Book burning in Berlin

On 10 May 1933 piles of books burn in Berlin: With this campaign carried out by the National Socialist „German Student Body“, Joseph Goebbels, since 13 March 1933 „Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda“, intends to rid all library collections of „un-German literature“. Works falling under this designation include those of Jewish authors and authors critical of the regime as well as works which do not conform to National Socialist notions of „Arian culture“ („degenerate art“).

© aish „Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings“ - Heinrich Heine, nineteenth century German author (Photo: Berlin, Bebel-Platz)

This action is the prelude to a whole series of book burnings in German university towns which, by contrast to the call in April for a boycott of Jewish businesses, enterprises, doctors and attorneys, largely meets with indifference from the population.

© inidia Below the glass plating set into the stones are rows and rows of empty bookshelves, a reminder of the book burning that took place here (Berlin, Bebel-Platz)