What was the derogatory term used in Nazi Germany for Afro-Germans born from specific relationships?

The derogatory term used in Nazi Germany was Rheinlandbastard.

Who were the individuals described by the term Rheinlandbastard?

The term Rheinlandbastard was used to describe Afro-Germans born from mixed-race relationships between German women and black African men who served in the French Army during the occupation of the Rhineland after World War I.

What was the historical context for the emergence of the term Rheinlandbastard?

The term originated around 1919, following World War I, when Allied troops, primarily French, occupied the Rhineland. This occupation led to relationships between French soldiers and German women, resulting in children who were subsequently targeted by this derogatory label.

According to historian Richard J. Evans, approximately how many mixed-race children were there among the occupying forces in the Rhineland?

British historian Richard J. Evans suggests that the number of mixed-race children resulting from the occupation was not more than five or six hundred.

How did Nazi racial theories impact individuals classified as Rheinlandbastarde after 1933?

After 1933, under Nazi racial theories, Afro-Germans identified as Rheinlandbastarde were subjected to persecution, including a campaign of compulsory sterilization.

What was the 'Black Horror on the Rhine' campaign, and what were its accusations?

The 'Black Horror on the Rhine' was a campaign initiated by German newspapers starting in the spring of 1920. It accused Senegalese soldiers of the French Army of routinely gang-raping thousands of German women and girls daily, fueling hostility and prejudice.

What was the significance of the novel Die Schwarze Schmach: Der Roman des geschändeten Deutschlands?

Guido Kreutzer's 1921 novel, Die Schwarze Schmach (The Black Shame: A Novel of Disgraced Germany), propagated the idea that all mixed-race children born in the Rhineland were physically and morally degenerate and not German. It also stated that their mothers ceased to be German upon having relations with non-white men and could not join the German community (Volksgemeinschaft).

How did the presence of colonial troops in the Rhineland occupation affect German perceptions?

Germans across the political spectrum viewed the occupation as a national disgrace. The use of non-white Allied troops, perceived as inferior soldiers based on colonial and racial stereotypes, heightened their humiliation and increased hostility towards them and their mixed-race offspring.

What was the German government's official stance on the occupying troops in the Rhineland in 1920?

In May 1920, the German foreign minister lodged a protest with his French counterpart, expressing a desire for the French to remove the 'black plague' and accepting lesser discipline among white troops in exchange.

What was Adolf Hitler's perspective on the Rheinlandbastarde as expressed in Mein Kampf?

In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler described children born from relationships with African occupation soldiers as a contamination of the white race with Negro blood on the Rhine. He also propagated the conspiracy theory that Jews were responsible for bringing Black people into the Rhineland to bastardize the white race, which he believed they hated, thereby lowering its cultural and political standing to facilitate Jewish domination. He further implied this was a French plot due to the perceived negrification of France's population.

Beyond the Rhineland occupation, what other source contributed to the mixed-race population in Germany prior to Nazi rule?

Prior to the Nazi era, most of Germany's small multiracial population consisted of children born to German settlers and missionaries in former German colonies in Sub-Saharan Africa and Melanesia, either through marriage or out of wedlock.

How did the loss of the German colonial empire after World War I affect these mixed-race families?

Following World War I and the loss of the German colonial empire, some German colonists returned to Germany, bringing their mixed-race families with them.

What was the approximate size of the black population in Nazi Germany relative to the total population?

The black population in Nazi Germany was very small, estimated to be between 20,000 and 25,000 individuals within a total population exceeding 65 million.

How did the Nazis view black culture and music?

The Nazis despised black culture, considering it inferior. They sought to prohibit musical genres like American jazz, labeling it as 'corrupt negro music'.

Were there specific laws enacted against the black population or children of mixed parentage before the Nuremberg Laws?

No official laws were enacted specifically against the black population or children of mixed parentage before the Nuremberg Laws of September 1935, as many of these individuals were born from unions that predated these laws.

What did the Nuremberg Laws of September 1935 prohibit?

The Nuremberg Laws of September 1935 prohibited miscegenation, banned future sexual relations and mixed marriages between so-called Aryans and non-Aryans, and deprived persons of mixed parentage of the right to marry.

What was the role of Eugen Fischer in the persecution of Rheinlandbastarde?

Eugen Fischer, associated with the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Human Heredity, and Eugenics, was appointed to head the Special Commission 3 (Sonder Kommission Nr.3). His task was to prevent the procreation and reproduction of Rheinlandbastarde.

Under which law were individuals deemed Rheinlandbastarde subjected to sterilization?

Individuals deemed Rheinlandbastarde were slated for sterilization under the 1933 Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring.

When did the Nazi sterilization program targeting Rheinlandbastarde begin, and how many children were affected?

The sterilization program commenced in 1937. Approximately 800 children of mixed parentage were arrested and sterilized as part of this campaign.

How did the Nazis attempt to conceal the sterilization and abortion program?

According to Susan Samples, the Nazis made significant efforts to conceal their sterilization and abortion program targeting individuals classified as Rheinlandbastarde.

How is the concept of the Rheinlandbastard represented in Esi Edugyan's novel Half Blood Blues?

Esi Edugyan's novel Half Blood Blues (2011) features an Afro-German jazz trumpet player in Berlin who is identified and targeted by the Nazis as a Rheinlandbastard.

Which film depicts a protagonist conceived during the post-WWI occupation of Germany and classified as a Rheinlandbastard?

The 2018 film Where Hands Touch, directed by Amma Asante, features a protagonist, Leyna, who was conceived during the post-WWI occupation of Germany by a black French soldier and a white German woman.

What was the primary reason for the German government's hostility towards the French Army's use of African troops in the Rhineland occupation?

The primary reason for German hostility was racial prejudice and the perception of these troops as inferior, coupled with propaganda campaigns like the 'Black Horror on the Rhine,' which falsely accused them of widespread sexual violence. This was seen as a national humiliation and a threat to racial purity.

What was the estimated number of Afro-Germans in Nazi Germany?

The estimated number of black people in Nazi Germany was between 20,000 and 25,000.

What was the purpose of the Sonder Kommission Nr.3?

The Sonder Kommission Nr.3 was established by the Nazi government to specifically address the issue of Rheinlandbastarde and was tasked with preventing their procreation and reproduction.

How did the Nazi regime view the concept of miscegenation?

The Nazi regime viewed miscegenation, or sexual relations and marriage between people of different races, as a grave threat to racial purity and national identity, leading to the prohibition of such unions through the Nuremberg Laws.

What was the German attitude towards the French occupation of the Rhineland after World War I?

Germans across the political spectrum regarded the occupation of the Rhineland by French troops, particularly those of African descent, as a national disgrace and a source of humiliation.

What role did colonial stereotypes play in the perception of French occupation troops in the Rhineland?

Colonial and racial stereotypes were used to portray the French colonial soldiers as inferior troops, which amplified the sense of humiliation among Germans and fueled hostility towards them and their mixed-race offspring.

What specific accusation was made against Senegalese soldiers in German newspapers during the Rhineland occupation?

German newspapers frequently ran stories accusing Senegalese soldiers of routinely gang-raping thousands of German women and girls on a daily basis, a claim central to the 'Black Horror on the Rhine' propaganda.

How did Hitler's ideology in Mein Kampf connect Jews to the presence of Black soldiers in the Rhineland?

Hitler's ideology in Mein Kampf posited that Jews were responsible for bringing Black soldiers into the Rhineland with the deliberate aim of bastardizing the white race, which he believed they hated, thereby lowering its cultural and political standing to facilitate Jewish domination.

What was the Nazi regime's stance on jazz music?

The Nazi regime considered jazz music, particularly American jazz, to be corrupt negro music and viewed it as inferior, seeking to prohibit its performance and dissemination.

What was the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Human Heredity, and Eugenics' involvement in the Nazi eugenics program?

The Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Human Heredity, and Eugenics, through its director Eugen Fischer, played a key role in providing the pseudo-scientific justification and administrative framework for Nazi eugenics policies, including the identification and sterilization of groups deemed hereditarily unfit, such as the Rheinlandbastarde.

What does the term Mischlingskinder refer to in the context of Nazi Germany?

Mischlingskinder is a German term that translates to mixed-race children and was used to categorize children born from interracial unions, including those referred to as Rheinlandbastarde.

What is the significance of the image caption provided in the article?

The image caption describes a young Rhinelander classified as a bastard and hereditarily unfit under the Nazi regime, illustrating the real-world application of these discriminatory labels.

What was the significance of the German postcard depicted in the article?

The German postcard, dated January 1923, featured racist anti-French and anti-Czech sentiments, depicting a Senegalese soldier of the French Army alongside a Czech soldier, with the text Brutality, Bestiality, Equality, reflecting the propaganda and prejudice of the era.

How did the Nazi regime's policies affect the marriage rights of individuals of mixed parentage?

The Nazi regime, through measures like the Nuremberg Laws, deprived persons of mixed parentage, including Rheinlandbastarde, of the right to marry, effectively prohibiting them from forming legal unions.

What was the estimated number of mixed-race children born from the French occupation of the Rhineland after WWI, according to Richard J. Evans?

Richard J. Evans estimates that the number of mixed-race children born from the French occupation of the Rhineland after World War I was no more than five or six hundred.

What was the Nazi regime's justification for the compulsory sterilization of Rheinlandbastarde?

The Nazi regime's justification for compulsory sterilization was rooted in its racial theories, which deemed these individuals hereditarily unfit and a threat to the supposed purity of the Aryan race.

What does the term Rheinlandbastard specifically refer to in the context of post-World War I Germany?

The term Rheinlandbastard specifically refers to children born from relationships between German women and black African soldiers who were part of the French occupation forces in the Rhineland after World War I.

How did the Nazi propaganda campaign 'Black Horror on the Rhine' aim to influence public opinion?

The 'Black Horror on the Rhine' campaign aimed to incite fear and hatred by falsely accusing Senegalese soldiers of widespread sexual violence against German women and girls, thereby demonizing both the soldiers and the mixed-race children they fathered.

What was the Nazi regime's broader policy towards non-Aryans concerning marriage and reproduction?

The Nazi regime's broader policy, codified in the Nuremberg Laws, prohibited sexual relations and marriages between Aryans and non-Aryans and stripped individuals of mixed parentage of their right to marry, aiming to prevent the further mixing of races.

What was the Nazi regime's view on the concept of Volksgemeinschaft in relation to mixed-race individuals?

The Nazi regime viewed the Volksgemeinschaft (people's community) as an exclusive racial community. Individuals of mixed parentage, like the Rheinlandbastarde, were explicitly excluded from this community, with their mothers also deemed ineligible if they had relations with non-white men.

What was the primary source of the term Rheinlandbastard?

The primary source of the term Rheinlandbastard was the presence of black African soldiers in the French Army occupying the Rhineland after World War I, and the subsequent relationships they formed with German women.

What does the phrase negrification imply in Adolf Hitler's writings regarding France?

In Adolf Hitler's writings, the term negrification implied a perceived dilution or corruption of the French population and culture through the increasing presence and influence of Black people, which he presented as part of a conspiracy against the white race.

What was the German government's official protest to France regarding the occupation troops in 1920?

In May 1920, the German foreign minister protested to his French counterpart, requesting the removal of the black plague (referring to African soldiers) from the Rhineland, indicating a desire to rid Germany of their presence.

What was the significance of the term hereditarily unfit in Nazi racial policy?

The term hereditarily unfit was a Nazi classification used to label individuals deemed genetically inferior or undesirable, often based on race, disability, or perceived social deviance, justifying their persecution, sterilization, or extermination.

What was the Nazi regime's policy on future sexual relations and mixed marriages after the Nuremberg Laws?

Following the Nuremberg Laws of September 1935, future sexual relations and marriages between so-called Aryans and non-Aryans were banned.

What was the stated goal of the Sonder Kommission Nr.3?

The stated goal of the Sonder Kommission Nr.3 was to prevent the procreation and reproduction of Rheinlandbastarde.

What was the impact of the 'Black Horror on the Rhine' propaganda on German society?

The 'Black Horror on the Rhine' propaganda intensified German hostility towards the French occupation troops and their mixed-race children, contributing to a climate of racial prejudice and discrimination.

Rhineland Bastard Wiki: Echoes of Occupation: The 'Rhineland Bastard' Designation

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Historical Context

Post-WWI Occupation

The term "Rhineland bastard" originated in the aftermath of World War I, specifically from 1919 onwards. It emerged during the French occupation of the Rhineland, a period when Allied troops, predominantly from France, were stationed in Germany.^[2] The number of children born from relationships between German women and these occupying soldiers, particularly those of African descent, was relatively small, estimated by historian Richard J. Evans to be no more than five or six hundred.^[3]

The "Black Horror on the Rhine"

A significant factor contributing to the negative perception and the coining of the derogatory term was the propaganda campaign known as the "Black Horror on the Rhine" (Schwarze Schmach). Launched by German newspapers starting in 1920, this campaign accused Senegalese soldiers serving in the French Army of widespread atrocities, including gang-raping German women and girls.^[4] This narrative fueled xenophobia and racial prejudice, framing the presence of non-white soldiers as a national disgrace and a moral contamination.

Early Depictions

The sentiment was further solidified in popular culture. The 1921 novel Die Schwarze Schmach: Der Roman des geschändeten Deutschlands (The Black Shame: A Novel of Disgraced Germany) by Guido Kreutzer explicitly described mixed-race children born in the Rhineland as "physically and morally degenerate" and not truly German. The author also asserted that their mothers forfeited their German identity upon engaging with non-white men, thereby excluding them from the national community (Volksgemeinschaft).^[5]

Nazi Ideology and Context

Nazi Racial Theories

Upon their rise to power in 1933, the Nazi regime integrated and amplified existing racial prejudices into their core ideology. The concept of the "Rhineland bastard" became a specific target within their broader framework of racial purity and antisemitism. Adolf Hitler himself articulated these views in Mein Kampf, describing the presence of African soldiers in the Rhineland as a contamination of the white race and a plot orchestrated by Jews to degrade European civilization.^[9]^[10]^[11]

Cultural Disdain

The Nazis also expressed disdain for Black culture, labeling genres like American jazz as "corrupt negro music" (Negermusik) and seeking to suppress them.^[13] This cultural animosity was intrinsically linked to their racial ideology, viewing any association with or influence from non-white cultures as a threat to the perceived purity of the Aryan race.

Persecution and Sterilization

Targeted Campaign

Despite the small numbers, the Nazi regime decided to take action against individuals identified as "Rhineland bastards." While no explicit laws were enacted against the Black population or mixed-race children born before the Nuremberg Laws of September 1935, these laws did prohibit "miscegenation" and "mixed marriages" between "Aryans" and "non-Aryans."^[12] Persons of mixed parentage were explicitly denied the right to marry.

Eugen Fischer's Role

To implement their policies, the government established the Sonder Kommission Nr. 3 (Special Commission No. 3). This commission was headed by Eugen Fischer, a prominent figure in racial hygiene and eugenics from the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Human Heredity, and Eugenics.^[1] Fischer was tasked with identifying and preventing the reproduction of "Rhineland bastards."

Compulsory Sterilization

Under Fischer's direction, it was decided that individuals deemed "Rhineland bastards" would be subjected to compulsory sterilization, in accordance with the 1933 Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring.^[1] This program commenced in 1937, with local officials identifying and arresting approximately 800 children of mixed parentage for sterilization. The Nazis reportedly took extensive measures to conceal these sterilization and abortion programs.^[1]

Eugenics and Racial Purity

The Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring

The compulsory sterilization of "Rhineland bastards" was a direct application of the Nazi regime's broader eugenics agenda, codified in the Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring (Gesetz zur Verhütung erbkranken Nachwuchses), enacted in July 1933. This law provided the legal framework for forced sterilization of individuals deemed to have hereditary defects, including those considered racially "inferior" or "degenerate."^[1] The targeting of "Rhineland bastards" exemplified how existing prejudices were weaponized and institutionalized under Nazi rule.

Broader Implications

The persecution of "Rhineland bastards" was part of a systematic effort by the Nazis to enforce their vision of racial purity. This included the persecution of Jews, Roma, Sinti, disabled individuals, and others deemed "undesirable." The sterilization program against mixed-race individuals was an early manifestation of the regime's genocidal policies, demonstrating a chilling commitment to eliminating perceived threats to the Aryan race.

Colonial Legacy and Media

Pre-existing Mixed-Race Populations

It is important to note that the presence of mixed-race individuals in Germany predated the post-WWI occupation. Some German colonists and missionaries in former German colonies in Sub-Saharan Africa and Melanesia had relationships with local women, resulting in mixed-race families. Following World War I and the loss of the German colonial empire, some of these families returned to Germany.^[3] While the Black population in Nazi Germany was small (estimated at 20,000–25,000 out of over 65 million), the regime specifically targeted those in the Rhineland, conflating them with the post-war occupation context.

Cultural Portrayals

The experiences and historical context surrounding the "Rhineland bastard" designation have been explored in various media, bringing this often-overlooked aspect of Nazi persecution to a wider audience.

Esi Edugyan's novel, Half Blood Blues (2011), features an Afro-German jazz musician in Berlin who is targeted by the Nazis as a "Rhineland bastard."
The 2018 film Where Hands Touch, directed by Amma Asante, centers on Leyna, a mixed-race teenager conceived during the post-WWI occupation of Germany by a Black French soldier and a white German woman.

Analysis and Related Topics

Historical Significance

The term "Rhineland bastard" and the subsequent persecution represent a critical case study in the implementation of Nazi racial ideology. It demonstrates how pre-existing prejudices were exploited and amplified to justify state-sponsored discrimination and violence. The systematic targeting and sterilization of these individuals underscore the pervasive nature of Nazi eugenics policies, which aimed to create a racially "pure" society.

Related Subjects

Understanding the "Rhineland bastard" designation requires context from related historical topics:

Afro-Germans: The broader community of people of African descent in Germany.
Nazi Eugenics: The pseudoscientific ideology and policies aimed at improving the genetic quality of the population.
Degenerate Music (Entartete Musik): Nazi condemnation of musical genres associated with Black culture and Jewish composers.
Nuremberg Laws: Legislation that codified racial discrimination and stripped Jews and other targeted groups of their rights.
Persecution of Black People in Nazi Germany: The specific experiences and discrimination faced by Black individuals under the Nazi regime.

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References

Samples, Susan. "African Germans in the Third Reich", in The African German Experience, edited by Carol Aisha Blackshire-Belay (Praeger Publishers, 1996).

A full list of references for this article are available at the Rhineland bastard Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a historical Wikipedia article and reflects the terminology and context of that period. It is crucial to understand that the term "Rhineland bastard" is a derogatory slur and its use in this context is for historical accuracy and educational analysis, not endorsement.

This is not an endorsement of historical ideologies. The information provided on this website is intended to educate about historical events and discriminatory practices. It is not a substitute for critical historical analysis or professional consultation. We do not condone the views or actions described herein.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions in the source material, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

Echoes of Occupation

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Historical Context 🕰️

🌍 Post-WWI Occupation

🗣️ The "Black Horror on the Rhine"

📖 Early Depictions

Nazi Ideology and Context 🌍

📜 Nazi Racial Theories

🚫 Cultural Disdain

Persecution and Sterilization ⚖️

🔬 Targeted Campaign

👨‍⚕️ Eugen Fischer's Role

💉 Compulsory Sterilization

Eugenics and Racial Purity 🧬

⚖️ The Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring

💭 Broader Implications

Colonial Legacy and Media 🏛️

🌐 Pre-existing Mixed-Race Populations

🎬 Cultural Portrayals

Analysis and Related Topics 📊

🔍 Historical Significance

🔗 Related Subjects

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

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References

📜 References

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Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Historical Context

Post-WWI Occupation

The "Black Horror on the Rhine"

Early Depictions

Nazi Ideology and Context

Nazi Racial Theories

Cultural Disdain

Persecution and Sterilization

Targeted Campaign

Eugen Fischer's Role

Compulsory Sterilization

Eugenics and Racial Purity

The Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring

Broader Implications

Colonial Legacy and Media

Pre-existing Mixed-Race Populations

Cultural Portrayals

Analysis and Related Topics

Historical Significance

Related Subjects

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice