taz.de
Nazi Persecution of Black People: Under-researched History of Neuengamme Concentration Camp
Historian Gisela Ewe discusses the persecution of Black people under Nazism, highlighting the 15 identified Black prisoners in Neuengamme concentration camp out of approximately 100,000 total inmates, the challenges in identifying more due to poor record-keeping, and the role of resistance and solidarity among prisoners.
- What specific actions and consequences resulted from the Nazi regime's persecution of Black people, and how did this relate to broader colonial and racial policies?
- Even before the Nazi seizure of power, anti-Black racism rooted in colonialism existed in the Weimar Republic. The 1933 Nazi takeover drastically intensified this discrimination, with early victims like communist Hilarius Gilges, murdered by the SA in 1933. The Nuremberg Laws were extended to include Black people, leading to persecution and abuse.
- How did the experiences of Black prisoners in Neuengamme differ from those of other prisoner groups, and what role did resistance and solidarity play in their survival?
- The persecution of Black individuals under Nazism demonstrates the regime's broader racial ideology and its extension beyond the specifically targeted groups defined by the Nuremberg Laws. The systematic persecution, including forced sterilization of children of Black soldiers from 1937, highlights the pervasiveness of anti-Black racism within the Nazi regime. This is further exemplified by the documented cases of interracial relationships resulting in imprisonment and abuse.
- What are the long-term implications of the under-researched history of Black victims of Nazi persecution, and what steps are needed to achieve a more accurate and complete historical record?
- The under-researched experiences of Black victims of Nazi persecution underscore the limitations of traditional historical narratives focused on European perspectives. The ongoing efforts of the Neuengamme memorial site to document these stories, alongside the challenges in identifying victims due to incomplete records and the use of European names, reveal the need for a more inclusive and comprehensive historical understanding. The limited research is also due to the largely Eurocentric nature of German historiography.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The framing is generally neutral, presenting historical facts and accounts from interviews with a historian. However, the emphasis on the limited number of identified Black prisoners might inadvertently downplay the extent of their suffering compared to the overall number of prisoners. The headline and subheadings do not appear to be biased.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the experiences of Black prisoners in Neuengamme concentration camp, but the broader context of Nazi persecution of other minority groups is largely absent. While the article mentions the Nuremburg Laws, it doesn't elaborate on their impact beyond the Black population. Additionally, there is no discussion of the overall context of colonial racism within the Nazi regime. This omission limits the reader's understanding of the systematic nature of Nazi oppression.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the discrimination and persecution faced by Black people under Nazi rule, revealing a significant disparity in treatment and highlighting the systematic injustices they endured. This directly relates to SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, as it demonstrates a clear case of racial inequality and the devastating consequences of such discrimination.