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Abstract

In the fall of 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were promulgated by the Nazi government. Flyers such as this one were posted in public spaces to remind Germans of their “duty” to protect the purity of the German race. This particular example outlines the importance of women’s duty to bear and raise “German” children and to protect German blood. It reminds all Germans that their actions affected the entire German population. By presenting these rules in the manner of the Ten Commandments, the regime sought to elevate their racial ideology to same level as Christianity. A good German followed these guiding rules, just as a good Christian obeyed the commandments set forth in the Bible.

Flyer with Rules for Protecting the Purity of the Race (c. 1935)

Source

1. Ensure the eternity of your people [Volk] by having a multitude of children.

2. German man, respect and protect the mother of German children in every woman.

3. German woman, never forget your highest duty to be the guardian of the German character.

4. Protect your children from the fate of the mixed-race child [Mischling].

5. Keep the German blood pure.

6. Anyone who is not of German blood is of foreign blood.

7. Protect your honor and your character when encountering those foreign to your people.

8. German girls, your reservation towards foreigners is not offensive. On the contrary: Any decent foreigner will respect you for it.

9. The protection of one’s own blood does not mean contempt for that of other peoples.

10. Maintaining pure blood is in the interest of all worthy races.

11. Maintaining pure blood is not a private matter, but a self-evident duty of every German person towards their people.

12. BE PROUD TO BE A GERMAN!

Source: Flyer with some tenets of National Socialist racial theory (c. 1935), Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin, Inv.-Nr. Do 77/342/1II.

Translation: Insa Kummer