Controversy Erupts Over Christmas Markets and Nazi Connections

France’s public broadcaster has faced backlash for an assertion linking Christmas market traditions to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. This week, France Info shared a social media video titled “Christmas markets, a tradition revived by the Nazis,” beginning with the provocative question, “Did you know there is a connection between the Nazis and our beloved Christmas markets?”

The video claims that the tradition was largely revitalized by the National Socialist German Workers’ Party during the 1930s, suggesting it was a strategy to promote German-made goods and stimulate economic growth.

Antoine Millan-Depeuil, a journalist from France Info, acknowledged that Christmas markets had a long history predating the Nazi Party’s formation, dating back to the Holy Roman Empire. However, he maintained that these markets saw a “strong comeback” in 1930s Germany after having been pushed to the outskirts by societal elites.

He remarked that under Nazi rule, Christmas evolved into a nationalist celebration. “Christmas markets helped promote German traditions” and served to “stimulate the economy,” he claimed, noting that the Nazis allegedly made an effort to bring these markets back to city centers.

The broadcaster’s claims have elicited significant outcry, leading to accusations of anti-Christian sentiment. France Info eventually removed the video amidst the storm of criticism on social media.

Notably, the viewpoint was endorsed by the French Communist Party’s newspaper, L’Humanité, which asserted, “Franceinfo is correct. Our Christmas markets do indeed have ties to the Nazis. It’s unfortunate that the far-right aims to rewrite history while undermining public services.”

Conversely, some figures, like conservative lawmaker Véronique Bess, found the comparisons outrageous. She expressed her disbelief at the scandalous associations made between Christmas markets and Nazism, declaring, “Let’s celebrate, not denigrate!”

Former Socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal also criticized the video, calling its implications “shameful.” She questioned whether the broadcaster’s journalist was somehow deprived of the joys of Christmas and seemed to carry a “hatred” toward the holiday.

“We must protect the joy and innocence of our children,” she insisted, highlighting that Christmas has transformed into a global festival, as shown by Christmas trees in various cities worldwide, regardless of their Christian roots. “Please let your children enjoy this time in peace,” she concluded.

This debate arises amid ongoing security concerns in Europe regarding potential Islamist terrorist attacks targeting Christmas markets. Earlier this month, France’s interior ministry urged local authorities to enhance security and even consider deploying troops to markets as a precaution. In Germany, some regions have canceled Christmas markets due to the financial burden of heightened security measures, following tragic past incidents such as a deadly attack in Magdeburg.