Discussion: The Racial State
Respond to three discussion questions each week (5 points each).
First, choose a quote from the reading assigned to the discussion question and include it in the post (1 point).
Then, explain how the quote answers the discussion question (2 points).
Also, the discussion should be at least 100 words in length / each (1 points).
Finally, cite the source by copying and pasting it as listed in Canvas (1 point)
Discussion Option 1: Antisemitism and Racism against People of African Ancestry
How was Nazi antisemitism tied to racism against people of African ancestry?
Karl Bareth and Alfred Vogel, excerpts from Erblehre und Rassenkunde für die Grund- und Hauptschule (“Hereditary and Racial Science for Elementary and Secondary Schools”) (1937), German Propaganda Archive, https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/erblehre.htm (Links to an external site.)
Hans Diebow, Der ewige Jude (“The Eternal Jew”) (1937), German Propaganda Archive, https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/diebow.htm (Links to an external site.)
“‘Degenerate Music’: Title Page of the Exhibition Guide,” GHDI, http://ghdi.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2082
Discussion Option 2: Aryan/non-Jewish women in Nazi Germany
What was the intended place of Aryan/non-Jewish women in Nazi Germany?
“‘A Pregnancy Must not be Terminated!’ (1933),” GHDI, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2048 (Links to an external site.)
“Hitler’s Speech to the National Socialist Women’s League (September 8, 1934),” GHDI, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=1557 (Links to an external site.)
“‘Germany Grows through Strong Mothers and Healthy Children’: Propaganda Poster by the Mother and Child Relief Agency (1935),” GHDI, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2045 (Links to an external site.)
Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, “To Be German Is To Be Strong,” (1936), German Propaganda Archive, https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/scholtz-klink2.htm (Links to an external site.)
“‘The Cross of Honor for the German Mother’: Three-Tiered Medal for Mothers with Four or More Children (1938),” GHDI, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=2044
Discussion Option 3: Disabled People as a Threat to Germany
How did disabled people threaten Germany, according to Nazi propaganda?
“Comparison of Daily Living Costs for an Individual with a Hereditary Disease and for a Healthy Family (from the Slide Series ‘Blood and Soil’) (c. 1935),” GHDI, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_image.cfm?image_id=1948 (Links to an external site.)
“Posters from Nazi Racial Exhibitions,” Volk und Rasse (“Ethnicity and Race”) August 1936, German Propaganda Archive, https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/volkundrasse1936-8.htm (Links to an external site.)
H. Rodenfels, “Frauen, die nicht Mutter werden dürfen,” (“Women Who May Not Become Mothers”) Neues Volk (“New Ethnicity”), 7 (May 1939), pp. 16-21, German Propaganda Archive, https://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/nv39-05a.htm
Discussion Option 4: Nazi Control over the Sexuality of “Others”
How did Nazi policy seek to control the sexual practices of LGBTQ, Jewish, and disabled Germans?
“Nuremberg Race Laws,” USHMM Holocaust Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/nuremberg-laws
“Josef Meisinger on “Combating Homosexuality as a Political Task” (April 5-6, 1937),” GHDI, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=1558
“Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases (July 14, 1933),” GHDI, http://ghdi.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=1521
Discussion Option 5: the Nazi Ideal of the Racially Superior Body
Does the film Olympia (1938) promote the Nazi ideal of the racially superior body? Why or why not?
Olympia, part 1: “Festival of Nations” (Fest der Völker) (dir. Leni Riefenstahl, 1938), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3LOPhRq3Es
Olympia, part 2: “Festival of Beauty” (Fest der Schönheit) (dir. Leni Riefenstahl, 1938), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHN8Jwku1Nc
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|
