Alfred Rosenberg, Estonian-German architect and politician, Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories (d. 1946)

Alfred Rosenberg: Architect of Nazi Ideology and Instrument of Atrocity

Alfred Ernst Rosenberg, born on 12 January 1893 (or 31 December 1892, according to the Old Style calendar then still in use in the Russian Empire where he was born in Reval, Governorate of Estonia), was a pivotal Baltic German Nazi theorist and ideologue who played a central role in shaping and implementing the racial and expansionist policies of the Third Reich. His influence persisted until his execution on 16 October 1946, following his conviction at the Nuremberg Trials.

As a Baltic German, Rosenberg belonged to a German-speaking minority with a long history in the Baltic region, a background that fostered a strong sense of German cultural identity and often a fervent nationalism. His early introduction to Adolf Hitler by the influential Dietrich Eckart, a key figure in the nascent Nazi Party, positioned Rosenberg at the very heart of the movement's ideological development from its earliest stages. He went on to hold several critically important posts within the Nazi government, solidifying his status as a leading intellectual architect of Nazism.

Key Roles and Administrative Functions Within the Third Reich

Throughout the entirety of Nazi Germany's rule from 1933 to 1945, Rosenberg served as the head of the NSDAP Office of Foreign Affairs. While this office was officially responsible for foreign policy, its actual political influence was often overshadowed by the Reich Foreign Ministry under Joachim von Ribbentrop. Nevertheless, it served as a platform for disseminating Nazi ideology internationally and maintaining contacts with like-minded far-right groups abroad.

More significantly, from 1934 to 1945, Rosenberg led the notorious Amt Rosenberg, or "Rosenberg's Bureau." Officially known as the "Office of the Führer's Delegate for the Supervision of the Entire Spiritual and Ideological Education and Indoctrination of the NSDAP" (Dienststelle des Beauftragten des Führers für die Überwachung der gesamten geistigen und weltanschaulichen Schulung und Erziehung der NSDAP), this powerful body was instrumental in dictating Nazi cultural policy and surveillance. Amt Rosenberg played a direct role in the confiscation of vast quantities of art and cultural property, primarily from Jewish institutions and individuals across occupied Europe, as part of the Nazis' systematic campaign against "degenerate" art and culture and their broader plunder operations. It also ensured the ideological purity of the party through education and propaganda, suppressing any form of thought or expression deemed contrary to Nazi principles.

During World War II, Rosenberg's responsibilities escalated dramatically. From 1941 to 1945, he served as the head of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories (Reichsministerium für die besetzten Ostgebiete, or Ostministerium). In this capacity, he was directly responsible for implementing the brutal occupation policies in the Soviet Union and other Eastern European territories. This ministry was a central instrument for executing the Nazi regime's genocidal plans for the East, including the infamous *Generalplan Ost*, which aimed to eradicate or enslave the Slavic populations and exploit the vast natural resources for the benefit of the "Aryan race," thereby creating the *Lebensraum* (living space) for the German people.

The Ideological Core: "The Myth of the Twentieth Century" and Key Doctrines

Rosenberg's intellectual legacy, deeply embedded in Nazi ideology, is most prominently encapsulated in his seminal work, *The Myth of the Twentieth Century* (1930). This dense, pseudo-intellectual treatise attempted to provide a philosophical and historical justification for Nazi racial theories and antisemitism. Although not widely read by the general public due to its complexity, it sold over a million copies by 1944 and became a foundational text for the Nazi elite, influencing party policy and propaganda.

Rosenberg is widely considered one of the principal architects of several core Nazi ideological creeds, including:

• Racial Theory and Antisemitism: He was a leading proponent of the pseudo-scientific concept of "Aryan supremacy," which posited a hierarchy of races with the Germanic peoples at the top and Jews at the absolute bottom. His writings directly fueled the systematic persecution and eventual extermination of the Jews, making him a key ideologue of the Holocaust.
• Lebensraum (Living Space): Rosenberg vehemently advocated for the territorial expansion of Germany eastward into Eastern Europe. This concept of "living space" was a cornerstone of Nazi foreign policy, justifying the invasion, subjugation, and exploitation of Slavic nations and their populations.
• Abrogation of the Treaty of Versailles: A deep-seated grievance among German nationalists, the Treaty of Versailles (1919) was seen by Rosenberg and the Nazis as a humiliating imposition. He tirelessly called for its complete nullification, advocating for the restoration of German military power and territorial claims.
• Opposition to "Degenerate" Modern Art (Entartete Kunst): Rosenberg was a primary architect of the Nazi campaign against "degenerate art" (Entartete Kunst). He believed that modern art forms such as Expressionism, Cubism, Dada, and Surrealism were products of racial and moral decay, often associating them with Jewish or Bolshevik influences. His office organized exhibitions ridiculing these works and oversaw their confiscation and destruction, promoting instead a rigid, idealized Germanic art style.

Rosenberg's Stance on Religion: Christianity and "Positive Christianity"

Alfred Rosenberg was known for his profound rejection of and even hatred for traditional Christianity, viewing it as a foreign, "Jewish-influenced" religion that weakened the Germanic spirit. He favored a return to pagan, pre-Christian Germanic spiritual traditions. Despite his personal anti-Christian stance, he played a significant role in the development of "Positive Christianity," a Nazi-sanctioned version of Christianity that sought to purge the religion of its Jewish roots, emphasize its "Aryan" elements, and align it with Nazi racial and nationalist ideals. This sanitized version of Christianity was promoted as a tool to control religious institutions and integrate them into the Nazi worldview, even as Rosenberg himself worked towards its eventual replacement by a new, pagan-inspired state religion.

Nuremberg Trials and Execution

Following the conclusion of World War II, Alfred Rosenberg was among the most prominent Nazi leaders put on trial by the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg. He faced grave charges reflecting his deep involvement in the regime's atrocities: crimes against peace (for planning, initiating, and waging wars of aggression); war crimes; and crimes against humanity. The evidence presented, particularly regarding his role in the Ostministerium and his ideological contributions, conclusively linked him to the systematic atrocities committed by the Third Reich. On 1 October 1946, Rosenberg was convicted on all counts. He was sentenced to death and subsequently executed by hanging on 16 October 1946, alongside other convicted Nazi leaders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Alfred Rosenberg's primary role in Nazi Germany?

Alfred Rosenberg was a central Nazi theorist and ideologue who shaped the core tenets of Nazi racial policy, antisemitism, and expansionism. He also held significant administrative roles, including head of the NSDAP Office of Foreign Affairs, leader of Amt Rosenberg (for cultural policy and ideological indoctrination), and head of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories during World War II, which oversaw the brutal exploitation and genocide in Eastern Europe.

What was "The Myth of the Twentieth Century"?

Published in 1930, "The Myth of the Twentieth Century" was Alfred Rosenberg's most famous work. It was a dense, pseudo-intellectual book that sought to provide a "philosophical" foundation for Nazi racial theories, particularly the concept of Aryan supremacy, and to justify the persecution of Jews and the expansionist ambitions of the Third Reich. It became a foundational text for the Nazi elite.

How was Rosenberg involved in the atrocities committed during World War II?

As head of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories from 1941, Rosenberg was directly responsible for the administration and implementation of Nazi genocidal policies in the Soviet Union and other Eastern European areas. This included the exploitation of resources, the enslavement and extermination of Slavic populations, and the systematic mass murder of Jews, all part of the Nazi pursuit of "Lebensraum" (living space).

What was "Amt Rosenberg"?

Amt Rosenberg, or "Rosenberg's Bureau," was an official Nazi body established in 1934 under Alfred Rosenberg's leadership. Its primary functions were to oversee Nazi cultural policy, ideological indoctrination, and surveillance. It played a crucial role in promoting Nazi propaganda, controlling education, and systematically confiscating art and cultural treasures, especially from Jewish communities, as part of the regime's war against "degenerate" art and culture.

What happened to Alfred Rosenberg after World War II?

After World War II, Alfred Rosenberg was apprehended and became one of the key defendants at the Nuremberg Trials. He was convicted of crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity, largely due to his ideological influence and direct role in the atrocities in the occupied Eastern territories. He was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on 16 October 1946.