Dictating Art: The Nazi Regimentation of Culture

Once in power, the Nazi government not only transformed the German state from a democracy to a dictatorship, they also took control of cultural institutions and began to dictate art and artistic expression. This control took the form of promoting Nazi sanctioned German art as well as condemning, seizing, and in some cases destroying existing art they considered to be un-Germany. This presentation will look at the art they attacked, the methods they used, and the lessons we can learn from this authoritarian destruction of culture.