The Winterhilfswerk (Winter Relief Agency) came into being during the crisis winter of 1931-32 to provide the needy with money, groceries, meals, clothing, and fuel. It was jointly maintained by private welfare associations, including the German Red Cross. However, a proclamation by Hitler and Goebbels on September 13, 1933 introduced the first National Socialist WHW for the winter of 1933-1934. Although officially proclaimed as a broad-based organization of all welfare resources, in reality the WHW was subordinate to the NS Volk Welfare agency (NSV). The WHW was granted its own legal rights in 1936, but the ties between it and the NSV remained evident.