{"id":8508,"date":"2019-11-06T12:23:12","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T12:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/?page_id=8508"},"modified":"2026-06-19T12:41:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T12:41:56","slug":"formation-of-the-german-labour-front","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schoolshistory.org.uk\/topics\/source-material-for-classroom-use\/germany-1919-39-source-material\/nazi-control-and-dictatorship-1933-39\/formation-of-the-german-labour-front\/","title":{"rendered":"Formation of the German Labour Front"},"content":{"rendered":"

The German Labour Front<\/a> was established in 1933. Under the leadership of Robert Ley<\/a>, it replaced all Free Trade Unions. All workers organisations were subsequently state controlled. The following circular outlines the way in which the Free Trade Unions would be taken over.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

German Labour Front<\/h2>\n

Circular No. 6\/33<\/b><\/p>\n

The action to coordinate the Free Trade Unions will begin on Tuesday, May 2, 1933, at 10:00 am.<\/p>\n

The direction of the entire operation lies in the hands of the Action Committee.<\/p>\n

The Action Committee is composed as follows:<\/p>\n

Dr. Robert Ley, Chairman.
\nRudolf Schmeer, Deputy.
\nSchuhmann, Commissioner of the General German Trade Union Federation [ADGB].
\nPeppler, Commissioner of the General Independent Employees\u2019 Federation [AFA].
\nMuchow, Organization.
\nBank Director Muller, Commissioner, Director of the Bank for Workers, Employees, and Officials.
\nBrinckmann, Commissioner, Chief Cashier.
\nBiallas, Propaganda and Press.<\/p>\n

All the provisional leaders of the unions belong to the extended Action Committee.<\/p>\n

The essential part of the operation is to be directed against the General German Trade Union Federation [ADGB] and the General Independent Employees\u2019 Federation [AFA]. Anything beyond that which concerns the Free Trade Unions is left to the discretion of the Gauleiters.<\/p>\n

The Gauleiters are responsible for executing the coordination action in the individual areas. Those involved in the action should be members of the National Socialist Factory Cell Organization [NSBO or\u00a0National-Sozialistische Betriebszellen-Organisation<\/i>].<\/p>\n

SA as well as SS are to be employed for the occupation of trade union properties and for taking the relevant persons into protective custody.<\/p>\n

The Gauleiter is to proceed with his measures on the basis of the closest understanding with the appropriate regional factory cell leader [Gaubetriebszellenleiter<\/i>].<\/p>\n

The action in Berlin will be conducted by the Action Committee itself.<\/p>\n

In the Reich the following will be occupied:<\/p>\n