Rosenberg has been further reproached with anti-Christianity and neopaganism. It is true that this reproach was not brought against his theory, but in connection with the persecution of the Christian religion in all its forms which later resulted. Rosenberg was an opponent of Christianity in its—as he sees them—present historical forms, just as he was of Jewry. In place of Christianity he strove for an idealistically, racially, and ethnically, conditioned religion, an emotional religion of blood and soil.
He thereby attacked both Christianity and Jewry theoretically, and hoped that the Christian Churches would gradually become extinct among the German people; yet it will always have to be admitted that Rosenberg staged no violent persecution. He carried on this battle with intellectual weapons. Here, too, since he expected freedom of conscience for himself, he advocated freedom of conscience for others, and pointed out that with his Myth and his new religiousness he did not wish to confuse Church believers but to create new spiritual ties for those, too, who had ceased to be believers in the Church.
The term “master race,” to my knowledge, does not appear in Rosenberg’s writings, nor does it fit into Rosenberg’s ideology, which proceeds from the race as a general law. Therefore, Rosenberg speaks of the Nordic, Mediterranean, Dinaric race, in relation to races which are biologically different, not in the sense of an arrogant judgment as to value, but in the sense of racial facts, in the sense of honoring the entire human race of Europe.
As far as the Party Program is concerned, despite the assertions of the Prosecution, it was not he, Rosenberg, who designed it. Like so many other things, the meaning and action of the Party Program has also been overestimated and exaggerated. It was one of the first deeds of the National Socialist Government to design a reconstruction program, of which the Defendant Funk said that almost any other liberal or democratic government could accept it also. In place of breaking up capital investment, the reinstatement of a sound money and credit system was demanded. I could go on quoting a number of examples, for instance the program of aliens’ status for Jews, which was not carried out. The Party Program was never adhered to subsequently either in the positive or the negative sense. Rules were simply enacted as in other states, too, based on the necessities of the moment.
The entire ideology of the journalist and author Rosenberg becomes intensified and is rendered more menacing to peace, according to the Prosecution, by the fact that Rosenberg was nominated the deputy of the Führer for the supervision of the entire intellectual and ideological education of the NSDAP. How did this assignment come about and what were the circumstances concerning it? On the basis of his previous experience in the educational work of the Party, its organizational leader asked Rosenberg whether he would not undertake a common intellectual project. Rosenberg answered in the affirmative, if the Führer so desired. Thereupon, on 24 January 1934, the Führer appointed him chief of that office. It was a Party office and had nothing to do with the schools, as is erroneously assumed. The office had no right to issue directives to Reich offices; even any correspondence with them had to be sent via the Party Chancellery. Neither did it have any right to suppress books, et cetera. Even a right to issue directives to the Party was not granted, the more so since the branch school directors were also subordinated to the Reich leaders (SA, SS, HJ). Therefore, from the very beginning Rosenberg did not consider his work as representing the tasks of an intellectual police, but as an executive and unifying work, as the central point of the expression and realization of the factual and personal power of conviction and initiative.
He had no offices in the various Gaue, not even individual representatives; he agreed to the Gau education leader as his deputy at the same time, in order to maintain a connection with practical education in the country.
The office had many things to review in the course of time, yet it remained limited in extent. It became subdivided into various spheres of work; teaching and education proper, cultivation of literature, the arts, cultural and general problems. About twice a year, for the purpose of comparing tuition experiences, Rosenberg called together the so-called “Working Community for the Instruction of the Entire Movement.”
In it were represented the educational deputies of the political leadership and its various subdivisions. They reported on their work and expressed their suggestions. On the basis of these suggestions, Rosenberg frequently lectured in the Gaue on appropriate topics, and likewise induced his collaborators to handle such questions in all the subdivisions. These are the two educational meetings which the Prosecution mentioned by reason of their alleged “broad influence on the community schools” as an indication of criminal activity (Volume V, Page 48). This generally executive work found expression particularly in the periodicals of the offices of Rosenberg’s department; primarily in the N. S. Monatshefte, which after 1933 acquired a gradually increasing polemical political content in the interest of handling historical, cultural, and scientific topics. Die Kunst im Deutschen Reich achieved special significance by simply offering the most beautiful examples in the way of contemporary plastic art, excellently presented without discussion. The Bücher Kunde offered a monthly cross section of writings and literary contributions. The monthly periodical Musik devoted itself above all to serious art, the cultivation of the German classics, and without any pettiness toward new creations. The journal Germanisches Erbe published contributions on research in early history, the Deutsche Volkskunde was devoted to games, folk songs, peasant customs. Deutsche Dramaturgie described the ambitions and problems of the contemporary theater.
Besides this there were special exhibitions of the lifework of great artists in Rosenberg’s exhibition building in Berlin, and book exhibitions in various cities.
It is simply not true if the Prosecution declares that Rosenberg used his assignment to disseminate hatred. The essence of his entire work after 1933 went toward a profounder and large-scale promotion of new positive talents.