Reich Ministry of Science, Education and Culture

Reich Ministry of Science, Education and Culture
Reichsministerium für Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Volksbildung
Agency overview
Formed1 May 1934 (1934-05-01)
Dissolved8 May 1945 (1945-05-08)
JurisdictionGovernment of Nazi Germany
Minister responsible

The Reich Ministry of Science, Education and Culture (German: Reichsministerium für Wissenschaft, Erziehung und Volksbildung, also unofficially known as the "Reich Education Ministry" (German: Reichserziehungsministerium), or "REM") existed from 1934 until 1945 under the leadership of Bernhard Rust and was responsible for unifying the education system of Nazi Germany and aligning it with the goals of Nazi leadership.

Background

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The REM was the successor to the former Preußisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft, Kunst und Volksbildung (Prussian Ministry of Science, Art and Culture), creating for the first time in Germany a centralized and hierarchical institution in control of the Reich's education sector. In 1934, the REM took over from the Reichsinnenministerium (Reich Interior Ministry) the supervision of colleges and universities in Germany, as well as research institutions such as the Physikalisch-Technische Reichsanstalt (abbreviated PTR; translation: Reich Physical and Technical Institute.); today, the PTR is known as the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt.[1]

Administrators

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No. Portrait Minister of Culture Took office Left office Time in office Party Cabinet Ref.
1
Bernhard Rust
Rust, BernhardBernhard Rust
(1883–1945)
1 May 193430 April 194510 years, 333 daysNSDAPHitler[1]
2
Gustav Adolf Scheel
Scheel, GustavGustav Adolf Scheel
(1907–1979)
30 April 19452 May 19452 daysNSDAPGoebbels

Heads of the REM Amt für Wissenschaft (Science Office)

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Portrait Name Took office Left office
Theodor Vahlen 1934 1937
Otto Wacker [de] 1937 1939
Rudolf Mentzel May 1939 1945

Bibliography

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  • Hentschel, Klaus, editor, and Ann M. Hentschel, editorial assistant and Translator. Physics and National Socialism: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Birkhäuser, 1996)

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Hentschel, 1996, Appendix B