Abstract
This paper examines the use of animal symbolism in Nazi propaganda as a tool to dehumanize Jewish individuals and facilitate the Holocaust. Through an analysis of propaganda posters, films, and literature, it highlights how Jews were consistently depicted as animals such as rats, cockroaches, and monkeys—symbols associated with filth, disease, and inferiority. These portrayals, often reinforced by explicit textual messages, stripped Jews of their humanity and encouraged widespread acceptance of their persecution and extermination.
By exploring the methods, extent, and consequences of this dehumanizing propaganda, the paper sheds light on the critical role of animal symbolism in shaping public perception and enabling genocide. It contextualizes these tactics within historical uses of animalization to justify systemic oppression and concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding and addressing the dangers of such symbolism to prevent similar atrocities in the future.
Recommended Citation
Frogner, Filippa V..
"A Deep Dive into the Nazis’ Animal World: Facilitating the Holocaust through Symbolization."
The Downtown Review.
Vol. 11.
Iss.
1
(2025)
.
Available at:
https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/tdr/vol11/iss1/3
