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A History of the Münster Anabaptists: Inner Emigration and the Third Reich; A Critical Edition of Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen's Bockelson: A Tale of Mass Insanity
A defining work in the "Inner Emigration" literary movement, Friedrich Reck-Malleczewen's History of the Münster Anabaptists was written in 1937 as a criticism of the Nazi regime. This English translation includes documents, scholarly essays, and a detailed introduction.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2008
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April 4, 2016
During the years of the Third Reich, many anti-Nazis stayed in Germany. Under the totalitarian regime, anti-Nazi sentiments were inexpressable on pain of execution. Therefore, anti-Nazi writers and artists went into "Innere Emigration." They continued to write and create, and their work reflected and commented on the Hitler regime. But they had to disguise what they were doing.
Reck's "History of the Münster Anabaptists" is a fascinating account of the uprising and subsequent Anabaptist totalitarian dictatorship in Münster of 1534-35. Such fanaticisms as knocking down all the church steeples so as to level the buildings equally, presaged Stalinism and Hitlerism.
But because of the nature of Innere Emigration, there is another layer. Jan Bockelson, "King of Münster" is clearly a representation of Hitler. As a historical record of the Münster rebellion, Reck's work lacks academic rigour; but as a contempory commentary on the Third Reich, it is startling.
Interestingly, Jan Bockelson was also known as John Lydon (Jan van Leiden,) and his prophet was called Johnny Mathis (Jan Matthys.)
Reck's "History of the Münster Anabaptists" is a fascinating account of the uprising and subsequent Anabaptist totalitarian dictatorship in Münster of 1534-35. Such fanaticisms as knocking down all the church steeples so as to level the buildings equally, presaged Stalinism and Hitlerism.
But because of the nature of Innere Emigration, there is another layer. Jan Bockelson, "King of Münster" is clearly a representation of Hitler. As a historical record of the Münster rebellion, Reck's work lacks academic rigour; but as a contempory commentary on the Third Reich, it is startling.
Interestingly, Jan Bockelson was also known as John Lydon (Jan van Leiden,) and his prophet was called Johnny Mathis (Jan Matthys.)
February 15, 2018
Horror upon horror....society is unrecognizable...mores are adjusted due to the leaders whim...up is down down is up...group psychosis ...the loss of the traditional values of right and wrong. Loyalty to evil leaves no escape valve for those that opt in. The author makes subtle similarities of the experience in Munster in the 1530 s and Germany in the 1930's. Very courageous man who almost made it through the war but the Gestapo got to him. The author so compared the situation to the French Revolution....yes indeed Munster foreshadowed many evil revolutions ( including Communism). Great refence material
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews