This badge documents a significant aspect of National Socialist aviation propaganda in the mid-1930s. It is a silver tin badge from the 1st Kurhessian NS People's Aviation Day, which took place on July 21, 1935 in Kassel. The badge bears the programmatic motto “The German people must become a people of aviators”, a quote that succinctly summarizes the aviation policy ambitions of the NS regime.

The NS organization “Kraft durch Freude” (Strength through Joy, KdF) was founded in November 1933 as a subsidiary organization of the German Labor Front (DAF). Under the leadership of Robert Ley, the KdF was to organize and control the leisure activities of the German working class. The organization encompassed a wide spectrum of activities, including vacation trips, sports events, theater visits, and indeed aviation days. These events served not only for entertainment but above all for ideological indoctrination and the preparation of the population for the coming war.

The People's Aviation Days were central propaganda instruments for popularizing aviation in Germany. According to the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, Germany had been prohibited from military aviation. However, the NS regime systematically pursued rearmament and used civil aviation as a cover for military purposes. The People's Aviation Days were intended to generate enthusiasm for flying among the population while simultaneously recruiting potential pilots and aviation recruits.

The year 1935 marks a turning point in German aviation history. On March 1, 1935, the existence of the Luftwaffe was officially announced, representing a blatant breach of the Treaty of Versailles. The People's Aviation Days, which were intensified in this year, were thus directly connected to the open rearmament policy. They served to prepare the population for the new military reality and to create acceptance for air armament.

The venue Kassel in Kurhessen was no coincidence. The city had an airfield and already possessed a certain tradition in aviation. Regional aviation days like this were meant to bring aviation enthusiasm to the provinces and promote the National Socialist aviation program there. Such events typically included aerobatic demonstrations, flights for the public, aircraft exhibitions, and propagandistic speeches.

The badge itself is made of silver tin, which was typical for such mass productions. The use of relatively inexpensive materials enabled wide distribution of such memorabilia. The badges were issued to participants and visitors of the event and were intended to serve as a visible sign of participation and commitment to the goals of NS aviation policy. The pin attachment on the back allowed wearing on clothing.

The programmatic slogan “The German people must become a people of aviators” reflects the ideological orientation. It implies both the military dimension - preparation for aerial warfare - as well as the propagandistic intention to mobilize the entire society for aviation. This idea was closely connected with the National Socialist concept of the “Volksgemeinschaft” (people's community), in which all Germans were to work together toward the regime's goals.

The KdF played an essential role in organizing such mass events. By integrating them into the leisure organization, the military and political dimension of aviation propaganda was concealed and presented as harmless popular entertainment. At the same time, through subsidized or free participation, the KdF also enabled less affluent classes to access such events, which increased the social reach of the propaganda.

Badges like this one are today important historical documents that provide insight into the everyday propaganda of the NS regime. They document how the regime attempted to pursue its military and ideological goals through seemingly apolitical leisure events. For collectors and historians, such objects are valuable sources for researching the National Socialist penetration of all areas of life.