Lot 874

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Description:

THE FILE OF NAZI EUGENICIST DR. LUDWIG FERDINAND CLAUSS, CONDEMNED AND HONORED FOR SAVING A JEW
"CLAUSS HAD A WORK RELATIONSHIP WITH THE JERWESS LANDE..." Incredible archive of anti-Semitic eugenicist Dr. Ludwig Ferdinand Clauss (1892-1974), a German psychologist and an influential Nazi-era racial theorist. Clauss developed the physiognomic-mimetic method, based on the assumption that both "pure" and "mixed breeds" have their own "type-forming" expression. Clauss is considered by many to be the "real founder" of racial theology and one of the "fathers of Nazi racism". Ironically, he lost his teaching position in 1943 when it was discovered he had taken a Jewish student and assistant as a lover. He hid the woman from capture until after the war. Important grouping of three court-related documents concerning Clauss'' expulsion from the NSDAP for breaking the anti-Jewish Nuremberg Laws in his protection of lover Margaret Lande. Included is MARTIN BORMANN T.L.S. on his NSDAP letterhead, 2pp. 4to., Munich, [n.p.], Dec. 16, 1942 to the NSDAP court in Munich. Bormann orders: "...preliminary discussions...came to the conclusion that Clauss had a work relationship with the Jewess Lande for over 22 years...that exceeded any scientific teamwork and became a personal relationship...this fact was hidden by Clauss for many years...he carries the responsibility that the Jew that was living with him was not counted...was not marked as such, and was not brought to the attention of the police...[his] attitude is euqla to an act of sabotage against the Nuremberg Laws...his statement if he had to choose between State and Party on one side and the Jew Lande on the other, he would continue [with her]...which makes his stand clear...Dr. Clauss cannot continue to be a party member...I order...he be excluded from the party...no long court case is necessary...". The second document is from the court in Nuremberg and sent to the Treasury of the NSDAP, 2pp. 4to., [ca. Feb. 15, 1943], signed by a court official. It states that the court had determined that Clauss will be expelled from the NSDAP, and a notation at bottom states that Bormann had signed the requirted order. It is accompanied by a 6pp. 4to. court-issued statement setting forth the court''s reasoning for its decision. This unsigned copy described the entire history of Clauss'' relationship with Lande, including their pre-war trip to Palestine, his illicit provision to her of food and housing, the hiding of Lande''s religious background from authorities with the assistance of Clauss, corroborating evidence given by Clauss'' ex-wife, etc. The last document is another document from the court to the Nazi Treasury asking that Clauss be reimbursed for his expenses in attending his own trial...which he was. Also present is a copy of Clauss'' "scientific" work, "Rasse und Seele" ("Race and Soul"), (Berlin: Buchergild Gutenberg), 1939. 196pp. 8vo. with multiple photo illustrations, a study of various races and eugenics with the obligatory photos of "typical" Jews, as one would expect. Incredibly, for the rescue of Margarete Landé (and ignorant of his role in national socialism), Clauss was posthumously honored by the State of Israel as a "righteous among the peoples" in 1979. After his entanglements became known, the honor was withdrawn in 1996.

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September 14, 2017 11:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

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