27th USIAS seminar: Books and scientific libraries in National-Socialist Europe

[Translate to English:] C. Maurer, livre SCD Université de Strasbourg

By Catherine Maurer, USIAS Fellow 2015

In the German National-Socialist regime, libraries were quickly included in the new objectives of ideological purity and totalitarian conformity. Many books considered undesirable by the Nazis (written by Jews,Marxists, authors defending peace and humanistic ideals and democratic values) were removed from the shelves, and replaced by others glorifying the regime's ideology. Were scientific libraries subjected to the same policy?

This research project focuses on the territories controlled by Nazi Germany but distinct from the "Altreich", like Alsace. The study of archival fonds and of specialized documentary sources can provide answers to various questions: were German authorities' policies the same in Germany strictly  speaking as in occupied territories? Were practices regarding books and scientific libraries identical from one territory to the other? Were libraries given the possibility of fulfilling their role in the development of scientific knowledge?

We will study the way Nazi Germany dealt with existing collections (its preservation, relegation and destruction policies...), as well as its acquisition policies (legal or illegal purchases, confiscations, looting...), which have been at the centre of recent scholarly investigations while also attracting the interest of the mainstream. The project entails convening researchers for several international conferences or seminars, the enhancement of a documentary collection and the preparation of a summary volume.