NAZIS AND NUDISM: "DEIN JA ZUM LEIBE!"

NAZIS AND NUDISM: "DEIN JA ZUM LEIBE!"
Rare book "Dein Ja zum Leibe! Sinn und Gestaltung Deutscher Leibeszucht" ("Your Yes to the Body! Meaning and Creation of the German-Bred Body") by Hermann Wilke (Berlin: Emil Wernitz & Co.), First Edition, 1939, 190pp. 8vo. in original dust jacket. An excessively rare and very fine copy of this study of German nudism, or "naturism", singing its praises and copiously illustrated. One sticker applied to bottom of dust jacket. By a decree of March 3, 1933, Goering prohibited any nude bathing or other such activity, with the full approval of Pope Pius XI. Several adherents were are imprisoned, others deported. In 1935, however, naturists were again authorized to practice provided the agreed to full support the Nazi cause. Thus by adopting the principles of racial selection, the naturists helped propagate of the Nazis' ideals. with the full support of the SS, in 1942 the regime legalized the practice.