In the spring of 1933, shortly after Adolf Hitler became Chancellor , the Nazi Party initiated a campaign against what they perceived as detrimental literature. This included books authored by Jews, communists, and other voices that contradicted their ideology. On the evening of May 10, large-scale public book burning events occurred in numerous cities, notably Berlin, where crowds gathered to witness the destruction of 'un-German' literature. The event was heavily publicized, with students from universities participating, many marching with torches to the pyres where books were set ablaze.

The books that were targeted ranged from classic works of literature by authors such as Franz Kafka and Berthold Brecht to scientific and political texts. The organized burnings symbolized the Nazis' broader attempts to control culture and eliminate dissent in Germany. Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda, justified the actions as a means to cleanse German culture and asserted a need to uphold Aryan values against perceived moral decline.

The event was not just an attack on literature but marked the beginning of a systematic strategy to promote conformity and suppress any ideas that challenged Nazi doctrine. The burnings were accompanied by speeches that stirred nationalistic fervor and celebrated the supposed purity of Aryan culture. This cultural purge had far-reaching implications, setting a precedent for the escalating censorship and oppression to follow in Nazi Germany.