DEAR AMERICA, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WAKE UP?

Hitler emphasized that art must serve the state and reflect the “eternal values” of the Aryan race. 

In many speeches, Hitler framed museums as battlegrounds for cultural supremacy, urging the public to reject “Bolshevist” and “Jewish” influences in favor of art that glorified Germany.

 

Recent news reports indicate that President Trump is taking steps to influence the Smithsonian Institution, aiming to align its portrayal of American history with his administration's vision. 

In addition, the Trump administration plans to review all exhibits and materials from the National Museum of American History to ensure they align with Trump's "interpretation of American history"

Specifically:

• An executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" was signed by President Trump in March 2025. This order accuses the Smithsonian Institution of being swayed by "divisive, race-centered ideology" and seeks to eliminate what it terms "anti-American ideology" from its museums, educational and research centers, and even the National Zoo.
• The order directs the Vice President (currently JD Vance), who is a member of the Smithsonian Board of Regents, to work to eliminate such ideologies from the institution. It also calls for the Vice President to work with Congress to potentially block appropriations for exhibitions and programs deemed inconsistent with the administration's anti-DEI initiatives.
• A White House review of Smithsonian museums has been launched to ensure alignment with President Trump's views on American history, aiming to promote "American exceptionalism" and remove "divisive or partisan narratives". The Wall Street Journal reported that top White House officials will scrutinize exhibitions, internal processes, collections, and artist grants.
• In response to the March executive order, the Smithsonian closed its diversity office.
• The Smithsonian has stated its commitment to operating "free of partisanship" and maintaining its nonpartisan status. In a June statement, the Board of Regents emphasized the institution's independence and the authority of its Secretary, Lonnie G. Bunch, in making personnel decisions, amid reports of President Trump attempting to fire a museum director.
• An exhibit referencing President Trump's impeachments was temporarily removed from the National Museum of American History but was later stated to be restored and updated to include all presidential impeachments.
• Critics argue that these actions represent political interference in the practice of history and an attack on the autonomy and integrity of cultural institutions, potentially suppressing a comprehensive understanding of American history, including narratives related to people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women.

Hitler and the Nazi regime actively sought to control and impose their version of German history on historians and the public.

 Hitler and the Nazi regime actively sought to control and impose their version of German history on historians and the public. 

Here's how they did it

• Censorship and Propaganda: The Nazi Party, through its Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda led by Joseph Goebbels, implemented strict censorship of all media, including historical works. Books that contradicted Nazi ideology or were written by Jewish authors or other "undesirables" were banned and burned.
• Controlling the Narrative: The Nazis promoted a historical narrative that glorified German nationalism, Aryan supremacy, and the regime's actions, while demonizing enemies like Jewish people and communists. Textbooks were rewritten to reflect these narratives, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia.
• Intimidation and Coercion: Historians who resisted or refused to align with the Nazi version of history faced severe consequences, including job loss, imprisonment, or even death. 

This control over historical narratives aimed to indoctrinate the German populace and ensure unwavering support for the Nazi regime and its policies. 

 Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime actively sought to control and shape the narrative of German history, forcing their version of events and interpretations on historians and the general population. 

Here's how they did it:

• Purges and control of universities: The Nazis purged universities and research institutions of Jewish and "politically undesirable" professors, according to Facing History & Ourselves. They overhauled curricula to emphasize Nazi ideology, according to Congress.gov.
• Nazi Student Groups: Nazi student organizations like the National Socialist German Students' League played a key role in monitoring faculty, according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia, denouncing those who didn't conform, and disseminating Nazi ideology within universities.
• Rewriting History to Support Ideology: The Nazis actively used historical research, particularly in fields like archaeology, to promote their claims of Aryan superiority and nationalistic fervor.
• Propaganda: The Nazi regime, through Joseph Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, exercised widespread control over all forms of media, arts, and communication to shape public opinion and behavior, according to EBSCO. They used propaganda to scapegoat groups like Jews and Communists, promoting lies and misinformation to justify their actions. 

The Nazi regime's efforts drastically impacted the intellectual landscape of Germany, with consequences felt for decades after the war.