Burn Books, Burn

As early as 1823, Heinrich Heine, referring to the book burning at the Wartburgfest 1817, had a vision, "Das war ein Vorspiel nur, dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen (That was a prelude only, where you burn books, you end up burning people).

May 10 is a date of shame, for 90 years ago, one of the first actions of the Nazis following their Machtergreifung (seize power) was the burning of literature undeutschen Geistes (of un-German spirit).

A list of books from Karlsruhe in the Nazi paper Der Alemanne of June 11, 1933,
with no claim to completeness, mentions Erich Kaestner (click to enlarge)

Erich Kästner was the only author to watch the burning of his books as an eyewitness on the Opernplatz in Berlin. He saw his novel Fabian fly into the flames. 

Kästner wrote twenty years later on the appearance of the zealous propaganda minister Josef Goebbels: "It was disgusting. Books flew into the fire. The tirades of the little cunning liar resounded far and wide. Here, a failed man of letters took his revenge on literature. Here, a sly politician eliminated any intellectual opposition for many years ... With such methods, one can destroy a people, not books. They only die a natural death. They die when their time is fulfilled. One cannot cut off, tear off, or sign off a minute of their thread of life. Books, we now know, cannot be burned. "

Red Baron sits in the second row (©BZ)

As part of a commemorative event at the Freiburg public library marking the 90th anniversary of the book burning in Berlin, Heiko Wegman presented his new book about the local events, "Dark Clouds over Freiburg."

Although announced on May 8 in Der Alemanne, there was probably no book burning in Freiburg on May 10, 1933. It was organized by the German student body as part of the "Wider den undeutschen Geist" ("Against the Un-German Spirit") campaign. Attempts to carry out book burnings were repeatedly scheduled. They failed because, in the early summer of 33, many "dark clouds hung over Freiburg." It rained frequently and intensively. According to Wegmann, the book's title also refers to the dark clouds of smoke produced when books are burned.

Even though book burnings were repeatedly postponed in Freiburg due to weather conditions, the author proved that there were at least eight scheduled dates. Students, Hitler Youth, the Kampfbund für deutsche Kultur (Battle Alliance for German Culture), and the University planned book burnings in shifting "coalitions."

The event that had apparently been canceled on May 10 was to be made up for as part of the 1st Cultural Combat Week of the Hitler Youth and with the participation of the schools on the evening of June 17 at a quarter past nine with a symbolic book burning in front of the Minster church.

According to the plans of the organizers, the small book bonfire in front of the central portal column with the collective singing of "Volk ans Gewehr (People to your arms)," battle shouts of the Hitler Youth, a "fire speech" by Pastor Albert from Gundelfingen, and the singing of the Horst Wessel song was to be followed by a march to the parade ground. There, a big book fire, an address of Mayor Franz Kerber, and a conclusion at a bivouac fire were planned.

The rain interfered with the planners, so they postponed the big book burning to the solstice celebration on June 21. However, the date with students and pupils also fell through.

In the end, a late book burning took place on June 24, 1933, at the university stadium, documented by the Freiburg social democratic editor and contemporary witness Käthe Fortriede, who, as a Jew, was later persecuted.

On this occasion, the new university rector, Martin Heidegger, gave an address in which he spoke of the solstice: "The days pass, they become shorter again. But our courage rises to break through the coming darkness. Never must we become blind in the struggle. Flame, announce us, shine on us, and show us the way from which there is no turning back! Flame ignite, hearts burn!"

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