History & Area Studies / Thematic History / Political & Institutional History
Why Germany Once Stripped 15,000 Citizens of Honor Every Year (And What It Means Today)
In this video, we dive into Timon de Groot's groundbreaking historical study, *Citizens into Dishonored Felons: Felony Disenfranchisement, Honor, and Rehabilitation in Germany, 1806–1933*. Discover how modern Germany used a bureaucratic 'honor punishment' to strip thousands of ordinary people of their citizenship rights—not for violence, but for lies, fraud, or even political dissent. From the bizarre case of a perjury epidemic that didn't exist, to the chilling moment when Heinrich Himmler himself got furious over a legal technicality, this video reveals the hidden history of how states control identity. We explore why the working class supported disenfranchisement, how World War I shattered the system, and the unsettling parallels to today's cancel culture. Watch to understand why your rights are more fragile than you think.
Site views and watch clicks are not YouTube play counts.
Comments
Comments are reviewed before publication. Do not include private information.