It was a dark night, almost 85 years back in Berlin Germany when humanity experienced one of the most undignified conduct at state level. There were flames of bonfire illuminating the chants of political crowd. But it was still a dark night for it was a successful attempt to cease the human thought process. Thousands of anti-German books burnt to ashes, leaving a horrific mark on the history of censoring un-patriotic content. War censorship is a known phenomenon that allows the state to stop the flow of opposing or critical views that might hinder the process of bringing ‘National Security’ at stake. Justice Oliver Wendell Jr. believed that certain communication patterns observed at time of peace might not be permitted, “as long as men fight’’.
But over the course of history, we observed distinctive ways of disrupting the flow of information. Book burning is one of these censorship strategies. It is however, a completely visible and haunting exercise that causes terror to the expository and libertarian segment of the society. During World War II (1933), German officials felt the need to create a homogenous socio-political narrative for their public. Under Gleichschaltung, which was German attempt to homogenize a system for Nazi Propaganda, officials instigated a national activity of controlling Un-German content. Following the agenda of bringing down any threat to Totalitarian regime, Joseph Goebbels took the charge of organizing pro-Nazi sections. Thus every Jewish content were to receive a hardline action by the government.
Joseph Goebbel, Nazi minister for propaganda (Independent)
The agenda received massive support from public sector especially student forces which accelerated the process of disseminating pro-Nazi viewpoint. One such student organization known as National Socialist German Students’ Association (NSDStB) provided complete support to the national agenda of eliminating Jew voices. The organization had been politically active since World War I and allied with the Hitler’s advocacy of a National Totalitarian outlook of Germany.
The organization began its cleansing operation in April 1933 and approached all the national modes of information including radio, newspapers and renowned authors to assist them in propagating Hitler’s ideology. Hitler needed a brutal and domineering youth that could eradicate the opposition. Adding to the Hitler’s makeup of a powerful state, Joseph Goebbel called for the end of ‘‘Jewish Intellectualism’’ and presented the new generation to be ‘’man of character,’’ rather than man of books. A grand book burning took place at the Opernplatz where reportedly, about 40,000 participants had gathered on 10th may 1933. Student organizations held parade marches, highlighting the elimination of Anti-German literature. The event received significant attendance by students, military officers, political figures and intellectuals. Reportedly, about 20,000 volumes of books were tossed into the fire, showcasing victory for the pro-Nazi apparatus.
Nazi Students unloading confiscated material
This was not for the first time that a state decided to curb down on literature. Many emperors practiced this exercise against threats to the political or religious outlook of their state which dates back to 213 BC. Even Germany had implemented a similar practice in 1823 where nationalistic student organizations burned literature that opposed the objective of a Unified German State. Joseph Goebbel addressed the gathering in a raging manner and laid a new foundation for the propagation of Nazi agenda. ‘We want to dedicate ourselves to the Reich and its future’ was the crux of his speech. He credited the student organizations for bringing revolution from the ‘Bottom and upwards’, denouncing what he termed ‘Evil Spirit’ of the Jewish literature.
Joseph Goebbel Addressing the Crowd at Book Burning Gathering, 1933
Burnt books included the work of Jewish German Poet Heinrich Heine, who had already predicted the atrocities against Jews saying ‘’Where books are burned, people will also be burned’’. Writings of many other famous thinkers including, Karl Marx, August Bebel, Thomas Mann, Friedrich Förster, Henri Barbusse etc. also received the same fate which boosted the anti-semitic campaign that favored Hitler’s idea of ‘Greater German Reich’ while the exercise of burning literature continued.
References:
The Final Solution 