Selling the Master Race

The Nazi use of Art, Culture and Sport to promote their idea of the

Perfect German.

Nazi Art v Degenerate Art• Art was used as a cultural weapon by the

Nazis. It had very specific designs. In 1937 in Munich they held a remarkable exhibition of what they called Degenerate Art.

Aims and Features of Nazi Art Features of Degenerate Art (and reasons to be blacklisted by Nazis)

Can you guess what fate the Nazis had for the paintings displayed in the degenerate art exhibition?Look at the example of Nazi Art (Source B picture) on page 57. Explain why it is an example of shameless derivative art.

Architecture

• Hitler took a personal interest in architecture and spent many hours designing his new capital of Europe which was to be called ‘Germania’

• What was the function of Nazi Architecture?

The People’s Hall would be 300 metres high and would hold 150,000 people.

Sport and the Berlin Olympics• Why were the Nazis so keen on promoting

sports and a healthy lifestyle within Germany?• What opportunity did the Berlin Olympics give

Adolf Hitler in 1936?• Why did the Nazis tone down their anti-

semitism during the Olympics• Why did Hitler refuse to shake hands with

Jesse Owens• How successful were the Berlin Olympics to

the Nazis• Who was Max Schmelling?• What was the danger of internationalising

sport to the Nazi regime?

Use Page 62

Nazi Film

• Why did the Nazis spend a lot of time, effort and money on the new medium of film?

• Who was Leni Riefenstahl and what did the Nazis hire her to make?– Why are her films still studied to this day?

• Why did the Nazis commission ‘The Eternal Jew’ in 1940– It was filmed in the horrific Lodz Ghettoes in

Poland and portrayed the Jews as Vermin (it cuts with scenes of rats)