It’s wonderful how American soldiers carry a Bible in their pocket followed by a family photo. They can go to battle and rejoice in glory or just get out of any fight and they will always blame the result on their holy book. However, during World War II to mention anything related to religion could mean death. Therefore, almost casually, the German army adopted as a philosophy of life and religion Thus Spoke Zarathustra of Friedrich Nietzsche.
It is not strange to us to have a book that represents a treasure for some teaching or sentimental meaning, but in the case of the army led by Adolf Hitler, the book had a completely different connotation.
In the book, Nietzsche introduces Zarathustra, his alter ego, a prophet whose intention is to reflect on morals and beliefs, which are completely personal. But beyond that, he does not intend to provide real teachings or morals, he only hopes to show his reality, which does not include imposed cults or religions, only freedom of choice.
This was questioned by critics since in reality it cannot be interpreted with simple reading, there must be a whole investigation behind the work of the philosopher to understand it.
The book emphasizes the “super-man”, which results from the evolution of the common man. He is someone who does not exist yet, but that the rest of humanity wants (and must) make possible. Hitler and the army had a similar idea, that is, that someone superior existed. In this case, they were referring to themselves.
The National Socialism followers considered themselves superior, a race that was better than others and whose physical and mental characteristics should predominate in the world and therefore, they were willing to do everything to achieve it. So after reading Nietzsche’s novel, they had no qualms about identifying with the idea of superman.
That is why, after making a simplistic reading of Thus Spoke Zarathustra, without soaking up more of the philosopher’s ideas, they quickly associated his ideals with the terse concept of the novel.
Almost immediately, everyone identified with the concept mistakenly thinking that they would dominate the world with their superiority. So, with this idea, they dedicated themselves to spreading hatred in the world, but they needed something more, something that would help them keep the idea present.
Hitler had the solution: carry Nietzsche’s novel with him at all times. It was then that a fashion designer named Hugo Boss joined the party. He was the solution.
When the Führer saw Boss’s creations he did not hesitate to entrust him with the making of the million and a half uniforms that his men would wear in the following years, but he had a much more precise order that he would give him a few years later.
Once the invasion of Poland began, Hugo Boss bought a factory that made him the owner of the second-largest textile company in Germany, and with this, he managed to make each and every one of the uniforms; However, Hitler disagreed entirely, since he needed to save money to invest in weapons and war strategists.
He entrusted the designer to make cheaper suits and uniforms and with a detail that for many could be insignificant, although, in the opinion of the leader, it was what broke with everything, what would end up forming the Nazi image: a pocket.
This was not just any detail, it was specifically aimed at keeping his “manual” close to the heart, that is, Thus Spoke Zarathustra.
The book was published in a pocket version, therefore the attachment was the perfect size for the novel to accompany them in battles, in camp, and when they slept.
The army took it with good spirits and took possession of the pocket, since the book was almost sacred, it was impossible not to feel the heartbeat when it was close.
Hugo Boss shared critical thinking, but he also had the prevailing need to fight against the inhuman side of Hitler and those close to him.
However, the money was more and more and the license that the Führer gave him was greater. So the designer did not hesitate for a second to stay in the game to present new models of suits and uniforms until the war ended.
At the end of the war, Boss had to pay a very high bail and switched the business of military uniforms for that of simple, but satisfactory, work suits for factories.
