Rare 1936 Nazi German Third Reich Ferdinand von Schill Waldbühne Heessen Theater Program Swastika

Original 1936 German theater program/booklet for “Ferdinand von Schill” by Erich Eckert, produced for the Westfälische Heimatspiele e.V. at the Waldbühne Heessen near Hamm, Westphalia.

This is a particularly rare and interesting piece of Third Reich-era cultural and theatrical ephemera, with a striking illustrated cover showing Ferdinand von Schill in military uniform alongside a prominent swastika emblem. You can’t find another!

The cover identifies the production as:

“Ferdinand von Schill”
Waldbühne Heessen bei Hamm, Westfalen
Uraufführung: Sonntag, d. 14. Juni 1936

The interior title page states that this was the 12th season, Summer 1936, and describes the production as:

“Ein Spiel vom deutschen Freiheitshelden”
A play about the German freedom hero

It was written by Erich Eckert and consisted of a prologue, epilogue and eight scenes.

Interestingly, historical records confirm that the Waldbühne Heessen staged Eckert’s Ferdinand von Schill during its 1936 season and attracted approximately 82,000 visitors, making this a surviving program from a major regional theatrical production of the period.

Ferdinand von Schill (1776–1809) was a Prussian officer and Freikorps leader who fought against Napoleonic forces. The historical figure was subsequently used as a patriotic subject in German literature and theater; Eckert’s work is documented as a 1936 Hamm production.

The interior includes the extensive “Personen” (characters/cast of characters) section listing Schill, his officers, Prussian military figures, French officers, soldiers and civilians.

The title page also states “Als Manuskript gedruckt” (printed as a manuscript) and notes that performance rights were retained by author Erich Eckert, an interesting feature suggesting this was produced specifically in connection with theatrical use rather than as an ordinary commercial book.

Condition

Original used condition with age toning, light staining/foxing, handling wear, edge and corner wear and some pencil writing visible internally. The cover has surface wear and a small area of paper loss/damage near the center. Overall it remains quite presentable for an approximately 90-year-old theatrical program.

Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition and contents. Sold exactly as shown.

A scarce piece of 1936 German theater, Westphalian regional history and Third Reich cultural ephemera, particularly interesting because the exact production and its unusually large attendance are historically documented.

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