Steifel133.1.2009b

This copy of Thomas Mann's Friedrich und die Grosse Koalition (Friedrichthe Great and the Grand Coalition) was found by Ernest Steifel while he was stationed at the Air Force headquarters in Munich. Due to Mann's criticism of the Nazi government, this book was banned along with hundreds of other books throughout Germany. It was stamped with a red letter V for "Verboten" ("Forbidden") and locked in a bookcase until it was found by Steifel. Though this book survived, as the Nazis cracked down on writings that criticized the party, did not fall within Nazi ideals, or were written by Jewish authors, hundreds of books were burned or otherwise destroyed throughout the country.

bookburning

The public burning of 'un-German' books by members of the SA and university students on the Opernplatz in Berlin, 1933

Additional Resources

Book Burning (USHMM article)

Fighting the Fires of Hate (USHMM Exhibit)