When we think about Nazi Germany, we often recall the horrific human rights abuses and concentration camps like Auschwitz. But have you ever wondered about the experiences of Black people living under the Third Reich? Although there were racial laws targeting Jewish and Roma people, the small number of Africans in Germany meant they weren’t a primary focus for Hitler. One remarkable mixed-race boy, Hans Massaquoi, grew up in Germany during this time and lived to share his story. Not only did he survive, but he also had the surprising desire to join the Nazi Party. This is the incredible story of Hans Massaquoi.
Hans-Jurgen Massaquoi was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1926. His mother, Bertha Baetz, was a German nurse, and his father, Al-Haj Massaquoi, was a Liberian prince. At the time of Hans’s birth, his father was studying law in Dublin. The plan was for Bertha and Al-Haj to marry after his graduation. Bertha lived with her future father-in-law, King Momolu, who had been educated in the United States and was the first African diplomat in Germany.
Although Liberia had a president, King Momolu held a significant, albeit symbolic, position. He had several wives, a tradition in his culture, but eventually married Rachel Johnson and had children with her. Bertha and Hans were welcomed into their home.
During this period, mixed-race children in Germany faced stigma, especially those born from relationships between German women and Afro-French soldiers after World War I. Despite Germany’s economic struggles in the 1920s, the Massaquoi family was respected in Hamburg due to their royal status. However, Al-Haj left Bertha and Hans, and despite King Momolu’s threats to force a marriage, Bertha chose to raise Hans alone.
Hans grew up believing in the superiority of Black people, influenced by his family’s status and the admiration he received. He never met his father, communicating only through letters. His grandfather played a significant role in his upbringing, and Hans enjoyed a happy childhood.
When Hans was seven, King Momolu returned to Liberia, but Bertha stayed in Germany. They moved to a working-class neighborhood, where Hans befriended two boys, Fiete and Klaus. Despite facing bullying at school for his skin color, Hans excelled academically and dreamed of becoming an engineer.
At one point, Hans asked his babysitter to sew a Nazi Party patch on his sweater, not fully understanding its significance. His mother quickly removed it, explaining their family’s beliefs. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were enacted, prohibiting relationships between Aryans and Non-Aryans. Hans was classified as a “Non-Aryan,” and his mother tried to protect him from the harsh realities of these laws.
In school, Hans was taught to view Hitler as a national hero. When he turned ten, he wanted to join the Hitler Youth, but was denied due to his non-Aryan status. This exclusion was humiliating for him. Despite this, he found pride in the achievements of Black athletes like Jesse Owens during the Berlin Olympics.
As Hans grew older, he became more aware of the racial discrimination he faced. Many Afro-Germans were subjected to sterilization and other forms of persecution. Hans was protected due to his royal lineage, but he was denied higher education opportunities and faced significant barriers in pursuing his dreams.
Despite these challenges, a local blacksmith supported him by taking him on as an apprentice. He also dated a white girl, which was risky due to the Nuremberg Laws. When caught, he was fortunate to be recognized by a police officer who knew him, allowing him to avoid severe consequences.
During the war, Hans and his mother lived in hiding. After the war, he played music in nightclubs for American soldiers, which helped support them financially.
After World War II, more mixed-race children were born as American troops returned to Germany, and many of these children ended up in orphanages. In 1948, Hans’s father arranged for him to move to Liberia, but their relationship was strained. Hans eventually emigrated to the United States to pursue a college education.
He served in the Korean War before attending the University of Illinois, where he earned a journalism degree. He later worked for Jet Magazine and became the editor of Ebony Magazine. After retiring, he wrote his autobiography, “Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany,” which was later adapted into a film.
Hans Massaquoi passed away in 2013 on his birthday, at the age of 87. He was married to Katharine Rousseve Massaquoi and had two sons from a previous marriage.
Research the experiences of Afro-Germans during the Nazi regime. Create a presentation that highlights key figures, challenges they faced, and how they navigated life during this period. Share your findings with the class to foster a deeper understanding of this often-overlooked aspect of history.
Write a short story or diary entry from the perspective of Hans Massaquoi as a child in Nazi Germany. Focus on his feelings and experiences, such as his desire to join the Hitler Youth and the impact of the Nuremberg Laws. This exercise will help you empathize with his unique situation.
Participate in a debate about the impact of racial laws on different minority groups in Nazi Germany. Discuss how these laws affected Jews, Roma, and Afro-Germans differently. This will help you analyze the broader implications of discriminatory policies.
Watch the film adaptation of Hans Massaquoi’s autobiography, “Destined to Witness.” Analyze how the film portrays his life and the historical context. Discuss with your classmates how the film compares to the written account and what insights it provides into his experiences.
Create a timeline of Hans Massaquoi’s life, highlighting significant events from his early life in Germany to his later achievements in the United States. Use visuals and brief descriptions to illustrate his journey and the historical events that shaped his life.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, with sensitive content and offensive language removed or modified for appropriateness:
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When you think of Nazi Germany, you often think about the human rights abuses and the concentration camps like Auschwitz. But have you ever wondered what happened to the Black people living under the Third Reich? It turns out that even though there were racial laws demanding the extermination of Jewish and Roma people, there were so few Africans living in Germany that they were not considered one of Hitler’s main priorities. One very special mixed-race boy grew up in Germany during the Third Reich, and he lived to tell the tale. Not only did he manage to survive unscathed, but he also desperately wanted to join the Nazi Party. This is the incredible story of Hans Massaquoi.
**Early Life**
Hans-Jurgen Massaquoi was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1926. His mother, Bertha Baetz, was a German nurse, and his father, Al-Haj Massaquoi, was the prince of Liberia. When Hans was born, Al-Haj was a law student studying in Dublin. The plan was for Bertha and Al-Haj to get married after graduation, and she lived with her future father-in-law, King Momolu. King Momolu had received his education in the United States and became the first ethnically African diplomat to live and work in Germany.
Liberia had elected a president, so while the position of King was still powerful, he was more of a figurehead. King Momolu had lived with five wives, which was a tribal tradition, but he eventually married Rachel Johnson and had several children with her. They accepted Bertha and Hans into their home.
At that time, the only other mixed-race children living in Germany were referred to derogatorily due to historical context. After World War I, many German women had relationships with Afro-French soldiers, leading to the birth of mixed-race children. These children faced significant stigma, and many mothers struggled to raise them alone.
In the 1920s, Germany’s economy was struggling, but the Massaquoi family was well-respected in Hamburg due to their royal status. Unfortunately, Al-Haj abandoned Bertha and Hans, and King Momolu threatened to force Al-Haj to marry Bertha, but she did not want that. Instead, she chose to raise Hans as a single mother.
Hans grew up believing that Black people were the superior race, influenced by his family’s wealth and the admiration he received from others. He never met his father in person and communicated only through letters. His grandfather helped raise him, and he had a happy childhood.
When he was seven, King Momolu returned to Liberia, but Bertha chose to stay in Germany. They moved to a working-class neighborhood, and Hans made friends with two boys named Fiete and Klaus. Despite being bullied in school for the color of his skin, Hans excelled academically and dreamed of becoming an engineer.
At one point, Hans asked his babysitter to sew a patch on his sweater to show his support for the Nazi Party, not fully understanding its implications. His mother quickly removed it, explaining their family’s beliefs. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed, which made it illegal for Aryans and Non-Aryans to marry or have relationships. Hans was classified as a “Non-Aryan,” and his mother tried to shield him from the harsh realities of these laws.
**Hitler Youth Envy**
In school, Hans was taught about Hitler as a national hero, and when he turned ten, he wanted to join the Hitler Youth. However, he was not allowed to join due to his classification as a non-Aryan. This exclusion was a source of humiliation for him. Despite this, he found pride in the achievements of Black athletes like Jesse Owens during the Berlin Olympics.
**Teenage Years**
As Hans grew older, he learned about the discrimination he faced due to his race. Many Afro-Germans were subjected to sterilization and other forms of persecution. Fortunately, Hans was protected due to his royal lineage. He was denied opportunities for higher education and faced significant barriers in pursuing his dreams.
Despite these challenges, he found support from a local blacksmith who took him on as an apprentice. He also dated a white girl, which was risky due to the Nuremberg Laws. When caught, he was fortunate to be recognized by a police officer who knew him, allowing him to avoid severe consequences.
During the war, Hans and his mother lived in hiding. After the war, he played music in nightclubs for American soldiers, which helped support them.
**After The War**
After World War II, more mixed-race children were born as American troops returned to Germany. Many of these children were placed in orphanages. In 1948, Hans’s father arranged for him to move to Liberia, but their relationship was strained. Hans eventually emigrated to the United States to pursue a college education.
He served in the Korean War before starting his studies at the University of Illinois, where he earned a journalism degree. He later worked for Jet Magazine and became the editor of Ebony Magazine. After retiring, he wrote his autobiography, “Destined to Witness: Growing Up Black in Nazi Germany,” which was later adapted into a film.
Hans Massaquoi passed away in 2013 on his birthday, at the age of 87. He was married to Katharine Rousseve Massaquoi and had two sons from a previous marriage.
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This version maintains the essence of the story while removing or altering sensitive content for a broader audience.
Nazi – A member of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, which was led by Adolf Hitler and ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945, promoting totalitarianism and racial superiority. – During World War II, the Nazi regime implemented policies that led to the persecution and extermination of millions of people, including Jews, in what is known as the Holocaust.
Germany – A country in Central Europe, which played a significant role in both World War I and World War II, and was divided into East and West during the Cold War. – After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Germany was reunified, marking a significant moment in European history.
Race – A social construct used to categorize humans based on physical characteristics such as skin color, which has historically been used to justify unequal treatment and discrimination. – Sociologists study how race has been used to shape social hierarchies and power dynamics throughout history.
Discrimination – The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, often based on race, age, gender, or religion. – The Civil Rights Movement in the United States aimed to end racial discrimination and achieve equality for African Americans.
Laws – Rules established by a government or other authority to regulate behavior, maintain order, and protect citizens’ rights. – The Nuremberg Laws were enacted in Nazi Germany to institutionalize racial discrimination against Jews.
Childhood – The period of life from birth to adolescence, during which a person develops physically, emotionally, and socially. – The Industrial Revolution significantly altered childhood experiences, as many children were required to work in factories.
Education – The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially in a formal setting such as a school or university. – Education reform movements in the 19th century aimed to make schooling accessible to all children, regardless of their social class.
Identity – The qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person or group distinct, often shaped by cultural, social, and historical factors. – The struggle for civil rights in the 1960s was not only about legal equality but also about affirming the identity and dignity of marginalized communities.
Heritage – The traditions, achievements, and beliefs that are part of the history of a group or nation, passed down from previous generations. – Preserving cultural heritage is important for maintaining a community’s identity and understanding its historical context.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, which helps us understand how societies have evolved over time. – Learning about history allows us to understand the causes and consequences of major events, such as wars and revolutions.
