The Aryan Race

Aryan

1) ancient Aryan people- people speaking an Indo-European language who invaded northern India in the second millennium (BCE) 2) 'Master Race' created by Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany: referring to someone fair skinned, with blonde hair and blue eyes. (People of his race were considered more valuable to society)

Gobineau

A French aristocrat best remembered for developing a theory of the Aryan Master Race: this theory, depicted in multiple essays and other works, attempted to scientifically justify racism.

Untermenschen

A German term meaning 'racially inferior'. This was coined by Hitler, often in reference to Jewish Peoples, Gypsies, and Slavic Peoples.

Francis Galton

English biologist who coined the term 'eugenics', meaning 'good birth'.

August Weissmann

German biologist who published his theory of "immutable germ plasm" in 1892, which supported the idea of eugenics. Proponents of eugenics offered biological solutions to social problems by ranking groups of people from superior to inferior based off of their genetics.

'Applied biology'

Hitler deemed Nazism this, using a politically extreme variation of eugenics to establish the course of state policy during the Third Reich. (The Aryan race was the decided eugenic ideal.)

Master Race

Hitler's idea that German Aryans were the superior race.

Anti-Semitism

Hostility and/or prejudice against Jews, which existed for hundreds of years in Europe prior to the reign of Nazi Germany.

Ehre

In Germany, 'aryan' was associated with this German word, meaning 'honor' (aryan race translated to 'honorable people')

Propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view (this was often used to convince the German people of the superiority of the Aryan race, as well as the supposed inferior, useless nature of Jews, Gypsies, etc.)

Heinrich Himmler

Leading member of the Nazi party: created the Lebensborn.

Nordic Race

Of or relating to a group or physical type of the Caucasian race characterized by tall stature, long head, light skin and hair, and blue eyes.

Anglo-Saxons

People who have inhabited Great Britain from the 5th century, comprised of people from Germanic tribes who migrated to the island from continental Europe, their descendants, and indigenous British groups who adopted some aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture and language.

Dravidian

Relating to or denoting a family of languages spoken in southern India and Sri Lanka, or the peoples who speak them.

Adolf Hitler

Ruler of Nazi Germany from 1933-1945: strongly believed that those of the self deemed Aryan race were superior to peoples including Jews, and Gypsies.

Eugenics

Term coined by Francis Galton meaning 'good birth'.

Germanisation

The process by which SS officers would kidnap children of the aryan race and take them to Lebensborn centers, where they were forced to accept Nazi teachings and reject their background.

Caste System

The system in old India that seperated the people into social categories, but based mostly on color with the Aryans always on the top of the social pyramid.

Gobinism

The theory or doctrine that the white and especially the Germanic race is the superior race among human beings.

Social Darwinism

The theory that individuals, groups, and peoples are subject to the same Darwinian laws of natural selection as plants and animals. 'Survival of the fittest' ideals: used on racists terms by many members of the Nazi party.

Lebensborn

Translates to 'spring of life': relates to the project started by Heinrich Himmler, which aimed to give aryan ('racially pure') girls the opportunity to give birth in secret, at a Lebensborn center. After birth, their children would be taken away and SS officers would take charge of their upbringing.

'Mein Kampf'

A book written by Adolf Hitler, meaning 'my struggle': depicted his plan for world domination of the Master Race, and the superiority, or 'pureness' of people with features such as fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes.

Vedic Sanskrit

A branch of Indo-European language

Nomadic

A member of a people having no permanent abode, and who travel from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock.

Leaflet

A printed sheet of paper, sometimes folded, containing information or advertising and usually distributed free (often a form of propaganda to spread Nazi philosophy)

Hinduism

A religion and philosophy developed in ancient India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme being who takes many form

Raja

An Indian king or prince (origin: Hindi Sanskrit)

Essai sur l'inégalite des races humaines

An essay by Gobineau that first suggested the superiority of white people, using the 'aryans' as representation of the summit of civilization.