Page "Albert Leo Schlageter" Paragraph 11

After 1933 Schlageter became one of the principal heroes of the Nazi regime.

Hanns Johst, the Nazi playwright, wrote Schlageter ( 1933 ), a heroic drama about his life.

It was dedicated to Hitler, and was performed on his first birthday in power as a theatrical manifesto of Nazism.

The line " when I hear the word culture, I reach for my gun ", often misattributed to Nazi leaders, derives from this play.

The original line is slightly different: " Wenn ich Kultur höre ... entsichere ich meinen Browning ," " Whenever I hear of culture ...

I release the safety-catch of my Browning!

" ( Act 1, Scene 1 ).

It is spoken by another character in conversation with the young Schlageter.