Introduction: Material Culture and Performance of Power

A study on the Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg reveals that while Nazi interest was primarily focused on contemporary monumental projects like those in Berlin, Munich, and Nuremberg, they also engaged with medieval heritage. Notably, Heinrich Himmler sought the remains of King Henry I at St. Servase Church in 1936, demonstrating a selective but significant interaction with historical sites for propagandistic purposes. The research highlights the Nazi regime's strategic use of material culture to reinforce ideological narratives, particularly through figures like Queen Matilda, whose lineage was invoked by Alfred Rosenberg to underscore German identity. This approach underscores the complex interplay between power, heritage, and nationalism during the Third Reich.

(Ed.). (2020). INTRODUCTION: MATERIAL CULTURE AND PERFORMANCE OF POWER. Medieval Women Material Culture and Power Matilda Plantagenet and Her Sisters. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781641891462-004