Animal law in the Third Reich

Book excerpt: What do National Socialism and animal law have in common? Indeed, when talking about animal welfare and species conservation, one cannot overlook the fact that the laws emanated in the Third Reich were amongst the first to regulate these matters in a structured and unified manner. For obvious reasons, though, the topic of animal protection in Nazi Germany has been overshadowed by the human tragedy, which occurred in this period of history. How could the Nazis have been concerned about animals whilst perpetrating appalling acts against humans? It would be easy to dismiss their benevolent disposition toward animals as hypocritical. Nevertheless, several associations can be made between the German attitudes towards nature, the Nazi ideological and behavioural dynamics, and the subsequent provisions. Undoubtedly, the question on the authenticity of the motivations behind the Nazi animal welfare and protection movement is difficult to answer. However, there are enough references to give some indication as to their true intentions: to create a progressive legislative framework or a legal veil for propaganda? From German Romanticism to anti-Semitism, this book bridges the gap between two seemingly unrelated topics.