Research Paper On Ohpa Europa

Germanness during the Third Reich, defined by its “social outsiders”, equated Hitler’s notion of the German identity; a threat against Germany’s way of life. Often, anyone that posed a dangerous opposition to the ideal Aryan race of “hard work, cleanliness, and sobriety” (Gellately pg. 56), befell hardship. Nevertheless, groups of “social outsiders”, the Jews or those “who could not follow dominate social values” (Gellately pg. 56), shaped Hitler’s dream of cultural unity. Therefore, constructed through the meaning of what it meant to be un-German, the German identity inadvertently included “social outsiders”. For example, groups of contrasting race/religious affiliations ( the irony of the German identity portrayed in Europa Europa meant
to be exclusive, was actually inclusive), unnatural sexual orientations ( the taboo of homosexuality virtually un-German; yet, the lesbian relationship between Aimee & Jaguar prevails amongst German society), and political resisters ( specifically, the actions of the KPD were un-German) helped shape Hitler’s notion of the German identity norms.
The film, Europa Europa, connects the paradoxical description between the German identity and the race/religion of persons.
Due to the broad understanding of the German identity, Solly; a German Jew, was able to hide amongst several other identities during WWII. First, since he is able to speak Russian, the Soviets failed to recognize his true heritage, and, therefore, assimilate him into Komsomol, the youth “communist school” (film). Thus, the German identity excludes Russian speakers; therefore, Solly is included within Soviet society. Next, after he is accidently left behind by other Russian boys, he is anointed a “good luck charm” (film) by German officers for translating Russian into German. Yet, because Solly was useful to the Nazis and claimed to be “full bred German” (film), he is integrated into the German army, even though the German identity excludes Russian speakers. Then, in a moment of “wanting to be with his own kind”(film) he is hailed a “hero” (film)for “recklessly” discovering the enemy. As a result, Solly proved helpful to the Germans, although the German identity prohibits traitors. Also, once integrated into the German army he attends a youth classroom with the objective of “who is a Jew”(film). Interestingly, the teacher measures Solly’s nose, chin, skull, and eye color to prove to the class “Nordic blood is the most beautiful”(film) however; unbeknownst to them, he is a Jew. Therefore, even though the German identity, defined by what it was not (Jewish), meant to be exlusive, was actually inclusive. In sum, Hitler’s notion of the German identity was defined by non-Jewish ancestry, a group of “social
outsiders”.