An assault on free speech is sure sign of worse atrocities
ON MAY 10, 1933, the Nazis orchestrated one of the most infamous cultural atrocities in history: the burning of thousands of books deemed “un-German” or “subversive”. Some of those reduced to ashes were irreplaceable works of art, history and literature.
Today, as we mark the 90th anniversary of this act of cultural vandalism, it is more important than ever to reaffirm our commitment to defending the values of intellectual freedom, diversity and tolerance.
Book burnings have stained human history, but the Nazi assault was a chilling milestone.
It fuelled an ideological and cultural environment that led to the murder of six million Jewish men, women and children, and countless others who were deemed undesirable by the Nazis. Heinrich Heine, the 19th-century German Jewish poet, had warned that: “Where books are burned, people will be burned too.”
Sadly, the Holocaust proved his foresight, as the deliberate destruction of books on ideological grounds paved the way for murder on an unimaginable scale.
Among the books the Nazis burnt was All Quiet On The Western Front, a masterpiece of anti-war literature that had been published just four years earlier.
ERICH Maria Remarque’s novel tells the story of a young German soldier who is sent to fight in the First World War and experiences first-hand the horrors. It was a powerful indictment of the jingoistic rhetoric and nationalist fervour that had led Germany into the war and a poignant tribute to those who had lost their lives in the conflict.
But the Nazis viewed the book as a threat to their ideology and vision of a militarised society. Many writers and artists fled Germany, while others were forced to go underground or self-censor to avoid persecution.
However, the Nazis failed to silence the voices of Remarque and other writers who dared to challenge their worldview.
All Quiet On The Western Front continued to be appreciated by readers around the world, and it remains a classic of 20th-century literature.
The book’s enduring relevance lies in its ability to prompt reflection on the destructive impact of war and inspire efforts to seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts.
Books are vessels of ideas and knowledge and have served as potent instruments for resistance and dissent throughout history.
Writers and artists have employed their works to challenge existing norms and inspire others to imagine new possibilities. Remarque posed a direct challenge to the values and policies of the Nazi regime, which is why they feared it.
By encouraging ordinary Germans to reflect on the dangers of militant nationalism, the novel struck at the heart of the Nazi ideology.
By destroying books, the Nazis sought to reinforce their view that the ideas and values of certain groups were inferior and unworthy, leading to an atmosphere of prejudice and hostility towards those people.
This enabled and justified the persecution and eventual murder of those they deemed unworthy of existence.
The 90th anniversary of this cultural atrocity is not only a time for reflection but also a call for all of us to remain vigilant in protecting our fundamental right to freedom of expression and the free flow of information.
The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has recently launched the theme for next year’s Holocaust Memorial Day: Fragility of Freedom.
Nazi book burnings were a deliberate attempt to limit freedom of expression and show – violently – how artists and writers could be targeted for their work and were no longer free to express themselves. This assault on freedom of expression was the precursor to assaults on many other freedoms – to work, learn, marry, move from place to place, even to live.
THERE are many examples in our world where governments, organisations or individuals restrict or suppress ideas that they find uncomfortable or inconvenient.
It is essential to promote an open and inclusive society that values diversity, respects differing viewpoints and upholds the principle of open-mindedness.
●● Olivia Marks-Woldman OBE is the Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust; Edward Berger is director of the Oscar-winning film All Quiet On The Western Front
‘Burning of books paved the way for murder on an unimaginable scale’