The 2nd SS-Reichszielfahrt to the Baltic Sea to Kiel in 1934 was a significant propagandistic event organized by the Allgemeine-SS (General SS) during the early phase of the National Socialist regime. This large non-wearable participant plaque documents participation in a motorized rally that simultaneously served sporting, comradely, and above all ideological purposes.
After the seizure of power in 1933, the SS organized numerous events to demonstrate its presence in public spaces and to ideologically train its members. The Reichszielfahrten (Reich target drives) were motorized orientation rallies in which SS members from various parts of the German Reich drove to a common destination. The choice of Kiel as the destination in 1934 was symbolically significant: the city on the Baltic Sea was traditionally an important naval base and represented German naval power.
The Naval Memorial in Laboe, prominently depicted on the plaque, was constructed between 1927 and 1936 and was originally intended to commemorate the fallen naval soldiers of World War I. The 85-meter-high tower was a landmark visible from great distances across the Kiel Fjord. The National Socialists instrumentalized such memorials for their propaganda purposes and used them as backdrops for their events.
The plaque itself, measuring 70 x 95 mm, is of considerable size and was clearly not intended to be worn on a uniform. The four mounting holes on the sides indicate that it was to be attached to the participant's motor vehicle. This corresponded to the practice of the time, in which participants in automobile events decorated their vehicles with plaques documenting their participation in various rallies. In the 1930s, owning a motor vehicle was still a status symbol, and the SS placed great emphasis on motorized units.
The silver plating and colorful enameling of the plaque demonstrate the elaborate production of such commemorative pieces. The enamel technique, in which vitreous enamel is fused onto metal, was traditionally reserved for high-quality badges and decorations. The colored depiction of the Kiel Fjord with the swastika in the background illustrates the propagandistic function: the connection of landscape, military tradition, and National Socialist symbolism.
The Allgemeine-SS, founded in 1925 as a protection squadron of the NSDAP, developed under Heinrich Himmler from 1929 onwards into an elite organization within the party. In 1934, the year of this target drive, the SS underwent significant changes. After the so-called Röhm Putsch in June 1934, the SS became independent from the SA and developed into Himmler's most important power base. Events such as this Reichszielfahrt served to strengthen cohesion and demonstrate power.
Such rallies were organized according to military principles: participants had to reach certain checkpoints, solve navigational tasks, and demonstrate discipline. They simultaneously served as training in orientation and driving practice, skills that would be important in case of military mobilization. The Weimar Republic had imposed strict military restrictions on Germany through the Treaty of Versailles, and such “sporting” events were used to train paramilitary skills.
The production of such plaques took place in specialized firms that specialized in orders, decorations, and badges. Well-known manufacturers such as Deschler & Sohn from Munich or other Munich and Berlin firms produced such pieces. Often these plaques are marked with manufacturer's marks, although not all examples were marked.
From today's perspective, such objects are important historical documents that document the propaganda practices and organizational culture of the SS. They show how the National Socialists ideologically charged everyday activities such as automobile drives and used them to consolidate their rule. The combination of motorsport, comradeship, and political indoctrination was characteristic of NS organizations in the 1930s.
The plaque represents a type of commemorative item that was common in the Third Reich, where participation in party and organizational events was documented through various forms of badges, plaques, and awards. These objects served both as personal mementos and as visible proof of loyalty and participation in the Nazi system. The fact that such elaborate pieces were produced for what was essentially a driving rally demonstrates the regime's investment in creating a comprehensive system of symbols and rewards to reinforce organizational identity and ideological commitment.
