Organization Book of the N.S.D.A.P.
As a reference for collectors of Nazi militaria, the Organisationsbuch del' NSDAP is generally among the most valuable, both in information and in cost. Even for the collector with little or no knowledge of German its illustrations of uniforms and rank insignia make it a worthwhile purchase.
There are, however, several editions of the work available. The information in the 1936 edition, for example, is limited indeed when compared with the last or 1943 edition. As a rare book, however, the 1936 or first edition is more valuable.
Since no English language version of the NSDAP bibliography is available, this article is intended to serve as a checklist of the various versions of this book, both for contents and for value.
The 1936 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP
This is the first edition, and was written during the years 1934-35.
It is bound in red cloth with silver lettering. Unlike all later editions, this first edition has the words 'Organisationsbuch der' NSDAP' printed legnthwise on the spine. The front cover has the national eagle facing left and the title'. The title pase lists the publisher as 'Zentralverlag der' NSDAP., Franz Eher., Nachf., Munchen. It is dated 1936, but no quantity is listed. Records show the printing figure to be 50,000. The uniform illustrations are not professional. They are crude and without detail. The rank insignia, however, are well done. This is the only edition that illustrates the rank insignia of the Parteigericht or Party courts. These rank insignia were eliminated in late 1936. Later editions do, of course, list the organization of these courts, but the judges no longer had special insignia.
The 1937 Edition: (Second and Third Printings) The second edition is also bound in red cloth, but the title is printed horizontally on the spine. The 1937 exists in three printings. The first was a printing of 50,000 marked 2.nd Edition. The second was a variation of the 2.nd printing adding some peripheral information. It is rubberstamped with a 3 over the original printed ed. number. The third 1937 variety is the 3.rd printing, an issue of 50,000 copies. Uniform illustrations in the 2.nd and overstamped 3.rd are similar to the 1936 version. The 3.rd printing has more professional drawings which show greater detail.
The 1938 Edition: (Fourth and Fifth Printings) The fourth and fifth printings are almost identical in binding and content to the 3.rd edition of 1937. Total printing figures for the year were nearly 150,000 copies. (Note: While the 5.th printing is dated 1938, it was printed in early 1939)
The 1940 Edition: (Sixth printing) the sixth printing is bound in red cloth with silver printing as earlier editions. Like both 1938 printings, it illustrates the second style rank insignia for Politische Leiter. It is, however, of a larger format than earlier editions, containing more detailed orsanizational information. It runs slightly more than one-hundred pages longer than earlier editions.
Illustration quality is excellent. The 1940 Org. book was the first to illustrate NSFK uniforms and insignia.
The 1943 Edition: (7th printing) The last printing of the work, the 1943 edition is bound in red cardboard with a red cloth backstrip. It is the most complete edition, both in information and in illustrations. It is odd, however, that even at this late date the authors had not yet include the Waffen-SS, even though it was directly under party control as a branch of the SS. This is the most sought after edition.
The 1943 Edition: (Post-war Reprint) Bound in reddish-brown cloth with silver lettering, this reprint has the title printed lengthwise on the spine. On the original 1943 it was done horizontally. The reprint is a fair reference. But has little resale value. The color plates are somewhat disappointing since the colors have been inaccurately reproduced. The publishier also saw fit, for God know what reason, to add photos from various other books which have no relation to the text whatsoever. It is, at best, a poor substitute.
Thomas Reid: "The NSDAP Organization Book", "Der Gauleiter",1977
There are, however, several editions of the work available. The information in the 1936 edition, for example, is limited indeed when compared with the last or 1943 edition. As a rare book, however, the 1936 or first edition is more valuable.
Since no English language version of the NSDAP bibliography is available, this article is intended to serve as a checklist of the various versions of this book, both for contents and for value.
The 1936 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP
This is the first edition, and was written during the years 1934-35.
It is bound in red cloth with silver lettering. Unlike all later editions, this first edition has the words 'Organisationsbuch der' NSDAP' printed legnthwise on the spine. The front cover has the national eagle facing left and the title'. The title pase lists the publisher as 'Zentralverlag der' NSDAP., Franz Eher., Nachf., Munchen. It is dated 1936, but no quantity is listed. Records show the printing figure to be 50,000. The uniform illustrations are not professional. They are crude and without detail. The rank insignia, however, are well done. This is the only edition that illustrates the rank insignia of the Parteigericht or Party courts. These rank insignia were eliminated in late 1936. Later editions do, of course, list the organization of these courts, but the judges no longer had special insignia.
The 1937 Edition: (Second and Third Printings) The second edition is also bound in red cloth, but the title is printed horizontally on the spine. The 1937 exists in three printings. The first was a printing of 50,000 marked 2.nd Edition. The second was a variation of the 2.nd printing adding some peripheral information. It is rubberstamped with a 3 over the original printed ed. number. The third 1937 variety is the 3.rd printing, an issue of 50,000 copies. Uniform illustrations in the 2.nd and overstamped 3.rd are similar to the 1936 version. The 3.rd printing has more professional drawings which show greater detail.
The 1938 Edition: (Fourth and Fifth Printings) The fourth and fifth printings are almost identical in binding and content to the 3.rd edition of 1937. Total printing figures for the year were nearly 150,000 copies. (Note: While the 5.th printing is dated 1938, it was printed in early 1939)
The 1940 Edition: (Sixth printing) the sixth printing is bound in red cloth with silver printing as earlier editions. Like both 1938 printings, it illustrates the second style rank insignia for Politische Leiter. It is, however, of a larger format than earlier editions, containing more detailed orsanizational information. It runs slightly more than one-hundred pages longer than earlier editions.
Illustration quality is excellent. The 1940 Org. book was the first to illustrate NSFK uniforms and insignia.
The 1943 Edition: (7th printing) The last printing of the work, the 1943 edition is bound in red cardboard with a red cloth backstrip. It is the most complete edition, both in information and in illustrations. It is odd, however, that even at this late date the authors had not yet include the Waffen-SS, even though it was directly under party control as a branch of the SS. This is the most sought after edition.
The 1943 Edition: (Post-war Reprint) Bound in reddish-brown cloth with silver lettering, this reprint has the title printed lengthwise on the spine. On the original 1943 it was done horizontally. The reprint is a fair reference. But has little resale value. The color plates are somewhat disappointing since the colors have been inaccurately reproduced. The publishier also saw fit, for God know what reason, to add photos from various other books which have no relation to the text whatsoever. It is, at best, a poor substitute.
Thomas Reid: "The NSDAP Organization Book", "Der Gauleiter",1977
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