Quote from the book thief : "...we stop our enimies once again. we stop them reaching into our minds". ----(Zusak--110)
Book burning:
On10 May, 1993 a horrendous scene has happened. A crowd of 40,000 people gathered in the Bebelplatz (known as Opernplatz) in the Mitte District of Berlin. In that crowd there were Germany students of more than 30 universities around the country of German, who gathered to burn the books with the idea of “unGerman”. Books by Freud, Einstein, Thomas Mann, Jack London, H.G. Wells and many others (total 25,000 books) which were stated as “unGerman book” were burned up as they give the Nazi salute.
As they were burning the books the Nazis were giving the speech, singing Nazis song, chanting oaths and playing anthems. "Read Article"
In Berlin, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels gave a speech to the students, stating...
"...The era of extreme Jewish intellectualism is now at an end. The breakthrough of the German revolution has again cleared the way on the German path...The future German man will not just be a man of books, but a man of character. It is to this end that we want to educate you. As a young person, to already have the courage to face the pitiless glare, to overcome the fear of death, and to regain respect for death - this is the task of this young generation. And thus you do well in this midnight hour to commit to the flames the evil spirit of the past. This is a strong, great and symbolic deed - a deed which should document the following for the world to know - Here the intellectual foundation of the November (Democratic) Republic is sinking to the ground, but from this wreckage the phoenix of a new spirit will triumphantly rise..."
by---Joseph Goebbels
Scene during the book burning in Berlin's Opera Square. Berlin, Germany, May 10, 1933.
Not all the book burn took place on that day. Some of the book burn ceremony had to postpone on that day because of the rain. Some of them have took palce on june 21. However the book burning on may 10 "Action against the Un-German spirit" was quiet successful. In some cities of Berlin the radio was live brodcasting the singing, speeches and the ceremonial chanting to thousand people. The book burning of May 10 was not the first time. It had a precedent in nineteenth centuary in Germany.
“There were people everywhere on the city street, but the stranger could not have been more alone if it was empty.” ---(Zusak--473)
Interesting facts about book burning click her to find out more " The symbolism of the 1933 book burnings has entered into the American culture of politics..."
