauer , who also occasionally used another alias, Erwin Torre. He was an important figure in the activities of the Thule Society, a post-World War I German occultist organization that influenced many members of the NSDAP...
took over the firm in 1918 and on September 30, 1919 transformed it into a limited liability company
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung is a type of legal entityvery common in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and other Central European countries...
in order to avoid possible bankruptcy.
The headquarters were in 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...
, and from 1933, the entire party literature was printed and published by Eher-Verlag. Later branches in Berlin, Vienna, and additional branches in Munich were established. Between 1933 and 1943, Rolf Rienhard was chief administrator. He was relieved by Wilhelm Baur
Wilhelm Baur
Wilhelm Baur or Wilhelm Baur de Betaz was a German Lieutenant General of the Heer during Second World War.-Biography:...
who remained until the end of the war.
The key figure leading the publishing house's expansion, however, was Max Amann
Max Amann
Max Aman was a German Nazi official with the honorary rank of SS-Obergruppenführer, politician and journalist.-Biography:Amann was born in Munich on November 24, 1891...
, who took over the firm in the 1930s. He also doubled as Reich Press Leader and president of the Reich Press Chamber. In addition to the Eher-Verlag, he controlled nearly the entire economic function of the press in Germany. Often, Amann (in his government role) expropriated rival papers, then had the Eher-Verlag buy them for a pittance. During the 1930s the Nazi Party purchased parts of the Alfred Hugenberg
Alfred Hugenberg
Alfred Ernst Christian Alexander Hugenberg was an influential German businessman and politician. Hugenberg, a leading figure within nationalist politics in Germany for the first few decades of the twentieth century, became the country's leading media proprietor within the inter-war period...
concerns and a number of other publishing houses. By the 1940s, these tactics turned the Eher Verlag into one of the largest newspaper chains in the world.
In 1945, the publisher was banned and dismantled. The firm's buildings and intellectual property (including Mein Kampf) were transferred to the state of Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
.