Hitler's American Model : The United States and the Making of Nazi Race Law

**How American race law provided a blueprint for Nazi Germany** Nazism triumphed in Germany during the high era of Jim Crow laws in the United States. Did the American regime of racial oppression in any way inspire the Nazis? The unsettling answer is yes. In __Hitler's American Model__, James Whitman presents a detailed investigation of the American impact on the notorious Nuremberg Laws, the centerpiece anti-Jewish legislation of the Nazi regime. Contrary to those who have insisted that there was no meaningful connection between American and German racial repression, Whitman demonstrates that the Nazis took a real, sustained, significant, and revealing interest in American race policies. As Whitman shows, the Nuremberg Laws were crafted in an atmosphere of considerable attention to the precedents American race laws had to offer. German praise for American practices, already found in Hitler's __Mein Kampf__, was continuous throughout the early 1930s, and the most radical Nazi lawyers were eager advocates of the use of American models. But while Jim Crow segregation was one aspect of American law that appealed to Nazi radicals, it was not the most consequential one. Rather, both American citizenship and antimiscegenation laws proved directly relevant to the two principal Nuremberg Laws—the Citizenship Law and the Blood Law. Whitman looks at the ultimate, ugly irony that when Nazis rejected American practices, it was sometimes not because they found them too enlightened, but too harsh. Indelibly linking American race laws to the shaping of Nazi policies in Germany, __Hitler's American Model__ upends understandings of America's influence on racist practices in the wider world. Nazism Triumphed In Germany During The High Era Of Jim Crow Laws In The United States. Did The American Regime Of Racial Oppression In Any Way Inspire The Nazis? The Unsettling Answer Is Yes. In Hitler's American Model, James Whitman Presents A Detailed Investigation Of The American Impact On The Notorious Nuremberg Laws, The Centerpiece Anti-jewish Legislation Of The Nazi Regime. Contrary To Those Who Have Insisted That There Was No Meaningful Connection Between American And German Racial Repression, Whitman Demonstrates That The Nazis Took A Real, Sustained, Significant, And Revealing Interest In American Race Policies. As Whitman Shows, The Nuremberg Laws Were Crafted In An Atmosphere Of Considerable Attention To The Precedents American Race Laws Had To Offer. German Praise For American Practices, Already Found In Hitler's Mein Kampf, Was Continuous Throughout The Early 1930s, And The Most Radical Nazi Lawyers Were Eager Advocates Of The Use Of American Models. But While Jim Crow Segregation Was One Aspect Of American Law That Appealed To Nazi Radicals, It Was Not The Most Consequential One. Rather, Both American Citizenship And Anti-miscegenation Laws Proved Directly Relevant To The Two Principal Nuremberg Laws--the Citizenship Law And The Blood Law. Whitman Looks At The Ultimate, Ugly Irony That When Nazis Rejected American Practices, It Was Sometimes Not Because They Found Them Too Enlightened, But Too Harsh. Indelibly Linking American Race Laws To The Shaping Of Nazi Policies In Germany, Hitler's American Model Upends Understandings Of America's Influence On Racist Practices In The Wider World. -- Provided By Publisher. Making Nazi Flags And Nazi Citizens. The First Nuremberg Law: Of New York Jews And Nazi Flags ; The Second Nuremberg Law: Making Nazi Citizens ; America: The Global Leader In Racist Immigration Law ; American Second-class Citizenship -- The Nazis Pick Up The Thread ; Toward The Citizenship Law: Nazi Politics In The Early 1930s ; The Nazis Look To American Second-class Citizenship -- Protecting Nazi Blood And Nazi Honor. Toward The Blood Law: Battles In The Streets And The Ministries ; Battles In The Streets: The Call For Unambiguous Laws ; Battles In The Ministries: The Prussian Memorandum And The America Example ; Conservative Juristic Resistance: Gürtner And Lösener ; The Meeting Of June 5, 1934 ; The Sources Of Nazi Knowledge Of American Law ; Evaluating American Influence ; Defining Mongrels: The One-drop Rule And The Limits Of American Influence -- America Through Nazi Eyes. America's Place In The Global History Of Racism ; Nazism And American Legal Culture. James Q. Whitman. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 163-200) And Index. How American race law provided a blueprint for Nazi Germany. Nazism triumphed in Germany during the high era of Jim Crow laws in the United States. Did the American regime of racial oppression in any way inspire the Nazis? The unsettling answer is yes. In Hitler's American Model, James Whitman presents a detailed investigation of the American impact on the notorious Nuremberg Laws, the centerpiece anti-Jewish legislation of the Nazi regime. Contrary to those who have insisted that there was no meaningful connection between American and German racial repression, Whitman demonstrates that the Nazis took a real, sustained, significant, and revealing interest in American race policies. As Whitman shows, the Nuremberg Laws were crafted in an atmosphere of considerable attention to the precedents American race laws had to offer. German praise for American practices, already found in Hitler's Mein Kampf, was continuous throughout the early 1930s, and the most radical Nazi lawyers were eager advocates of the use of American models. But while Jim Crow segregation was one aspect of American law that appealed to Nazi radicals, it was not the most consequential one. Rather, both American citizenship and anti-miscegenation laws proved directly relevant to the two principal Nuremberg Laws--the Citizenship Law and the Blood Law. Whitman looks at the ultimate, ugly irony that when Nazis rejected American practices, it was sometimes not because they found them too enlightened, but too harsh. Indelibly linking American race laws to the shaping of Nazi policies in Germany, Hitler's American Model upends understandings of America's influence on racist practices in the wider world. - Jacket. Nazism triumphed in Germany during the high era of Jim Crow laws in the United States. Did the American regime of racial oppression in any way inspire the Nazis? The unsettling answer is yes. The author presents an investigation of the American impact on the notorious Nuremberg Laws, the centerpiece anti-Jewish legislation of the Nazi regime. Contrary to those who have insisted that there was no meaningful connection between American and German racial repression, the author demonstrates that the Nazis took a real, sustained, significant, and revealing interest in American race policies. The Nuremberg Laws were crafted in an atmosphere of considerable attention to the precedents American race laws had to offer. German praise for American practices, already found in Hitler's Mein Kampf, was continuous throughout the early 1930s, and the most radical Nazi lawyers were eager advocates of the use of American models. But while Jim Crow segregation was one aspect of American law that appealed to Nazi radicals, it was not the most consequential one. Rather, both American citizenship and anti-miscegenation laws proved directly relevant to the two principal Nuremberg Laws - the Citizenship Law and the Blood Law. The author looks at the ultimate, ugly irony that when Nazis rejected American practices, it was sometimes not because they found them too enlightened, but too harsh. Indelibly linking American race laws to the shaping of Nazi policies in Germany, this book upends understandings of America's influence on racist practices in the wider world.--adapted from jacket description Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 2 Title - Complete......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 CONTENTS......Page 8 A Note on Translations......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 CHAPTER 1 Making Nazi Flags and Nazi Citizens......Page 30 The First Nuremberg Law: Of New York Jews and Nazi Flags......Page 32 The Second Nuremberg Law: Making Nazi Citizens......Page 42 America: The Global Leader in Racist Immigration Law......Page 47 American Second-Class Citizenship......Page 50 The Nazis Pick Up the Thread......Page 56 Toward the Citizenship Law: Nazi Politics in the Early 1930s......Page 61 The Nazis Look to American Second-Class Citizenship......Page 72 Conclusion......Page 82 CHAPTER 2 Protecting Nazi Blood and Nazi Honor......Page 86 Battles in the Streets: The Call for “Unambiguous Laws”......Page 94 Battles in the Ministries: The Prussian Memorandum and the American Example......Page 96 Conservative Juristic Resistance: Gürtner and Lösener......Page 100 The Meeting of June 5, 1934......Page 106 The Sources of Nazi Knowledge of American Law......Page 126 Evaluating American Influence......Page 137 Defining “Mongrels”: The One-Drop Rule and the Limits of American Influence......Page 140 CONCLUSION America through Nazi Eyes......Page 145 America’s Place in the Global History of Racism......Page 150 Nazism and American Legal Culture......Page 159 Acknowledgments......Page 176 Notes......Page 178 Suggestions for Further Reading......Page 210 Index......Page 214 Chapter one : Making Nazi flags and Nazi citizens. The first Nuremberg law: of New York Jews and Nazi flags The second Nuremberg law: making Nazi citizens America: the global leader in racist immigration law American second-class citizenship The Nazis pick up the thread Toward the citizenship law: Nazi politics in the early 1930s The Nazis look to American second-class citizenship Chapter two : Protecting Nazi blood and Nazi honor. Toward the blood law: battles in the streets and the ministries Battles in the streets: the call for "unambiguous laws" Battles in the ministries: the Prussian memorandum and the America example Conservative juristic resistance: Gürtner and Lösener The meeting of June 5, 1934 The sources of Nazi knowledge of American law Evaluating American influence Defining "mongrels": the one-drop rule and the limits of American influence Conclusion : America through Nazi eyes. America's place in the global history of racism Nazism and American legal culture It is a curiosity to pick up the New York Times for September 16, 1935.