Inglourious Basterds’ Incorrect Image: The Role of Marcel as a Black Man During the Holocaust

“Oui Shosanna.” With no care for whether he lives or dies, Marcel tosses his cigarette into the pile of flammable nitrate film in front of him and follows orders for the woman he loves. His role, as practically the co-owner of Le Gamaar Cinema, the theatre he helps burn to the ground, is a surprising one. As a French black man living in the time of the Holocaust, his life seems to be going pretty well.

The way Marcel is portrayed throughout the film makes it easy for one to think European black life during the 1940s is comparable to views on current black life — discrimination here and there, but overall not that bad. This perception was not the reality, and can be seen in Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf ¹, where he writes “It is a scarcely conceivable fallacy of thought to believe that a Negro…will turn into a German because he learns German and is willing to speak the German language and perhaps even give his vote to a German political party.” Although blacks were not subject to the level of extermination and persecution that Jews faced in Eastern Europe, many were isolated, sterilized, and murdered; not unusual for the black community globally over the years. Throughout history, blacks have lived through their own Holocaust in the slave trade, and during World War II, blacks both persevered, through groups like the Afrika Schau and experienced demise, like the Rhineland Bastards.

Das Negroes

The black Holocaust story is not common knowledge today, and is rarely brought up when learning about Holocaust history. However, through the use of comedy, like Key and Peele’s “Das Negros” sketch², this part of history is sometimes brought to life, but also downplayed because of its humor. “Das Negros”, a simple five-minute clip, shows a more accurate history of black life during the Holocaust than the entire role of Marcel in “Inglorious Basterds”.

A Nazi soldier knocks on the door of two white-faced black men, telling them he is searching for two escaped negroes, and unaware he is standing right in front of them. He tests ‘Heinrich Leroyheimer’ and ‘Baron Helmut Schnitzelnazi’ to see if they are black or not, and the outrageous ways in which he does, provide a laugh, but also give the audience a glimpse of what blacks really experienced in WWII. Many were taken from their homes and unfairly, unethically, and inaccurately tested on to prove superiority of the Aryan race.

The Black Holocaust

Inferiority is something black men and women have had to deal with for centuries. Years before Hitler was even born, one race was dealing with unfathomable persecution and hatred — the black race. Slavery was an integral part of America, and the methods used to ensure its success were nothing short of evil and holocaust-like³.

Over 2 million Africans died in the Middle Passage on their way to slave-hood in America, and it is estimated that for every 100 slaves who reached America, another 40 died in Africa or the Middle Passage⁴. This is the dictionary definition of ‘holocaust’ (any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life⁵) played out in reality. When Shosanna, the only surviving member of her Jewish family’s murder, was dealing with the WWII Holocaust, she needed to get revenge on behalf of all Jewish people like her. Marcel, handsome French laborer, does not show this desire to kill. He does not carry the pain of each black life that was lost due to slavery. He sees his battle as one that is over, and can therefore give all his attention to the love of his life and her fight.

The Afrika Schau

Although Marcel is not a shining representative of the role of blacks in the 30s and 40s, there are some aspects of his role that are feasible for the time. Marcel and a number of black men and women worked in the entertainment business, but their conditions and responsibilities were very different. While Marcel was able to control his hours, live freely, and work without fear of being taken away, other blacks in the entertainment business looked at work as their last chance.

The Afrika Schau was a traveling show that started in Germany in 1936. It was meant to showcase African culture and its role in German history⁶, but was quickly taken over by Hitler’s SS and altered. The new purpose involved hiring more blacks, and putting on shows that pushed savage stereotypes like viewing Africans as strong, unruly animals with an insatiable sex drive¹, to reinforce superiority of the Aryan race. Although joining this show meant going against everything German blacks saw themselves as, they jumped at the opportunity because they knew it assured their survival for a little bit longer. The show was shut down in 1941 because it wasn’t doing enough, but enough damage had been done, as many German people of color were treated with severe hostility from the public.

The Rhineland Bastards

When Germany was split of its colonies after its loss in World War I, the area of Rhineland was occupied by the Allies. Over 200,000 French soldiers, including black soldiers, managed this region, and over time, some of these soldiers had children with the local German women.

It is estimated that about 800 mixed children were born through this, and they were given the name of Rhineland Bastards⁷ because some were born out of wedlock. In 1933, a law was passed promising future sterilization of the disabled, Gypsies, and blacks. Mixed Afro-German children were especially targeted; they could not get jobs or attend universities. In 1935, stricter laws were made, prohibiting marriage between Aryans and anyone else. All pregnant Afro-German women were forced to get an abortion. In 1937, the sterilization and testing process began. Over 400 mixed children were arrested and sterilized and victim Hans Hauck has spoken about how there was no use of anesthetic present. After his sterilization, he received a certificate and was forced to promise he would not have any kind of sexual relationships with Germans⁷. Again, Marcel does not show any of these traits or stories in his character. Not only does he work with someone who looks the complete opposite of him, he also loves and sleeps with her. Although the latter may not be known to the Nazi soldiers that visit the cinema, they still are not shocked or suspicious of Marcel’s employment position.