Arbeit und ... Ideologie

Book presentation with Nikolas Lelle.

"Work makes you free" - hardly any other sentence is so paradigmatic of the Nazis' work ideology. Their concept of work suggests that there were different types of work: On the one hand, that of the propaganda machinery of "German work", which was characterized by instruments such as "Strength through Joy" or the "German Labour Front", founded on 10 May 1933. On the other hand, the work that was imposed on the inmates of concentration camps and forced laborers. But what does the concept of "German labor" encompass? What is this idea based on? How has it endured? And how should we understand the inscription that could be read from the outside on the camp gates of Auschwitz, Dachau, Sachsenhausen and elsewhere?

Nikolas Lelle takes a look at the manifestations and legacy of the National Socialist ideology of work. The event is part of the Arbeit und series, which is taking place in preparation for the opening of the nsdoku Neuaubing, which is being built on the site of a former forced labor camp.

Nikolas Lelle, philosopher and sociologist, deals intensively with the National Socialists' concept of work. Following his much-discussed dissertation "Arbeit, Dienst und Führung. National Socialism and its legacy" (2022), "'Arbeit macht frei'. Approaches to a Nazi motto". He has also worked at the Amadeu Antonio Foundation since 2020.

Moderation: Manon Haase is part of the project team for nsdoku Neuaubing and deals with museum and performative practices of remembrance.

Participation free of charge. No registration necessary. Further information at nsdoku.de/program.