Kultur for the Volk

This study reveals that the Nazi-era organization KdF (Kraft durch Freude) used cultural programming, particularly through the Bayreuth Wagner Festival, to promote social cohesion and integrate workers into Germany's elite cultural sphere. By offering discounted tickets and introductory lectures on Richard Wagner's works, KdF aimed to bridge perceived class divides by providing access to 'high-brow' culture, rather than addressing material needs. The research demonstrates how the organization strategically leveraged cultural engagement to foster a unified Volksgemeinschaft (people's community), reflecting its broader ideological goals during the Third Reich.

Timpe, J. (2017). Kultur for the Volk. Nazi-Organized Recreation and Entertainment in the Third Reich, 73–117. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-53193-3_3