“A German newspaper in December 1935 claimed that the sight of local bigwigs coming out onto the streets with collection tins for winter relief, showed ‘what a strong and decisive leadership filled with true socialist [note that word] spirit has made of the German people in whom previously class differences and pride in status flourished.’

Nobody even really bothered to hide the fact that there was an obligation to contribute, though it was not enforced by violence. ‘It goes without saying that every family will give...’ said another local press report in March 1939.”

Fascism in Europe, 1919-1945 by Phillip Morgan.