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Summary:

Compared to the numerous books and articles on the Third Reich, few address its material culture, and fewer still discuss the phenomenon of Nazi memorabilia. This is all the more surprising given that Nazi symbols, so central to sustaining Hitler's movement, continue to live long after the collapse of his 12-year Reich. Neither did Nazi ideology die, far-right populists would like to see the swastika flown over the White House or Buckingham Palace. Against a backdrop of right-wing extremism, military re-enactors think nothing of dressing up in Waffen-SS uniforms and romanticising the Third Reich in the name of living history. Auctioneers are prepared to hammer down Nazi artefacts to the highest bidder, but who is buying them, and why do they do so? Should collectors be allowed to decorate their homes with Nazi flags? The Anarchy of Nazi Memorabilia begins by examining the creation and context of Nazi artefacts and symbols during the volatile Weimar Republic to their wider distribution during the Third Reich. There were few people in Nazi Germany who did not wear a badge or uniform of some sort. Whether it be mothers, soldiers or concentration camp inmates, they were all branded. The chapter on the Second World War even demonstrates that German soldiers were highly cynical about being given medals in exchange for freezing in Russia. They still continued to fight, however, for which more decorations were awarded. A large proportion of this book is therefore given to the meaning that Nazi symbols had before Nazi Germany was eventually defeated in May 1945. Equally important, however, and one of the characteristics of this book, is the analysis of the meaning and value of Nazi material culture over time. The interpreters of Nazi symbols that this book focuses on are internationally based private collectors and traders. Sustained attention is given in a chapter outlining the development of the collectors' market for Nazi memorabilia from 1945 onwards. No matter how much collectors go out of their way to paint the hobby in a positive light, their activities are not fully able to escape the troubled past of the material that they desire. So contested are Nazi symbols, that another chapter is devoted to the ethics and morals of destroying or preserving them. As part of this chapter the issues surrounding private versus public custody and ownership of Nazi artefacts are also discussed. So far, in this book, the examination of Nazi artefacts has been restricted to physical objects within societies that are generally aware of the consequences of Hitlerism. As we increasingly move into the digital age, however, and there are few survivors of the Second World War left to relay their horrific experiences, the final chapter contemplates the future of Nazi symbols both digitally and physically, fake or real. This book will appeal to all those interested in the Third Reich, Nazi Ideology, Neo-Nazism, perceptions of the Nazis post-1945, Modern European History and political symbolism. It will also hold particular appeal to those interested in the collecting and trading of contested and highly emotive artefacts. It considers aesthetics, authenticity, commodification, gift exchange, life histories of people and objects, materiality and value theory.

Table of Contents:

• 1 IntroductionFascinationMaterial CultureAuthenticity and the AuraAestheticsValue Gift ExchangeCollecting (An Economic Focus)Oral HistoryStructure2 From Weimar to the Third ReichImperial Legacy in WeimarThe NSDAP and the Deployment of SymbolsThe Efficacy of SymbolsCo-ordination (Gleichschaltung)Nazi KitschThe Brooch of Fear: The NSDAP Membership Badge3 The Materiality of the People's CommunityHuman Cogs?Strength through Joy (Kraft durch Freude) (KdF)The Nürnberg RalliesThe Winter Help Program (Winterhilfswerk) (WHW)(Includes a discussion of badges made from plastic)4 Pre-war Awards: More Than Just Eagles and Swastikas The Hindenburg CrossRewarding Sinister ServiceThe German National Prize for Arts and SciencesAmerican Recipients of the German Eagle Order5 Medals for Babies: The 'Honour Cross of the German Mother' (Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter)A Racist Form of Pro-natalismIconography and Symbolic ValuePatriarchal Propaganda From 'Dearest Wish' (sehnlichster Wunsch) to RejectionMedal as AgencyComparative PerspectiveEfficacyCollectors6 Wartime Awards: All Ironed OutAn Icon of IronThe Weapon BadgesLimbs for MedalsHimmler's Bandit Badge7 Objects as Texts and TradeCollectors' Literature as ArtefactsCollecting and the Market8 Trash or Treasure: How do you solve a problem like Nazi memorabilia?To Preserve or DestroyThe Moral DimensionThe Legalities of Nazi MemorabiliaPrivate Versus Public Ownership and Possession of Nazi MemorabiliaNever Mind the Swastikas9 Collecting Nazi Memorabilia in the 21st Century and BeyondCollecting and Re-enacting the Nazi Past in the Present Gender DimensionCollecting ImmortalitySimulating and Trading Futures Digitally and PhysicallyAppendix A Price DataAppendix B Times Series Graphs

Author/Creator:

Hughes, Michael , author

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Main Work:

The anarchy of Nazi memorabilia: from things of tyranny to troubled treasure [by Hughes, M.]

Related Series:

Material culture and modern conflict

Subjects:

Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei — Collectibles

World War, 1939-1945 — Collectibles

Collectors and collecting — Moral and ethical aspects

Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-Partei

World War (1939-1945)

1939-1945

Collectors and collecting

Collectibles

General Notes:

Michael Hughes obtained his Doctorate from the University of Glasgow in Economic and Social History in 2016. His life changed when he fully lost his eyesight in 1998. It gave him the opportunity, however, to change direction away from Quality Engineering and to devote more time to collecting military artefacts. He subsequently combined his academic ability and interest in the social life and function of military and political symbols to complete his Doctorate and conducted further research resulting in this book. He describes himself as a reformed collector and is doing his best to resist accumulating things.
Description based on: Title details screen.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (288 pages).

Digital Characteristics:

text file

Call Numbers:

D743.27 .H844 2022eb

ISBNs:

9781003000617 (electronic bk.)
1003000614 (electronic bk.)
9781000531893 (electronic bk., PDF)
1000531899 (electronic bk., PDF)
9780367422004 [Invalid]
9781032169712 [Invalid]
9781000531923 (electronic bk., EPUB)
1000531929 (electronic bk., EPUB)

OCLC Numbers:

1273727769