DER SPIEGEL has a fascinating look at the best-sellers of German publishing during the Nazi era. Of course, Mein Kampf was a biggie, but according to Christian Adam, who surveyed a total of 350 bestsellers from the 12 years of the Third Reich's existence,Perhaps the oddest of them all was Hans Surén's "Mensch und Sonne," or "Humans and Sun," a collection of nude photographs that includes lyrical praise of the male member, instructions for yoga-like exercises and even naked skiing.
It could be seen as a precursor to the sexual revolution and "Freikörperkultur (FKK)," or "free body culture" of the late 1960s, if it weren't so blatantly racist.
1 comment:
Germany went a little weird in the 30's. Make that really weird. Think "Cabaret." There was a great deal of decadence and considerable interest in the occult. Kinky Krauts! BTW - I can say that by virtue of my claim to German descent.
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