Historian Irene Flunser Pimentel has revealed that the Nazi organization 'Strength Through Joy' (Kraft durch Freude) organized cruise trips to Madeira for German workers. These trips, which took place between March 1935 and March 1939, were part of the regime's strategy to gain favor with German society through a non-universal "social state."
The 'Kraft durch Freude' (KdF) was founded in 1933 and became one of the regime's most popular organizations, offering controlled leisure and tourism. According to the German Historical Museum, KdF sold 43 million trips by 1939, including sea cruises to destinations like Norway, Madeira, and Italy.
Contemporary reports indicate that the passengers, described as "almost all workers," paid a minimal amount for the trips, which would otherwise have been inaccessible. During their visits to Madeira, tourists participated in island excursions, visiting sites such as Pico do Areeiro and Câmara de Lobos.
