Third Reich 1935 Party Day Winterhilfwerk (winter help work) badge: Mrs P Starke (enemy alien)

Circular embossed bronze Third Reich 1935 Party Day Winterhilfwerk (winter help work) badge. The obverse side features a portrait of Adolf Hitler flanked by German soldiers. Above is an eagle carrying a swastika in a wreath and embossed along the lower border is 'REICHSPARTEITAG 1935'. Scratched on to the reverse side is 'P STARKE'.

This Winterhilfswerk 1935 Party Day badge was confiscated from Mrs P Starke of South Australian at the outbreak of the Second World War. This item forms part of a large collection of illegal material that was confiscated from enemy aliens and Fascist organisations in Adelaide at the start of the Second World War. This material was held by the Adelaide Attorney-General's Department for the duration of the war. Decades later, effort was made to reunite the confiscated material with its owner where they could be found, with the remaining material acquired by the Memorial.

The Winterhilfswerk was an annual months-long compulsory charity drive. It was established as early as 1931 by the Heinrich Bruning government, and was adopted and championed by the National Socialist German Workers' Party or Nazi Party as early as 1933. The drive took place through the months of October to May to raise funds for basic needs for the poorest during winter. Food, clothing, coal and other items were handed out by the Nationalsozialistischm Volkswohlfahrt (National Socialist People’s Welfare Organization), whose slogan was 'none shall starve nor freeze'. Various groups including the Hitler Youth went door to door soliciting donations from the public, and in return gift the latest lapel design or booklet. At times the designs would change as often as weekly so that the public were pressured into contributing money frequently by wearing the latest badge. By 1945 over 8000 different badges had been produced, in a variety of material and techniques including wood, glass, paper, metal, plastic, leather and amber. People who were not wearing the latest lapel were publically shamed and their names printed in the newspaper. Community pressure ensured constant giving from the German people.