The removal of free intellectualism and the integration of the “Pure German Spirit” way of thinking were achieved though the burning of all text deemed “un-German”. But what makes a text un-German? Simply anything that questioned, threatened, or was simply different then what the Führer and the Reich believed in. The burning of thousands of books was caused by the "Action against the Un-German Spirit", by the will of the German student association. The horrid event took place during the Wartburg festival in 1933. (Evans, 2005, p. 327) Hitler’s infamous hatred for the Jews is no secret. He hated everything about them. He even went as far as crushing Jewish intellectualism and purging the German public by eradicating all traces and ties to the Jewish culture. Hitler knew if he could prevent free thinking from happening it would be easier to oppress his enemies and tame his own people at the same time. Free thinking was prevented by the burning of all text that was not pro-German and controlled further conscious thought through propaganda. German students lead the main book burning in May 1933, but many small-scale book burnings were happening throughout Germany. As Geroge L. Mosse puts it, “The book burnings formed a spectacular act on the public stage and were undertaken by a regime which relied on myths, symbols, representative art, and human stereotypes.” (Mosse & Jones, n.d., p. 143)
The Nazism way of thinking has spread throughout Germany. The youth of the nation now called “Hitler Youth” has formed many groups. One of these groups is called the National Socialist German Students’ League, also formally known as Nationalsozialistischer Deutscher Studentenbund (NSDStB). Their sole purpose was to integrate the Nat...
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The foreign policy of Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1945 was different than any other country during that era. Their distinct approach to ruling came from the nation’s many diverse philosophies. Furthermore, every basis of motivation and control came from the beliefs in which they so strictly followed. Many aspects, such as, communism, fascism, and nationalism, influenced these ideologies.
Through the manipulation of information and people the Nazi party succeeded in making the German people complicit in their plans. By surrounding everyone with the same ideas and ideals independent thought was effectively removed and the only choice was an acceptance of the Nazi’s and an acceptance of their beliefs. Film and radio showed the people what to think and the ‘Hitler myth’ bred by Goebbels gave them someone to lead, it was not until the war had ended and Germany was exposed to the world once more that it was possible how far from their principles they had erred.
Jackson, Julian. The Fall of France: The Nazi Invasion of 1940. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Carrying torches, they marched toward large bonfires, where they burned about 25,000 volumes of "un-German" books.”13 Contrary to the common misconception, these burnings “were not limited to works by Jewish writers; … social critics Eric Kastner, Bertolt Brecht, Heinrich Mann and Jack London”14 were also victim to these burnings. The Nazi and German students targeted Jack London’s novel in the 1930’s because London was seen as a “social critic”15 by the Nazis. London has the idea of uniformity or that everyone is equal, and “he showed his [idea] in his novel 'Call of the Wild '”16 London’s personal ideology of uniformity goes directly against the Nazi’s
During the years 1933 to 1945 was the twelve years of the Third Reich, a regime that changed history and the world forever; Hitler youth, a branch of the Nazi Party, was officially formed in 1926, but did not become popular until Hitler’s term of service. This gave its members excitement and a chance to revolt against parents and schoolteachers. Millions of boys and girls who belonged to this group wore the name proudly. At a time when the Fatherland, Germany, was suffering from a inadequate, rickety government, high-unemployment, and prevalent poverty, the Nazi Party promised young Germans a great future within the country- if they become loyal members of Hitler’s’ Youth. These children lived by the motto “For the flag we are ready to die.” Melita Mashmann, a fifteen-year old member of the girls’ branc...
Proselytism, or the act of forcing beliefs onto others in an attempt to convert them, is exceptionally prominent during teenage years, but continues to prevail as the years advance. Propaganda used before the Holocaust convinced teenagers to join auxiliary groups like the Student’s League and Hitler Youth. Hitler convinced adults to join auxiliary groups as well, apart from the main Nazi party. Behaviors established as the norm in such groups were spread throughout all of Germany and eventually became common conduct. Each account in Voices of the Holocaust supports the idea that the Holocaust was caused by the Nazi party’s overall ignorance due to wrongful
Goldhagen, Daniel Jonah. Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust. New York: Vintage, 1997. Print.
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Representing East Germany since Unification. From Colonization to Nostalgia? Paul Cooke. Berg. 2005 Germany since 1945. Lothar Kettenacker.
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