In 1817, german student associations burschenschaften chose the 300th anniversary of luthers 95 theses to hold a festival at the wartburg, a castle in thuringia where luther had sought sanctuary after his excommunication. On may 10, 1934, one year after the book burnings, the germany library of burnt books founded by alfred kantorowicz was opened to assemble copies of the books that had been destroyed. On may 10, 1933, university students in 34 university towns across germany burned over 25,000 books. The memorial to the bookburning on berlins bebelplatz shows an empty, underground library. Students contribute antigerman books to be destroyed at a berlin bookburning on may 10, 1933.
The first mass book burning in amsterdam took place later, in 1526. In 1942 and 1943, our first governmentsponsored libraries were established in latin america, and, according to. Rydell notes that the third reich did pseudoresearch on witchcraft and witchburning for its. A composite image of visitors to the bebelplatz memorial, known as the site of one of the infamous nazi book burning ceremonies, held on. Thereafter, public book burning remained part of life in the habsburg netherlands for much of the 16th century, anabaptist and calvinist writings later joining the lutheran ones in the flames. A brief history of book burning, from the printing press to internet archives as long as there have been books, people have burned thembut over the years, the motivation has changed. Nearly 80 years ago, nazi supporters burned german author erich kastners work as smut. That definition in itself was a retreat from the original purpose set 10 years ago. Martin luther was a 16th century german monk and theology professor. One of the more famous events involving book burning occurred at the waltburg festival in april of 1933. The may 1933 book burning in nazi germany had a precedent in nineteenth century germany.
The burning of the books in nazi germany, 1933 museum of. But the unique symbolism of bookburning has a long and sinister history. Book burnings were regularly organised in nazi germany in the 1930s by stormtroopers so degenerate works could be destroyed, especially works which were written by jewish authors such as thomas mann, marcel proust and karl marx. Book burning in berlin facing history and ourselves. Book burnings in germany, 1933 american experience. The bebelplatz is known as the site of one of the infamous nazi book burning ceremonies held in the evening of 10 may 1933 in many german university cities. Fahrenheit 451 movie and the true history of book burning. How nazis destroyed books in a quest to destroy european culture. The site of the famous nazi book burning campaign of 1933 remembers its night of shame. Twelve theses, a title chosen to be evocative of two events in german history. The earliest recorded incident of bookburning in history appears, however, to be emperor qin shi huangs order in 2 bc that all books of philosophy and history from anywhere other than qin. Reichstag, the german parliament building, is burned. Librarian wolfgang herrmann publishes his principles for sanitizing. Monuments and memorials of book burning in nazi germany.
The book burnings were initiated and hosted by the nationalist german student association, thus stealing a march on the national socialist german students league. The burning of books under the nazi regime on may 10, 1933, is perhaps the most famous book burning in history. Yet despite this relentless campaign, protestant writings continued to proliferate. Goodell discussed the book burnings and the exhibit. History has taught you nothing if you think you can kill ideas. The worlds premier physicist, albert einstein, settled in the united states along with many other intellectual refugees from hitlers germany. Holocaust memorial museum points out in its record of that moment in 1933, germany s history of burning books didnt start with the nazis. Lovers of truth and freedom who remained behind in germany only managed to escape through the phenomenon of inneremigration. Throughout history, says matt fishburn, author of burning books. Notable book burnings have taken place throughout history. William tyndales english translation of the new testament in the 16th.
According to knuth, the motives behind book burning changed after the printing press helped bring about the enlightenment erathough burning through the collateral damage of war continued to. One of the most infamous book burnings in the 20th century occurred in frankfurt, germany on may 10th, 1933. A brief history of book burning, from the printing press. The horrible, oppressive history of book burning in america.
Fifty years have elapsed since books were burned in german university towns and. On may 10, 1933, more than 25000 volumes of ungerman books were burned in the square in front of the state opera in berlin. Congress knew of the planned book burnings and launched protests. Book burnings how the nazis ruined erich kastners career.