On 31 May 1933 the members of the Hamburg-St. Pauli Gymnastics Club attended a meeting with far-reaching consequences: together with two other members, Chairman Louis Nathan (1856–1935) was forced to "retire" from the club because of his Jewish origins. The minutes provide a detailed account of the proceedings.
Like sports clubs throughout the German Reich, St. Pauli made these changes to fulfill the provisions of the Directive on the Exclusion of Jewish Gymnasts and Athletes—the so-called Aryan Clause—which had been introduced by the Reich Sports Commissioner on April 25. In addition, all clubs were to be organized according to the "Führer principle." The chairman was now called "Führer"; he could only appoint additional board members after a review by a higher authority and he was required to report all the club‘s activities and plans. These rules suspended the club‘s democratic principles. As a result, all the members of St. Pauli‘s executive committee were forced, at least formally, to step down until confirmed in their positions by the German Gymnastics Association.
The Easter message by Edmund Neuendorff, head of the German Gymnastics Association, was also read at the meeting. Neuendorff took the opportunity to prepare the athletes for the new zeitgeist: "We want our blue gymnasts to achieve a status equal to that of the brown Stormtroopers and the gray Stahlhelm troops. Our ambition is to ensure that our blue companies will in no way be inferior to our German comrades from the Stormtroopers and the Stahlhelm groups when it comes to clarity of patriotic purpose, soldierly spirit and military capability."
As the minutes suggest, not everyone at the meeting was in agreement with the club‘s policies. One member said that he "took offense" at the athletes‘ mandatory "Gut Heil" salute. But as the others‘ reactions clearly show, he was in the minority.
The meeting also elected the non-Jew Curt Heinsen as the club‘s new chairman. Ludwig Nathan‘s comrades "unanimously" thanked him for his services.
Michaela Roßberg
General Assembly, 31 May 1933
In the gym
Opened at 9:05 by Heinsen, who read the minutes of the previous meeting.
Heinsen then read our district chairman‘s appeal.
L. Nathan had to retire as our long-standing chairman because he fell under the Aryan Clause.
Fräulein Peters & Frau Holst resigned from their honorary posts.
All members of the club‘s executive committee formally stepped down from their positions as required by the "Führer" principle.
Will Hein has moved into the apartment on the first floor (formerly inhabited by Holst).
C. Griese, H. Ahlborg and C. Schradieck have been members of our club for sixty years. A. Mueller has been with us for fifty years.
Carl Griese, Carl v. Elbing and Anton Ganzow have unfortunately died—once again, three upstanding old members who were role models.
All members in attendance honored the deceased by rising from their seats.
A branch was opened in West-Eimsbüttel on 1 June 1933.
The annual report by the executive committee was printed in the April newsletter—as was the report by from the senior gymnastics supervisor.
Members of the assembly voted against reading the sub-reports.
Hans Behrens reported on the recreation committee:
Surpluses: Seventieth festival of the foundation, around 70.00.
Christmas celebration, approx. 195.00 (minus).
Masquerade 210.00 (plus).
Then the working statement and the statement of net assets for 1932 were approved.
The accountant Heinsen was discharged from his responsibilities for the past year.
The auditors were thanked and the 1933 budget was approved.
(Second page)
Heinsen read the Easter message by Neuendorff with the regulations of the German Gymnastics Association.
Elections were held.
Curt Heinsen was elected chairman at the suggestion of the gymnastics supervisor.
Carlos Walter took offense at the new "Gut Heil" salute with the raised right arm. Bruhn, Lutter + Dreesen attempted to reason with him.
Lutter, as auditor, complained about the receipts for cleaning the mats.
In the future, unemployed members will only be permitted to pay reduced dues if they perform work in return.
Lührs inquired about the Scharpff affair. Heinsen will provide him with information.
The retiring Jewish members L. Nathan
M. Feldt
& J. Heilbut
were thanked unanimously for their work.
Ended 11:15 Secretary
A. Brosch.
Head
