User:Dog in real life/Choose an Article

Article Selection

Please list articles that you're considering for your Wikipedia assignment below. Begin to critique these articles and find relevant sources.

Option 1

Article title

S.A.-Mann Brand

Article Evaluation

An overall lacking article that would benefit from expansion on the plot and the addition of character breakdowns, themes, Nazi reactions to the film — particularly Joseph Goebbels’ — and the context and setting the film was produced in, most notably the concerted effort to portray the SA in a favourable light as orderly and controlled as opposed to their colloquial reputation as brawling street thugs; the theme of dedicated and loyal SA members murdered by communists following Horst Wessel; and depictions of communists as dishonourable and conniving enemies.

Sources

Kater, Michael H. Culture in Nazi Germany. Yale University Press, 2020.

Longerich, Peter. Goebbels: Biography. Siedler Verlag, 2015.

Option 2

Article title

Herta Oberheuser

Article Evaluation

The article is fairly barren and, most notably, is missing key information from recent literature. “War crimes” should be expanded to include a more detailed review of Oberheuser’s crimes, specifically her guilt in murdering children to remove their organs and limbs. (Fulbrook, 220) Under “Trial”, I would include the timeline of Oberheuser’s sentencing, where she was initially given a twenty-year prison sentence, which was reduced to ten years in 1951, and finally, in 1952, she was released for good behaviour. (Fulbrook, 220) It may also be of relevance to include the fact that Oberheuser’s perplexing escape of justice reflects a broader trend in the immediate post-war trials that saw many perpetrators similar to Oberheuser get off with light sentencing or early release for good behaviour.

Sources

Fulbrook, Mary. Reckonings: Legacies of Nazi Persecution and the Quest for Justice. Oxford University Press, 2018.

Option 3

Article title

Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen

Article Evaluation

A robust and well-detailed article, but I take issue with the wording surrounding the Luftwaffe’s implications in Nazi atrocities throughout World War I, notably in the lead section where the Luftwaffe is said to hold only “partial responsibility” for the mistreatment of Soviet POWs. In “War crimes analysis”, phrasing such as “Richthofen is often regarded as a war criminal” and “[sensationalist]” press coverings seem to inherently discredit such ‘sensationalist’ theories that are, much to the contrary, well-supported and documented by historians. Further, much of Richthofen’s culpability and guilt rests upon a single analysis by James Corum, making the page vulnerable to bias. The article and select sections as mentioned above would benefit from rearranging to introduce Richthofen’s responsibility in Nazi atrocities first, followed by historians’ arguments against the fact rather than the reverse; doing so freely establishes Richthofen’s undeniable and established guilt first and foremost.

Sources

Fulbrook, Mary. Reckonings: Legacies of Nazi Persecution and the Quest for Justice. Oxford University Press, 2018.

Option 4

Article title

Der Pimpf

Article Evaluation

A short and barren article that would benefit greatly from expansion regarding the magazine’s history, publishing, content, and audience, to name a few. Der Pimpf is intimately tied to the Nazi youth movement, which would allow readers a broader scope of both topics. There are several angles that I could focus on with this expansion, particularly its content and the message that it sent to its audiences in conversation with secondary literature. While there are few references that I have to contribute, there is much to be taken from the ones already cited; someone just needs to come in and do so.

Sources

Legate, Jean-Denis G.G.. Hitler Youth 1922-1945: An Illustrated History. McFarland & Company, Inc., 2008.

Option 5

Article title

Ideology of the SS

Article Evaluation

Overall a detailed and well-crafted article regarding the ideology of the SS, from its culture of violence, opinions on race and religion, and its involvement in Nazi atrocities. However, I feel that the article would benefit from a gendered lens, given recent literature on masculinity in the SS and its pervasive nature in creating the ideal Nazi man. Doing so offers the reader a broader take on the topic and introduces them to topics and literature that is often left out of the discussion. Under “Indoctrination”, there should be a nod towards the role of the HJ as a breeding ground for ideal SS officers and soldiers: Admittedly, there is mention of the Hitler-Jugend Landdienst, but this ignores the fact that the SS regularly looked to the SS for possible members. Moreover, there is mention of “special high schools” under the SS, which should be expanded upon, most notably their emphasis on physical fitness over academics and their eventual failure. I also believe the article would benefit from some minor restructuring for clarity’s sake, such as creating subsections for the Lebensborn program and the Ahnenerbe institute.

Sources

Legate, Jean-Denis G.G.. Hitler Youth 1922-1945: An Illustrated History. McFarland & Company, Inc., 2008.

Kater, Michael H. Hitler Youth. Harvard University Press, 2004.