Perceptions of Evil: A Comparison of Moral Perspectives in Nazi Propaganda and Anti-Nazi Literature

Abstract

Perceptions of Evil: a comparison of moral perspectives in Nazi propaganda and antiNazi literature By Hamish Inksetter Supervised by Jan Grabowski 2014 This thesis examines how the concept of evil was understood by opposing German perspectives during the era of National Socialist rule (1933-1945). The rise of Nazism in Germany marked a period of massive political upheaval wherein the National Socialist government encouraged the masses to view the world in terms of a great struggle between forces of good and evil. This was the central theme of their propaganda, which zealously encouraged racialist beliefs in the popular consciousness, and was based on assumptions of German superiority and Jewish evil. Despite Hitler's apparent success in creating an obedient nation, a significant number of Germans opposed his rule, amongst whom a small group of writers expressed their discontent through creative fiction. Through a comparison of the worldviews communicated through political propaganda and anti-Nazi literature, it is revealed that the crux of the divide between their opposing perspectives hinged on the meaning of evil. Since evil is a concept with many meanings, this thesis approaches the subject thematically. The comparison begins by focusing on the perception of evil as an allcorrupting force that had taken hold of Germany, followed by an exploration of how power and brutality were understood, ending with a comparison of views on how the struggle between good and evil took place on both a social and individual level. In addition to demonstrating the subjectivity of moral perspective during a Perceptions of Evil: A Comparison of Moral Perspectives in Nazi Propaganda and Anti-Nazi Literature Hamish Inksetter iii tumultuous period of the recent past, this research reveals how the struggle against Nazism existed as a conflict of ideas. Moreover, the comparison of cultural sources (including Nazi art, visual propaganda, written texts such as Mein Kampf, and anti-Nazi creative fiction) demonstrates the value of art as a tool for conducting historical enquiry. Since the legacy of the Third Reich continues to directly influence modern perceptions of evil, exploring how evil was understood according to contemporary Germans – from both pro and anti-Nazi perspectives – is of particular historical interest. Perceptions of Evil: A Comparison of Moral Perspectives in Nazi Propaganda and Anti-Nazi Literature Hamish Inksetter iv Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge everyone who supported me throughout this project, and express my deep feelings of gratitude for their advice and encouragement. Firstly, I would like to thank Prof. Jan Grabowski for his expertise, patience and guidance in supervising my research. I would also like to thank Prof. Heather Murray for her friendly advice and help during the preliminary stages of my research. My humble appreciation is extend to the University of Ottawa for standing as a pillar of learning and providing the facilities for my study, and to everyone at the Canadian Heritage Information Network for providing employment throughout my years of study. To my wife Laura, thank you for everything, I could not have done it without you; you are the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you to my parents for supporting me through thick and thin, and for raising me with an awareness of the world; I could not ask for better guides. Additional thanks to my siblings: to my sister Meredith for her wisdom and constructive ridicule; and to my brother Dylan for his friendship and stalwart good humour. Additional thanks are extended to Chris Lindsay for giving me Hans Fallada's Every Man Dies Alone while I was designing my proposal, and to historian Randal Bytwerk for hosting his archive of primary sources online. A final word of thanks to my cats, Eli and Willow, who have served admirably as desk-side companions through many long-nights of toil. Perceptions of Evil: A Comparison of Moral Perspectives in Nazi Propaganda and Anti-Nazi Literature Hamish Inksetter v