Beasts of the Reich. Images of Animals and German Propaganda

German children of the 1930s and 1940s went to war with Colorado beetles, and in the classroom learned to sort silkworm larvae, destroying inferior specimens. Dog breeders of the Third Reich engaged in mad selection, trying to create the perfect German dog. With the image of the noble deer, a picture of the pristine 'German forest' was created — while the deer themselves were subjected to crazy hunting drives by Hermann Göring. Jan Monhaupt explores the lesser-known pages of the history of the Third Reich, analyzing the role of animals in the everyday life and ideology of the Nazi dictatorship. Based on materials from diaries, specialized magazines, school textbooks, and propaganda materials, Monhaupt has created a report full of vivid details about animals: from Berlin salons to the Eastern Front. The book clearly shows that the worldview of National Socialism is also manifested in its attitude towards animals.