page_title: Anti-tobacco movement in Nazi Germany
section_title: Countermeasures and obstacles
hierarchical_section_title: Anti-tobacco movement in Nazi Germany / Countermeasures and obstacles
caption_attribution_description: For documentary purposes the German Federal Archive often retained the original image captions, which may be erroneous, biased, obsolete or politically extreme. Berlin, PK-Führer bei Joseph Goebbels II. Weltkrieg 1939-45. Dr. [Joseph] Goebbels empfing die Chefs der Propagandakompanien der drei Wehrmachtsteile im Propagandaministerium in Berlin. Reichsminister Dr. Goebbels empfing am 28.1.1941 die zu einem Lehrgang in Berlin weilenden Chefs der Propaganda- [gestrichen: und Kriegsberichterkompanien des Heeres, der Kriegsmarine und der Luftwaffe] Kompanien der drei Wehrmachtsteile. In längeren Ausführungen gab er ihnen ein umfassendes Bild der militärischen und politischen Lage sowie Richtlinien für die aktuelle Arbeit der Propaganda-Kompanien. UBz: Reichsminister Dr. Josef Goebbels im Gespräch mit den Kompaniechefs. Scherl Bilderdienst, Berlin KG AV 62090 29.1.41 "Fr" OKW [Chefs der Propagandakompanien der Wehrmacht bei Goebbels; ganz rechts (im Profil) Hasso von Wedel] Abgebildete Personen: Goebbels, Joseph: Reichsminister für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda, Gauleiter Berlin, Deutschland Wedel, Hasso von: Oberstleutnant, Leiter der Pressetruppe im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, Deutschland (GND 117206008)
context_page_description: In the early 20th century, German researchers made advances in linking smoking to health harms, which strengthened the anti-tobacco movement in the Weimar Republic and led to a state-supported anti-smoking campaign. Early anti-tobacco movements grew in many nations from the middle of the 19th century. The 1933–1945 anti-tobacco campaigns in Nazi Germany have been widely publicized, although stronger laws than those passed in Germany were passed in some American states, the UK, and elsewhere between 1890 and 1930. After 1941, anti-tobacco campaigns were restricted by the Nazi government.
  The German movement was the most powerful anti-smoking movement in the world during the 1930s and early 1940s. However, tobacco control policy was incoherent and ineffective, with uncoordinated and often regional efforts by many actors. Obvious measures were not taken, and existing measures were not enforced. Some Nazi leaders condemned smoking and several of them openly criticized tobacco consumption, but others publicly smoked and denied that it was harmful.
  There was much research on smoking and its effects on health during Nazi rule, and it was the most important of its type at that time.
context_section_description: Tobacco companies represented themselves as strong and early supporters of the Nazi cause. They made unparalleled financial contributions to Nazi causes; the Sturmabteilung and other party organizations were repeatedly given six-figure sums, and the Hitler Youth were given an aircraft. One cigarette company paid over 12.3 million reichsmarks in bribes to Hermann Göring. The Nazi SA founded its own cigarette company, and violently promoted its own brands. 
  Some senior Nazi officials were opposed to anti-tobacco measures. Hermann Goering publicly smoked cigars, despite Hitler's opposition. Joseph Goebbels felt that cigarettes were essential to the war effort, and (as propaganda minister) restricted anti-tobacco propaganda, arguing that anti-smoking campaigns were incompatible with free cigarettes being issued to millions serving in the military, legal tobacco advertising, and authority figures who smoked and denied the dangers of smoking. Despite government regulations, many women in Germany regularly smoked, including the wives of many high-ranking Nazi officials. For instance, Magda Goebbels smoked even while she was being interviewed by a journalist. Eva Braun also smoked.
  The tobacco industry worked to counter the government campaign to prevent women from smoking and used smoking models in their advertisements.  Fashion illustrations displaying women with cigarettes were often published in prominent publications such as the Beyers Mode für Alle (Beyers Fashion For All). The cover of the popular song Lili Marleen featured singer Lale Andersen holding a cigarette.
  The cigarette manufacturing companies in Germany made several attempts to weaken the scientific credibility of the anti-tobacco campaign. They tried to depict the anti-tobacco movement as "fanatic" and "unscientific". They published new journals (with titles such as Chronica Nicotiana and Der Tabak: Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Internationalen Tabakwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft, or "Tobacco: the scientific journal of the International Tobacco Scientific Society"). One industry-funded tobacco counter-research institute, the Tabacologia medicinalis, was shut down by Reich Health Leader Leonardo Conti. Another such "academy" was called Academia Nicotiana Internationalis.
  While some cigarette ads had been banned from Nazi party publications due to Jewish ownership, the publications lost money, and the early party needed money for election campaigning. In June 1932, Hitler personally made a deal for half a million marks worth of cigarette advertising.
caption: Cigarettes are present as propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels meets with the heads of military propaganda units, January 1941. Later the same year, the ministry issued orders to "completely cease any anti-tobacco propaganda in the public" (with minor exceptions).[9]
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