Human Zoo: Hitler abolished it!

The other night, while I was casually scrolling through Instagram, I stumbled upon a post from @africanarchives that totally blew my mind. It was one of those discoveries that flips everything you thought you knew about history on its head: Apparently, Adolf Hitler was the first European leader to ban human zoos. Yes, the same Hitler we associate with horrific human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing.

Before you start wondering—no, I’m not trying to justify or downplay Hitler’s actions. This article isn’t about that at all. This tidbit just left me baffled. How could someone so infamous for his hatred be responsible for ending such a dehumanizing practice? Naturally, my curiosity got the better of me, and I had to dig deeper into the dark history of human zoos.

The First Human Zoo in Germany

Did you know the first human zoo in Germany was opened in 1874 by Carl Hagenbeck in Hamburg? Hagenbeck was an animal trader known for his exotic animal shows. He brought people from their home countries to Europe to display them alongside animals. These „Völkerschauen“ were super popular back then and drew huge crowds. They mirrored the colonial attitudes of the time and helped reinforce stereotypes.

The Last Human Zoo in Germany

The last human zoo in Germany took place in 1931 in Stuttgart. It was part of a colonial exhibition showcasing people from various parts of the world in „authentic“ settings. But gradually, awareness of the inhumanity of such shows started to grow.

The Complexity of Historical Figures

In the early 20th century, human zoos were really popular all over Europe. And then I found out they were supposedly banned during Hitler’s rule. This fact is nestled in the often contradictory aspects of history that challenge our understanding of morality and leadership.

I think it shows how complex historical figures can be. Hitler’s decision to ban human zoos might superficially seem like a step towards humanity, but it was probably driven by his twisted ideologies. His regime had a sick notion of racial purity and superiority, and the ban might have been just a tactic to emphasize his ideals, not out of genuine humanity.

This discovery serves as a reminder of how layered history and the people who shape it can be. It’s crucial to view historical events and figures through a nuanced lens and recognize that actions, even when they seem positive, could be rooted in darker motivations.

As I keep scrolling through my social media feeds, I find myself questioning the historical snippets that pop up more intensely. Every fact, every story is a thread in our shared tapestry of history, as complex and contradictory as the people who lived it. And maybe through such reflections, we can better understand the complexities of our present world.

What do you think about this topic? Can you imagine the reasons behind the ban on human zoos, and do you believe it actually happened?