Materials are arranged chronologically by date of creation.
Accession No. RARE.2026.0024: Purchase, 2023 August.
[identification of item], Collection on N. S. (National Socialist) Ordensburgen Architecture and Buildings, SPEC.RARE.0380, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 March; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 March.
The N. S. (National Socialist) Ordensburgen Sonthofen was one of the three prominent schools in Nazi Germany, which educated party members. Ordensburgen were schools to prepare and train future Nazi leaders; curriculum was rigorous and applicants had to be between the ages of 25 to 30, belong to either the Nazi Party, the Hitler Youth, the Sturmabteilung, or the Schutzstaffel. The design of the schools were stark and modern and built with extensive facilities.
Hugo Schmölz (1879-1938) was a Cologne, Germany photographer that specialized in architectual and industrial photography. His work emphasized clean lines, balanced compositions and the use of light.
Hermann Giesler (1898 – 1987) was a German architect during the Nazi era and is credited with building the Ordensburg in Sonthofen.
The Collection on N. S. (National Socialist) Ordensburgen Architecture and Buildings, dated circa 1933-1943, contains one portfolio, two folios and one booklet documenting Nazi era facilities, such as training schools and architecture. The portfolio of eighteen gelatin silver prints were created by Hugo Schmölz, one of the main architectural photgraphers of the Third Reich. Ten of the prints show the exterior and interior of the N. S. (National Socialist) Ordensburgen Sonthofen, while the remaining eight show nearby buildings including the post office and generals' halls. One image is inscribed by Hermann Giesler, an architect of the Ordensburg, and dated 1943. While the portfolio contains images taken by Schmölz prior to his death in 1938, the date of the inscription indicates that it was possibly compiled after Schmölz's death.
"Die Kunst im dritten Reich" contains a section written by Giesler on the Sonthofen Ordensburg along with other projects he worked on. Reproductions of black and white photographs of Ordensburgen are also included in the magazine. "Die Kunst im dritten Reich" was one of the most well known magazines on art and architecture during the Third Reich.
A twenty-four page booklet titled "N.S. Ordensburg" contains reproductions of photographs of the Ordensburg. The booklet also contains an introduction by Dr. Robert Ley. "Der Weg der Ordenburg" book contains photograph reproductions of images taken by Adolf Hitler's personal photographer Heinrich Hoffman.
Forms part of the Herman J. Albrecht Library of Historical Architecture.