Adolf Hitler: What Happens When Adolf Hitler: What Happens When an Artist Becomes a Dictatoran Artist Becomes a Dictator

Macey Martinez

But, I wanted to be an Artist!But, I wanted to be an Artist!

Moves to Vienna in Moves to Vienna in 1907 to study art.1907 to study art.

1909-1914 claims to 1909-1914 claims to have made over have made over 1,000 paintings and 1,000 paintings and drawings.drawings.

1914 joins the military 1914 joins the military and the rest is history!and the rest is history!

Election day 1933Election day 1933

The GoalThe Goal: To create a : To create a pure Germanic pure Germanic culture by doing away culture by doing away with “degenerate” art.with “degenerate” art.

StrategyStrategy: To : To confiscate all state-confiscate all state-owned cultural owned cultural property.property.

Art Approved by the Fuehrer Art Approved by the Fuehrer

True art as defined by True art as defined by Hitler was linked with Hitler was linked with the country life, with the country life, with health, and with the health, and with the Aryan race. Aryan race.

Modern art had no Modern art had no place in the Third place in the Third ReichReich

National SocialismNational Socialism

The idea of VolkThe idea of Volk (simple life Folkdom)(simple life Folkdom)

Glorification of the Glorification of the German peopleGerman people

Images of laborers, Images of laborers, glorification of soldiers, glorification of soldiers, portrays healthy, happy, portrays healthy, happy, Germanic peoples.Germanic peoples.

Inspired by Greco –Inspired by Greco –Roman nudesRoman nudes

Pristine, heroic, Pristine, heroic, figuresfigures

Images that showed Images that showed Germany was Germany was peaceful, or drawn peaceful, or drawn into struggle to into struggle to defend itselfdefend itself

The Great German Art ExhibitionThe Great German Art Exhibition

Commissioned in Commissioned in 1933, completed in 1933, completed in 1937.1937.

600 works, of Nazi 600 works, of Nazi approved style and approved style and subjectsubject

Hitler’s dream of new Hitler’s dream of new German artGerman art

Degenerate Art eXhibitDegenerate Art eXhibit

1937, Munich, Hitler 1937, Munich, Hitler establishes the Degenerate establishes the Degenerate Art ShowArt Show

Non Approved Art was Non Approved Art was confiscatedconfiscated

Nazis took full control of Nazis took full control of artist and art productionartist and art production

Many if not all artist fled Many if not all artist fled Germany at this time.Germany at this time.

“ “ As for the degenerate artist, I forbid them to force their As for the degenerate artist, I forbid them to force their so called experiences upon the public. If artists do see so called experiences upon the public. If artists do see fields blue they are deranged, and should go to an fields blue they are deranged, and should go to an asylum. If they only pretend to see them blue, they are asylum. If they only pretend to see them blue, they are criminals and should go to prison.”criminals and should go to prison.”

-Adolf Hitler-Adolf Hitler

Is that a smile on your face, or are Is that a smile on your face, or are you just happy to see some art?you just happy to see some art?

Piet MondrianPiet MondrianComposition with BlueComposition with Blue19261926

Edvard Munch

The Sick Child

1907

Marc Chagall, Purim 1916-1918

Max Beckman

Carnival

1920

Paul KleePaul KleeThe Kettledrum Organ The Kettledrum Organ ((Die PaukenorgelDie Paukenorgel))19301930

Ernst Kirchner, artillerymen 1915Ernst Kirchner, artillerymen 1915

Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Woman with a Bag, 1915Woman with a Bag, 1915

Mr. Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Berlin W. 30 Bamberger St. 19

In connection with the task, entrusted to me by the Fuehrer, of eradicating the works of degenerate art from our museums, no fewer than 608 paintings of yours had to be seized. A number of these paintings were displayed at the exhibits of Degenerate Art in Munich, Dortmund, and Berlin. This fact could leave no doubt in your mind that your paintings did not contribute to the advancement of German culture in its responsibility toward people and nation. Although you must also have been aware of the policy-setting speech of the Fuehrer at the opening of the Great German Art Exhibit in Munich, the recent paintings of yours which you have now submitted to us indicate that even at this date, you are still far removed from the cultural foundations of the National Socialist state. On the basis of these facts, I am unable to grant that you possess the necessary reliability for belonging to my Chamber. On the basis of Paragraph 10 of the first executive Order implementing the Law Concerning the National Chambers of Culture of November 1, 1933 (Official Gazette, I, 797) I hereby expel you from the National Chamber of Fine Arts and forbid you, effective immediately, any activity - professional or amateur - in the field of graphic arts. MEMBERSHIP BOOK NO. M 756 issued in your name is no longer valid, and you are requested to send it back to me by return mail.

s. ZIEGLER.

These Movements were banned!These Movements were banned!

DadaDadaCubism Cubism Expressionism Expressionism FauvismFauvism ImpressionismImpressionismSurrealismSurrealism

Hitler confiscates all art works not Hitler confiscates all art works not approved by himselfapproved by himself

Nazis confiscated more Nazis confiscated more than 17,000 works of artthan 17,000 works of art

Most were sold to Art Most were sold to Art dealer to fund war effortsdealer to fund war efforts

Others were destroyed Others were destroyed

1945 President Eisenhower looking 1945 President Eisenhower looking at recovered artworksat recovered artworks

Soldiers viewing a recovered ManetSoldiers viewing a recovered Manet

What did all this mean for Art What did all this mean for Art Education?Education?

Art was taught to develop Art was taught to develop individual talentindividual talent

The art of children The art of children depicted conformitydepicted conformity

Children’s drawing were Children’s drawing were community based, not community based, not personal experiencepersonal experience

Ready made formulas for Ready made formulas for teaching drawing.teaching drawing.

Art Education Cont.Art Education Cont.

Art teachers Art teachers attempted to push attempted to push students into identical students into identical stages of stages of developmentdevelopment

The Nazi art teacher The Nazi art teacher was a “drill sargent on was a “drill sargent on a march to realism”a march to realism”

So,

No matter how hard he tried

he never succeeded in replacing the art he condemned.

SourcesSources

A teacher’s guide to the HolocaustA teacher’s guide to the Holocausthttp://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/default.htmhttp://fcit.coedu.usf.edu/holocaust/default.htm

Art under National SocialismArt under National Socialismhttp://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~vweihs/index.htmlhttp://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~vweihs/index.html

Crime libraryCrime libraryhttp://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/gang/stolen_art/index.html?sect=25http://www.crimelibrary.com/gangsters_outlaws/gang/stolen_art/index.html?sect=25

Art under a dictator ship Germany 1932-1945, notes, Howard Hull.Art under a dictator ship Germany 1932-1945, notes, Howard Hull.