title: Plagues of Babylon

abstract: Plagues of Babylon is the eleventh studio album by American heavy metal band Iced Earth. Released in January 2014, the album is the group's first studio release with bassist Luke Appleton and the only with drummer Raphael Saini, who was a guest on the album. According to rhythm guitarist and band leader Jon Schaffer, half of the album is focused on his "Something Wicked" concept, while the other half are stand-alone songs.

text:
# Plagues of Babylon

***Plagues of Babylon*** is the eleventh studio album by American heavy metal band Iced Earth. Released in January 2014, the album is the group's first studio release with bassist Luke Appleton and the only with drummer Raphael Saini, who was a guest on the album. According to rhythm guitarist and band leader Jon Schaffer, half of the album is focused on his *"Something Wicked"* concept, while the other half are stand-alone songs.

## Overview

The album was originally set to be released in October 2013, but was pushed back due to Iced Earth's tour commitments in the fall. The band began recording in Germany on July 15, 2013, at Principal Studios. On August 8, 2013, it was announced that the band had completed tracking the album. On September 3, the band announced they had completed mixing and mastering *Plagues of Babylon*. On September 25, the official track listing and album cover were released.

On October 7, Iced Earth announced that would be releasing a limited edition vinyl EP entitled *The Plagues*. The EP will contain three songs from *Plagues of Babylon*, and will be made available on Iced Earth's European tour with Volbeat. On October 11, the lyric video for the album's title track was released.

The December 2013 issue of Germany's Metal Hammer magazine featured the song "*Peacemaker*" on the attached CD and the December 2013 issue of Germany's RockHard magazine featured the song "*Among the Living Dead*" on the attached CD. A song titled "*Spirit of the Times*" was originally released by Schaffer's side project Sons of Liberty, and was re-recorded for this album's release. The song "Highwayman" is a cover originally written by Jimmy Webb.

## Reception

Professional ratings
| Review scores | |
| --- | --- |
| Source | Rating |
| Metal-Temple.com |  |
| Loudwire |  |
| metal.de |  |
| Metal-Hammer | (5/7) |
| Stormbringer |  |
| Revolver Magazine |  |
| Allmusic |  |
| Metal Storm | (7.4/10) |
| About.com |  |
| Blabbermouth.net | (7.5/10) |
| Powermetal.de |  |

*Plagues of Babylon* received mostly positive reviews overall from music critics. In January 2014, the album reached position No. 5 on the German Media Control Charts. This is the band's highest chart position in their entire career. The band also reached No. 34 on the Ultratop Charts in Belgium. Meanwhile, in the US, the album sold approximately 6,300 copies in its first week to debut at No. 49 on the Billboard 200.

## Track listing

| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. | "Plagues of Babylon" | Jon Schaffer | 7:47 |
| 2. | "Democide" |  | 5:22 |
| 3. | "The Culling" |  | 4:26 |
| 4. | "Among the Living Dead" | * Schaffer * Seele * Block | 5:14 |
| 5. | "Resistance" |  | 4:59 |
| 6. | "The End?" | * Schaffer * Appleton * Block | 7:13 |
| 7. | "If I Could See You" | Schaffer | 3:55 |
| 8. | "Cthulhu" | * Schaffer * Block | 6:04 |
| 9. | "Peacemaker" | * Schaffer * Block | 5:02 |
| 10. | "Parasite" | * Schaffer * Seele * Block | 3:30 |
| 11. | "Spirit of the Times" (Sons of Liberty cover) | Schaffer | 5:05 |
| 12. | "Highwayman" (Jimmy Webb cover) | Jimmy Webb | 3:12 |
| 13. | "Outro" (unlisted) |  | 0:24 |
| Total length: | | | 1:02:13 |

## Personnel

**Iced Earth**

**Additional musicians**

* Raphael Saini – drums
* Michael Poulsen – lead and backing vocals on "Highwayman"
* Russell Allen – lead and backing vocals on "Highwayman"
* Hansi Kürsch – lead vocals on "Among the Living Dead", backing vocals
* Thomas Hackmann – backing vocals
* Andrew Peters – backing vocals
* Matt O'Rourke – backing vocals
* Bonna Ross Bernal – backing vocals
* Daniel Schmitz – marching drums
* David Hambach – marching drums
* Christopher Jobi – marching drums

**Production and design**

* Eliran Kantor – cover art
* Kevin Paul and Jon Schaffer – mixing
* Sascha Buhren – mastering

## InfoBox

| Plagues of Babylon | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Studio album by Iced Earth | |
| Released | January 6, 2014 |
| Recorded | July 15 – August 8, 2013 |
| Studio | Principal Studios, Senden, Germany |
| Genre |  |
| Length | 62:03 |
| Label | Century Media |
| Producer | Jon Schaffer |
| Iced Earth chronology | |
| *Live in Ancient Kourion*
(2013) ***Plagues of Babylon***
(2014) *Incorruptible*
(2017) | |


title: Veneno (song)

abstract: "Veneno" is a song by Brazilian singer Anitta from her extended play, Solo. It was written by Anitta, Tainy, Eduardo Vargas and Camilo Echeverry, and produced by Tainy and Dynell. It was released as the extended play's lead single on 9 November 2018 through Warner Music Brasil.

text:
# Veneno (song)

"**Veneno**" is a song by Brazilian singer Anitta from her extended play, *Solo*. It was written by Anitta, Tainy, Eduardo Vargas and Camilo Echeverry, and produced by Tainy and Dynell. It was released as the extended play's lead single on 9 November 2018 through Warner Music Brasil.

## Background and release

On June 20, 2018, with the launch of Instagram's new video platform, Anitta announced she would begin promoting her next single by showing the process of picking up a single using the format of a webseries. Anitta was in doubt between the then-unreleased tracks "Medicina"" and "Veneno" to release as the follow-up single to "Indecente". A total of 8 chapters were released for the webseries and it showcased marketing estrategies, the making of the music videos for "Medicina" and "Veneno", interviews with the writers and producers of both tracks and a voting which included Warner Music executives, both Anitta's Brazilian and international teams, as well as other artists such as Alesso, Lele Pons and Rudy Mancuso. "Medicina" was ultimately chosen to be released as a single on July 20, 2018. Anitta later confirmed that she wanted "Veneno" to be released before "Medicina" but assured that the first would be released in a later moment because she loves the song and "the video was too expensive".

In October, 2018, while being interview by *Billboard* on the red carpet of 2018 MTV Europe Music Awards, Anitta announced the release of an extended play containing songs in English, Spanish and Portuguese, later revealed to be titled *Solo*, set to be released on November 9, 2018, which would include "Veneno", a Pharrell Williams-produced English track titled "Goals" and the Portuguese song "Não perco meu tempo". Following the release of the extended play, Anitta released both "Veneno" and "Não perco meu tempo" as singles simultaneously, while the first was aimed at the Latin/Spanish market and the latter one at the Brazilian market.

## Music video

The official music video for "Veneno" was directed by João Papa and released alongside the music videos for "Goals" and "Não perco meu tempo" on November 9, 2018, the same day the extended play *Solo* was released to streaming services and online stores. The video showcases Anitta performing among snakes and according to *Billboard*, the video "has powerful scenes" and "represent how “bad girl” \[Anitta\] can be".

## Charts

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Portugal (AFP) | Platinum | 10,000 |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold (Latin) | 30,000 |
| Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
 | | |

## InfoBox

| "Veneno" | |
| --- | --- |
| Single by Anitta | |
| from the EP  *Solo* | |
| Language | Spanish |
| English title | "Poison" |
| Released | 9 November 2018 (2018-11-09) |
| Length | 2:38 |
| Label | Warner Brasil |
| Songwriter(s) |  |
| Producer(s) |  |
| Anitta singles chronology | |
| "Jacuzzi"
(2018) "**Veneno**"
(2018) "Não Perco Meu Tempo"
(2018) | |
|  | |
| Music video | |
| "Veneno" on YouTube | |
|  | |


title: Nabua, Fiji

abstract: Nabua is a suburb of the Fijian capital of Suva. The Queen Elizabeth Barracks, a major military base which saw a mutiny on 2 November 2000, is located there. Nabua was established in 1935 by the late Ratu Sir Josefa Vanayaliyali Sukuna after the great Tsunami heat in Suva. It was mainly populated by Indigenous Fijian Community.

text:
# Nabua, Fiji

**Nabua** (Fijian pronunciation: \[naᵐbua\]) is a suburb of the Fijian capital of Suva. The Queen Elizabeth Barracks, a major military base which saw a mutiny on 2 November 2000, is located there.

Nabua was established in 1935 by the late Ratu Sir Josefa Vanayaliyali Sukuna after the great Tsunami heat in Suva. It was mainly populated by Indigenous Fijian Community.

18°07′S 178°27.5′E / 18.117°S 178.4583°E / -18.117; 178.4583


# Opinion polling for the 2004 Greek legislative election

In the run up to the 2004 Greek legislative election, various organizations carried out opinion polling to gauge voting intention in Greece during the term of the 11th Hellenic Parliament. Results of such polls are displayed in this article. The date range for these opinion polls is from the previous legislative election, held on 9 April 2000, to the day the next election was held, on 7 March 2004.

Polls are listed in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" columns on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a given poll.

## Voting intention estimates

### Polling

The table below lists nationwide voting intention estimates. Refusals are generally excluded from the party vote percentages, while question wording and the treatment of "don't know" responses and those not intending to vote may vary between polling organisations. Polls that show their results without disregarding those respondents who were undecided or said they would abstain from voting (either physically or by voting blank) have been re-calculated by disregarding these numbers from the totals offered through a simple rule of three in order to obtain results comparable to other polls and the official election results. When available, seat projections are displayed below the percentages in a smaller font. 151 seats are required for an absolute majority in the Hellenic Parliament.

Color key:

Exit poll

| Polling firm/Commissioner | Fieldwork date | PASOK | ND | KKE | SYRIZA | DIKKI | KEP | LAOS | Lead |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |
|  | | | | | | | | | | | |
| **2004 legislative election** | 7 Mar 2004 | 40.6
117 | **45.4**
165 | 5.9
12 | 3.3
6 | 1.8
0 |  | 2.2
0 | 4.8 |
|  | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Metron Analysis | 17-23 Jan 2004 | 42.6 | **45.1** | 5.4 | 3.3 | 1.5 |  | 2.1 | 2.5 |
| Opinion | 16-21 Jan 2004 | 41.2 | **44.5** | 5.6 | 3.1 | 1.2 |  | 2.2 | 3.3 |
| DIMEL | 12-19 Jan 2004 | 41.7 | **45.3** | 5.9 | 3.0 | 1.5 |  | 1.2 | 3.6 |
| Metron Analysis | 10-14 Jan 2004 | 42.9 | **45.8** | 5.6 | 2.5 | 1.1 |  | 1.1 | 2.9 |
| Opinion | 8-14 Jan 2004 | 41.3 | **44.6** | 5.5 | 3.1 | 1.8 |  | 1.9 | 3.3 |
| Alco | 7-12 Jan 2004 | 42.0 | **44.7** | 5.6 | 2.8 | 1.8 |  | 1.6 | 2.7 |
| Kapa Research | Dec 2003 | 37.5 | **45.9** | 6.1 | 3.5 | 2.4 |  | 2.9 | 8.4 |
| Rass | Dec 2003 | 36.6 | **46.0** | 6.0 | 4.7 | 2.9 |  | 2.7 | 9.4 |
| MRB | Dec 2003 | 35.6 | **45.1** | 5.9 | 4.2 | 2.4 |  | 3.1 | 9.5 |
| Metron Analysis | Oct 2003 | 37.2 | **45.2** | 6.8 | 4.2 | 2.2 |  | 3.2 | 8.0 |
| MRB | Oct 2003 | 36.1 | **45.1** | 6.9 | 3.9 | 1.9 |  | 2.3 | 9.0 |
| VPRC | Sep 2003 | 36.4 | **45.9** | 5.5 | 3.4 | 2.0 |  | 2.8 | 9.5 |
| DIMEL | Sep 2003 | 38.8 | **46.9** | 6.1 | 3.1 | 2.4 |  | 1.0 | 8.1 |
| Kapa Research | Sep 2003 | 38.7 | **45.8** | 6.1 | 3.5 | 2.5 |  | 1.8 | 7.1 |
| Opinion | Sep 2003 | 37.0 | **46.0** | 6.8 | 2.9 | 1.8 |  | 2.4 | 9.0 |
| Metron Analysis | Sep 2003 | 36.9 | **45.1** | 7.3 | 4.4 | 2.2 |  | 2.6 | 8.2 |
| Rass | Sep 2003 | 36.5 | **45.8** | 6.3 | 4.6 | 2.9 |  | 1.8 | 9.3 |
| Alco | Sep 2003 | 37.4 | **45.0** | 6.0 | 3.5 | 2.4 |  | 2.3 | 7.6 |
| DIMEL | Sep 2003 | 37.6 | **48.4** | 4.8 | 3.5 | 2.7 |  | 2.5 | 10.8 |
| Prognosis | Jul 2003 | 34.2 | **47.0** | 8.3 | 3.8 | 1.8 |  | 2.6 | 12.8 |
| Metron Analysis | Jun 2003 | 36.4 | **45.9** | 6.8 | 4.4 | 2.4 |  | 2.6 | 9.5 |
| Alco | Jun 2003 | 36.5 | **46.4** | 5.9 | 3.6 | 2.7 |  | 2.3 | 9.9 |
| MRB | May-Jun 2003 | 34.9 | **44.6** | 6.2 | 4.6 | 2.9 |  | 2.8 | 9.7 |
| Kapa Research | May-Jun 2003 | 37.5 | **46.7** | 6.3 | 3.8 | 1.9 |  | 1.9 | 9.2 |
| Rass | May 2003 | 36.1 | **47.9** | 5.7 | 3.1 | 2.4 |  | 2.2 | 11.8 |
| Metron Analysis | Mar 2003 | 37.0 | **44.6** | 6.9 | 4.7 | 2.5 |  | 3.2 | 7.6 |
| MRB | Feb-Mar 2003 | 36.1 | **45.2** | 5.9 | 4.0 | 2.4 |  | 2.2 | 9.1 |
| Alco | Feb 2003 | 37.2 | **46.3** | 6.0 | 3.7 | 2.2 |  | 1.8 | 9.1 |
| Kapa Research | Dec 2002 | 38.2 | **44.6** | 6.2 | 3.5 | 2.3 |  | 3.1 | 6.4 |
| MRB | Nov 2002 | 36.9 | **43.9** | 6.0 | 4.0 | 2.5 |  | 2.6 | 7.0 |
| Metron Analysis | Nov 2002 | 37.2 | **45.3** | 6.6 | 4.2 | 2.3 |  | 3.0 | 8.1 |
| MRB | Sep 2002 | 35.4 | **43.9** | 6.5 | 3.9 | 2.6 |  |  | 8.5 |
| Kapa Research | Sep 2002 | 38.1 | **45.8** | 6.5 | 3.6 | 2.2 |  |  | 7.7 |
| Metron Analysis | Jul 2002 | 39.1 | **45.8** | 5.6 | 3.2 | 3.7 |  |  | 6.7 |
| Metron Analysis | Jun-Jul 2002 | 36.2 | **46.8** | 6.8 | 3.6 | 3.5 |  |  | 10.6 |
| MRB | Jun 2002 | 34.8 | **46.3** | 6.9 | 3.9 | 2.9 |  |  | 11.5 |
| Alco | Jun 2002 | 35.3 | **45.4** | 6.2 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 3.5 |  | 10.1 |
| VPRC | May 2002 | 34.8 | **45.9** | 6.1 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 3.4 |  | 11.1 |
| Kapa Research | Apr 2002 | 34.8 | **43.4** | 6.0 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 6.6 |  | 8.6 |
| Alco | Mar-Apr 2002 | 34.2 | **43.2** | 6.0 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 5.6 |  | 9.0 |
| MRB | Mar 2002 | 33.4 | **43.5** | 6.0 | 3.9 | 2.9 | 5.2 |  | 10.1 |
| Metron Analysis | Feb 2002 | 35.8 | **43.1** | 6.1 | 4.5 | 2.0 | 5.9 |  | 7.3 |
| Kapa Research | Dec 2001 | 36.8 | **43.1** | 6.0 | 2.9 | 2.0 | 6.5 |  | 6.3 |
| MRB | Nov-Dec 2001 | 34.6 | **42.7** | 5.8 | 3.7 | 1.7 | 7.5 |  | 8.1 |
| Metron Analysis | Nov 2001 | 36.7 | **42.8** | 6.4 | 3.8 | 2.3 | 5.8 |  | 6.1 |
| Opinion | Oct-Nov 2001 | 35.4 | **42.6** | 5.4 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 6.8 |  | 7.2 |
| Alco | Sep 2001 | 34.2 | **42.7** | 6.2 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 8.8 |  | 8.5 |
| Metron Analysis | Sep 2001 | 36.6 | **44.7** | 6.5 | 4.0 | 2.1 | 6.2 |  | 8.1 |
| VPRC | Sep 2001 | 33.5 | **41.2** | 5.9 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 8.4 |  | 7.7 |
| Kapa Research | Sep 2001 | 36.2 | **42.6** | 6.6 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 7.4 |  | 6.4 |
| VPRC | Jun-Jul 2001 | 28.3 | **41.8** | 5.1 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 15.0 |  | 13.5 |
| Metron Analysis | Jun-Jul 2001 | 33.7 | **42.3** | 6.2 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 8.6 |  | 8.6 |
| MRB | Jun 2001 | 30.9 | **41.4** | 6.7 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 10.0 |  | 10.5 |
| Kapa Research | May 2001 | 31.4 | **40.7** | 7.9 | 3.7 | 1.2 | 12.5 |  | 9.3 |
| Metron Analysis | May 2001 | 29.9 | **40.4** | 6.8 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 12.2 |  | 10.5 |
| Opinion | Mar 2001 | 32.2 | **36.7** | 5.4 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 15.5 |  | 4.5 |
| Kapa Research | Mar 2001 | 31.9 | **37.2** | 6.4 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 15.2 |  | 5.3 |
| Metron Analysis | Mar 2001 | 32.2 | **36.3** | 6.4 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 16.2 |  | 4.1 |
| VPRC | Jan 2001 | 31.0 | **36.2** | 6.2 | 3.1 | 1.3 | 18.8 |  | 5.2 |
| Kapa Research | Jan 2001 | **35.4** | 35.1 | 5.3 | 3.5 |  | 17.8 |  | 0.3 |
| Opinion | Oct 2000 | 39.4 | **42.6** | 6.2 | 4.2 | 2.3 |  |  | 3.2 |
| VPRC | Sep 2000 | 39.4 | **42.4** | 7.4 | 3.2 | 1.9 |  |  | 3.0 |
|  | | | | | | | | | | | |
| **2000 legislative election** | 9 Apr 2000 | **43.8**
158 | 42.7
125 | 5.5
11 | 3.2
6 | 2.7
0 |  |  | 1.1 |
|  | | | | | | | | | | | |


title: Nebula (moth)

abstract: Nebula is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae erected by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1846.

text:
# Nebula (moth)

***Nebula*** is a genus of moths in the family Geometridae erected by Charles Théophile Bruand d'Uzelle in 1846.

## Species

## InfoBox

| *Nebula* | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| *Nebula achromaria* | |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Geometridae |
| Subfamily: | Larentiinae |
| Tribe: | Cidariini |
| Genus: | ***Nebula***<br>Bruand, 1846 |
|


title: Selside

abstract: Selside is a small village in rural Cumbria, England, about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Kendal, close to the A6 road. It is now in the civil parish of Selside and Fawcett Forest, though it was formerly in the parish of Kendal. The population of Whitwell and Selside civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 296. St. Thomas's Church at Selside dates from 1838, with the tower added in 1894. Near to the church, Selside Hall incorporates the remains of two pele towers of the 15th and 16th centuries, with 18th-century and later alterations and additions.

text:
# Selside

**Selside** is a small village in rural Cumbria, England, about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of Kendal, close to the A6 road. It is now in the civil parish of Selside and Fawcett Forest, though it was formerly in the parish of Kendal. The population of Whitwell and Selside civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 296.

St. Thomas's Church at Selside dates from 1838, with the tower added in 1894. Near to the church, Selside Hall incorporates the remains of two pele towers of the 15th and 16th centuries, with 18th-century and later alterations and additions.

Media related to Selside at Wikimedia Commons

## InfoBox

| Selside | |
| --- | --- |
| St. Thomas's Church, Selside | |
| SelsideLocation in South LakelandSelsideLocation within Cumbria | |
| Population | 296 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SD539988 |
| Civil parish |  |
| District |  |
| Shire county |  |
| Region |  |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KENDAL |
| Postcode district | LA8 |
| Dialling code | 01539 |
|  | |
| Police | Cumbria |
| Fire | Cumbria |
| Ambulance | North West |
|  | |
| UK Parliament |  |
|


# Polish governments and their composition

## Kingdom of Poland and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (966-1795)

## Cabinets of Duchy of Warsaw (1807-1813)

## Cabinets of Congress Poland (1815-1831)

## Cabinets of Kingdom of Poland (1916-1918)

## Cabinet of Second Polish Republic (1918-1939)

## Cabinets of Polish government in Exile (1939-1990)

## Cabinets of Free Poland in Exile (1972-1990)

Alternative government-in-exile, created by Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki

## Cabinets of Polish Republic (1944-1952)

## Cabinets People's Republic of Poland (1952-1989)

## Cabinets Third Polish Republic (1989-)


title: Wang Deshun

abstract: Wang Deshun is a Chinese model and film actor. He got nicknamed the Hottest Grandpa in China after walking shirtless in Beijing Fashion Week in 2015.

text:
# Wang Deshun

**Wang Deshun** (born August 20, 1936) is a Chinese model and film actor. He got nicknamed the Hottest Grandpa in China after walking shirtless in Beijing Fashion Week in 2015.

## Career

In 1960, Wang Deshun joined the Shenyang Military Region Anti-Enemy Drama Troupe and became a drama actor. In 1970, Wang Deshun, who had been a drama actor for 10 years in the Anti-Enemy Drama Troupe of the Shenyang Military Region, was assigned to the Changchun Drama Theater after demobilization.

In April 1985, he participated in the International Brecht System Symposium held by the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing, and performed the pantomime "Man and Snake". In the same year, Wang Deshun created the only type of pantomime in the world called "Model Pantomime".

In 1987, he was sent by the Ministry of Culture to participate in the 12th International Mime Festival held in Cologne, Federal Germany, which pushed Chinese mime to the international mime stage for the first time.

In 1989, went to Macau to participate in the "Macao New Year International Art Festival". In the same year, Wang Deshun's modeling pantomime was included in the drama volume of "Encyclopedia of China".

In 1993, Wang Deshun was invited by France to participate in the 8th International Theater Festival in Orias, France.

In 1994, participated in the first Shanghai International Mime Festival. "Modeling Pantomime" became the only pantomime show in China in this session. In the same year, Wang Deshun's artistic creation of "Picture Pantomime" was included in "Picture China's Hundred Years History".

In 1995, participated in the Impulse Art Festival in Austria. In the same year, Wang Deshun's modeling pantomime and his name were included in the "List of World Famous People" published by the American Biographical Association.

Since then he has been acting in many films but received global recognition on March 25, 2015, Wang Deshun participated in the 2015 autumn and winter fashion released by designer Hu Sheguang at the International Fashion Week at the 798 Art Center in Beijing.

In 2017 he became the brand ambassador for Reebok.

## Personal life

He is married with two kids and a granddaughter.

On August 20, 2021, the 85-year-old Wang Deshun broke through many "hurdles". It took only 3 months to complete all flight subjects at Miyun Mujiayu Airport, successfully received his pilot's license, and realized his blue sky dream.

## Filmography

### Television series

Wang Yibo's film credits
| Year | Title | | Network | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | English | Original | | | | |
| 2001 | Dynasty Doctor | 皇朝太医 | BTV | Nong Jinkui |  |  |
| 2002 | Taiji Prodigy | 少年張三丰 | TTV | Yi Yun |  |  |
| 2003 | Good Luck Zhu Bajie | 福星高照猪八戒 |  |  |  |  |
| | Heroic Legend | 萍踪侠影 | BTV | Shi Ying |  |  |
| | Qian Long Dynasty | 乾隆王朝 | Hunan TV | Support Role |  |  |
| 2004 | *Blade Heart* | 血薦軒轅 | TVB Jade | Qi Jiguang |  |  |
| 2005 | Magic Dragon Pearl | 魔界之龙珠 |  | Xue Wan Shan |  |  |
| 2006 | The Patriotic Knights | 侠骨丹心 |  | Zhong Chang Tong |  |  |
| | Ao Jian Jiang Hu | 傲剑江湖 | GTV | Emperor Zhen Zong |  |  |
| 2007 | Empress Wu Zetian of China | 无字碑歌 |  | Li Ji |  |  |
| 2012 | King of Legend | 傳奇之王 | DRAMACube | Lao Fu Zi \[The Old Master\] |  |  |
| | *The Qin Empire 2* | 大秦帝国之纵横 | CCTV | Long Jia |  |  |
| 2013 | *Er Shu* | 二叔 |  | Qi Mu Jiang |  |  |
| 2014 | *The Disinterested Judge* | 铁面御史 |  | Lu Wei |  |  |
| 2015 | Lady & Liar | 千金女賊 | JSTV | Uncle Can |  |  |
| | The Whirlwind Girl | 旋风少女 | Hunan TV | Wan Guan Zhu \[Ting Hao & Ting Yi's grandfather\] |  |  |
| | Guns and Roses | 黄金大劫案 | iQiYi | "Mad Father" / Feng |  |  |
| 2016 | The Whirlwind Girl 2 | 旋风少女第二季 | Hunan TV | Wan Guan Zhu \[Ting Hao & Ting Yi's grandfather\] | Ep. 12, 19-22 |  |
| | Chinese Style Relationship | 中国式关系 | BTV | Uncle Li |  |  |
| | Shuttle Love Millennium | 相爱穿梭千年貳：月光下的交换 | Hunan TV | Wang Si Ping / Wang Bo Liang |  |  |
| 2017 | Redemption of the Knight | 骑士的手套 | Hunan TV, Youku | Yu Zhong Yuan |  |  |
| | The Hunting Genius | 寻人大师 | iQiYi | Lu Dong Feng |  |  |
| 2018 | Great Expectations | 远大前程 | Hunan TV | Chu Tian Shu |  |  |
| | Demon Catcher Zhong Kui | 钟馗捉妖记 | iQiYi | Shang Xian |  |  |
| | The Dark Lord | 夜天子 | Tencent Video | Kushen Sect Leader |  |  |
| 2019 | The Legends | 招摇 | Hunan TV, iQiYi | Zi Dan \[Qin Qian Xian's teacher\] |  |  |
| | Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre | 倚天屠龙记 | Tencent Video | Zhang San Feng |  |  |
| | My True Friend | 我的真朋友 | Dragon TV | Zhong A Mao |  |  |
| 2020 | You Are My Destiny | 你是我的命中注定 | Tencent Video | Zhong San Long |  |  |
| | The Deer and the Cauldron | 鹿鼎记 | CCTV, iQiYi, Youku | Hong An Tong |  |  |
| 2021 | First Sword of Wudang | 武当一剑 | CCTV | Taoist Master Wu Ji |  |  |
| | The Memory About You | 半暖时光 | JSTV, Youku | Zhuo Yuan |  |  |
| 2022 | Who Rules the World | 且试天下 | Tencent Video | Elder Tai Yin |  |  |
| | See You Again | 超时空罗曼史 | iQiYi | Di Hu Sheng |  |  |

### Films

| Year | Title | | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | English | Original | | | |
| 2003 | *Warriors of Heaven and Earth* | 天地英雄 | Old Diehard |  |  |
| 2007 | The Park | 公园 | Gao Yuan Shan |  |  |
| 2008 | *The Forbidden Kingdom* | 功夫之王 | Jade Emperor |  |  |
| 2009 | Empire of Silver | 白银帝国 | Chang You \[Chief escort\] |  |  |
| 2010 | Reign of Assassins | 剑雨 | Shen Bu |  |  |
| | Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame | 狄仁傑 之 通天帝國 | Xia Zi Ling |  |  |
| 2011 | What Women Want | 我知女人心 | Sun Mei Sheng |  |  |
| 2013 | Saving General Yang | 忠烈杨家将 | Master Gui Gu |  |  |
| 2014 | The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom | 白发魔女传之明月天国 | \[Head of Fort Luna\] |  |  |
| 2015 | Back to 20 | 重返20岁 | Li Da Hai |  |  |
| | *Jian Bing Man* | 煎饼侠 | Guest Role |  |  |
| 2016 | *Xuan Yuan:The Great Emperor* | 轩辕大帝 | Yan Emperor |  |  |
| | Yesterday Once More | 谁的青春不迷茫 | Gao Xiang |  |  |
| | Seven Days |  | Old Man |  |  |
| | One Night Only | 天亮之前 | \[Video shop owner\] |  |  |
| | The Song of Cotton | 盛先生的花儿 | Mr. Sheng |  |  |
| | Sword Master | 三少爷的剑 | \[Zen Master / Medicine Master\] |  |  |
| 2017 | Eternal Love | 海角有个五店市 | Zhuang Jia Zhu \[Old\] |  |  |
| | Crazy Arts | 艺术也疯狂 | Shui Ye/Master of Water |  |  |
| | Wu Kong | 悟空传 | Shi Fu \[Master\] |  |  |
| | Three Realms: The Secret Magic | 三界传说之浮屠秘术 | Main Role |  |  |
| 2018 | Monster Undersea | 深海巨妖 | \[Old Man\] |  |  |
| 2021 | Migratory Birds | 候鸟 | \[Dreaming old man\] |  |  |

### Variety Shows

| Year | Title | | Network | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | English | Original | | | | |
| 2015 | *Grasp A Dream* | 与梦想同行 | Phoenix Television | Guest |  |  |

### Dubbing

| Year | Title | | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | English | Original | | | |
| 2016 | *Big Fish & Begonia* | 大鱼海棠 | Houtu (后土) Chun's grandfather (椿的爷爷) |  |  |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award Name | Category | Nominated Work | Result | Ref |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2008 | 15th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Actor | The Park | Nominated |  |
| 2015 | 18th Shanghai International Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Back to 20 | Nominated |  |
| 2015 | Beijing Youth Film Festival | Special Jury Award | Seven Days | Won |  |
| 2016 | 19th Shanghai International Film Festival | Best Actor | The Song of Cotton | Nominated |  |

## InfoBox

| Wang Deshun | |
| --- | --- |
| 王德顺 | |
| Born | (1936-08-20) 20 August 1936<br>Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China |
| Occupations |  |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Spouse | Zhao Aijuan |
| Children | 2 |
| Wang Deshun  **Modeling information**  Height 5.6 ft (171 cm)  Hair color Black  Eye color Brown  Agency CAA   Chinese name  Traditional Chinese   Simplified Chinese   Transcriptions  Standard Mandarin  Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Déshùn | |


title: Pongola rufianalis

abstract: Pongola is a monotypic genus of thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae.

text:
# Pongola rufianalis

***Pongola*** is a monotypic genus of thrips in the family Phlaeothripidae.

## Species

## InfoBox

| Pongola rufianalis | |
| --- | --- |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Thysanoptera |
| Family: | Phlaeothripidae |
| Genus: | *Pongola*<br>(zur Strassen, 1959) |
|


title: Venngarn Castle

abstract: Venngarn Castle is a castle in Sweden. It is located north of the town of Sigtuna in Uppland.

text:
# Venngarn Castle

**Venngarn Castle** (Swedish: *Venngarns slott*) is a castle in Sweden. It is located north of the town of Sigtuna in Uppland.

## History

Venngarn was known since at least the 13th-century. During the 15th-century, the estate was owned by the noble family Banér. In 1441, it was given to Cecilia Haraldsdotter (Gren) upon her marriage to a member of the Banér family: it was inherited by her daughter Sigrid Eskilsdotter (Banér), the maternal grandmother of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden, and through her come to belong to the royal house in 1555. In 1568, it was given to Princess Sophia of Sweden upon her marriage and served as her residence alongside Ekolsund Castle: during the 1590s, the estate was often used by her adult son Gustav of Saxe-Lauenburg (1570–1597).

Venngarn was sold to count Frans Berendt von Thurn in 1619, and bought by Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie (1622–1686) in 1653. The castle was largely built in 1670 for Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie in collaboration with the architect Jean de la Vallée.

Venngarn Castle was confiscated by the crown during the Reduction (Sweden) of Charles XI and has since 1686 been rented out by the crown. In 1916–1997, it served as an institution for the rehabilitation of people suffering from alcoholism, and from 1997, it has served as a health center.

## Other sources

* Ralph Herrmanns (1985) *Slott och herremanshus i Södermanland, Uppland och Västmanland* (Prisma) ISBN 91-518-1845-0.
* Fredric Bedoire (2006) *Svenska slott och herrgårdar, En historisk reseguide* (Albert Bonniers Förlag) ISBN 91-0-010577-5.

59°38′55″N 17°43′11″E / 59.64861°N 17.71972°E / 59.64861; 17.71972

## InfoBox

| Venngarn Castle | |
| --- | --- |
| Sweden | |
| Venngarns slott | |


title: Namhae (sea)

abstract: The Namhae, or Choson Namhae refers to the sea in the south of the Korean Peninsula in Korea. It generally refers to the sea between Jindo, Jeollanam-do in the west and Haeundae-gu, Busan in the east. In North Korea, is the region of ocean near Korea that is bounded by the southwestern part of the Sea of Japan and by the southeastern part of the Yellow Sea. The name is not known and used outside Korea.

text:
# Namhae (sea)

The **Namhae** (Korean: 남해; Hanja: 南海; lit. South Sea), or **Choson Namhae** (Korean: 조선남해; Hancha: 朝鮮南海; lit. South Sea of Korea) refers to the sea in the south of the Korean Peninsula in Korea . It generally refers to the sea between Jindo, Jeollanam-do in the west and Haeundae-gu, Busan in the east. In North Korea, is the region of ocean near Korea that is bounded by the southwestern part of the Sea of Japan and by the southeastern part of the Yellow Sea. The name is not known and used outside Korea.


title: Ned Poins

abstract: Edward "Ned" Poins, generally referred to as "Poins", is a fictional character who appears in two plays by William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2. He is also mentioned in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Poins is Prince Hal's closest friend during his wild youth. He devises various schemes to ridicule Falstaff, his rival for Hal's affections. Unlike Hal's other principal low-life associates, who all either reappear or are mentioned in Henry V, Poins disappears from the narrative with no explanation.

text:
# Ned Poins

**Edward "Ned" Poins**, generally referred to as "Poins" /ˈpɔɪnz/, is a fictional character who appears in two plays by William Shakespeare, *Henry IV, Part 1* and *Henry IV, Part 2*. He is also mentioned in *The Merry Wives of Windsor*. Poins is Prince Hal's closest friend during his wild youth. He devises various schemes to ridicule Falstaff, his rival for Hal's affections.

Unlike Hal's other principal low-life associates, who all either reappear or are mentioned in *Henry V*, Poins disappears from the narrative with no explanation.

## In the plays

Poins appears early in *Henry IV, Part I* to inform Falstaff that at Gads Hill there will be unprotected "pilgrims going to Canterbury with rich offerings, and traders riding to London with fat purses". He suggests that they organise a robbery. When Falstaff and the others agree, Poins says to Hal that the pair of them should play trick on Falstaff by letting them rob the travellers, but then in disguise robbing the robbers of their haul. The point of the jest will be to hear the "incomprensible \[i.e. enormous\] lies" Falstaff will later tell to excuse himself. When Poins and Hal attack Falstaff after the robbing the travellers, he and his followers instantly run away.

Poins is with Hal when Hal plays a joke on Francis, a drawer (waiter) at the Boar's Head. He also listens to Falstaff's increasingly ridiculous lies.

In Part 2 Poins discusses the illness of Hal's father the king, expecting Hal to be pleased at the prospect of his father's death. Hal gets a letter from Falstaff, in which Falstaff tells him not to trust Poins because he has been telling people that Hal will be marrying Poins' sister Nell. Poins denies it. Bardolph and a boy arrive with news that Falstaff is meeting Doll Tearsheet at the tavern. Poins suggests that they disguise themselves again, this time as waiters, to overhear the conversation. At the tavern, Doll asks why Hal likes Poins, Falstaff says that they are both similar in size and shape, and equally empty headed: "His wit’s as thick as Tewkesbury mustard. There's no more conceit in him than is in a mallet \[i.e. he's got no more brains than a hammer\]."

## Character role

Poins' principal role is to act as Hal's confidant. In Part 2 especially he is little more than a sounding board for Hal's views. In Part 1 he is presented as the more assertive of the two, being the "mastermind" of both the Gads Hill robbery and its comeuppance. In this respect Poins is an ambiguous figure, who is both part of the criminal underworld and also of the superior social world that looks down on it and undermines it. He is "of uncertain social standing", but his comment that his only problem is that he is a "second brother" implies that he is "a gentleman with no inheritance, his gentility making him an appropriate companion for Hal". He represents wayward tendencies within the upper class, closely linked to Hal's own behaviour.

The fact that Poins disappears from the narrative after the end of *Henry IV, Part 2* suggests that his identity cannot be incorporated into the continuing story; he is neither a "low life" character, nor a participant in the high politics of the new regime. He is effectively a "shadow" side of Hal himself. In Part 2 in particular, Hal appears to become visibly embittered by his association with the world of Falstaff and Poins, using increasingly open derogatory language about both of them, but Poins is never explicitly rejected, unlike Falstaff.

Throughout both plays the tension between Poins and Falstaff beneath the apparent bonhomie represents their competition for Hal's favour and each one's willingness to undermine the other. However, while Poins' accusations against Falstaff are proven correct, it is never clear whether Falstaff's accusation about Poins' sister is true or a lie.

Poins' ambiguous role is further implied by the reference to him in *The Merry Wives of Windsor*, in which Anne Page's suitor Fenton is said to have been a companion of "the wild Prince and Poins". According to Giorgio Melchiori, "the mention of Poins is meant to place Fenton in a separate category from Falstaff and the other companions of the Prince", since Poins is the Prince's confidant, and implicitly a member of the gentility, albeit a wayward one. This implies that Fenton has had a bit of a wild youth, but is not directly tainted with criminality.

## Sources

Poins is a development of the character "Ned" in Shakespeare's principal source, *The Famous Victories of Henry V*. Some passages appear to be derived directly from the earlier play, such as the conversation in which Poins says Hal would be thought a hypocrite if he mourned for his estranged father, which derives from a scene in *Famous Victories* in which Ned says that mourning would "make folks believe the death of your father grieves you, and tis nothing so".

The name Poins may come from the Poins family, based in Gloucestershire, descended from the Baron Poyntz, who was active in the reign of Edward I. In 1869 G.R. French argued that "it is probable that Shakespeare intended him for a cadet of the family of Poyntz, one of high antiquity in Gloucestershire". Members of the Poins family had been courtiers in the reign of Henry VIII. Sir Nicholas Poins was depicted by Holbein. Thomas Wyatt dedicated his poem "Of the Courtier's Life", which satirises court cronyism, to John Poins. Poins' reference to being a younger brother (and therefore not the inheritor of the family estate) implies that he comes from an established family.

In the earliest version of *Henry IV, Part 1* all of Falstaff's cronies had names derived from established families of the era, but most were later changed. Melchiori considers it significant that Poins was the only one whose name was not changed. The character appears to have been popular with audiences at the time. According to Leonard Digges, writing shortly after Shakespeare's death, many plays could not get good audiences, "but let Falstaff come, Hal, Poins and the rest, you scarce shall have a room".

## In other literature

The mystery of Poins' fate is explained in William Kenrick's play *Falstaff's Wedding* (1760) in which it is revealed that Hal really did have a relationship with Poins' beautiful sister Eleanor. His love for Nell Poins led him to spare Poins the fate of the other former companions, but he was removed from the king's company by being given an administrative position in the north of England.

Robert Brough's 1858 novel *The Life of Sir John Falstaff* also says that Poins escaped the fate of the other companions. Poins is depicted as a slavish follower of Hal:

> This was a young gentleman of good family, but bad morals; that is to say, for the present. He was one of those loyal natures who, in all ages, are to be found attaching themselves instinctively to some great man, taking their tone and colour in all things from the illustrious model. Mr. Poins cut his hair and his conscience in exact imitation of the Prince of Wales. The existing court fashions, as established by the Prince, were long hanging sleeves, pointed shoes, late hours, intoxication, and roystering. Mr. Poins followed them all with scrupulous fidelity; but was quite ready to change them for sad-coloured doublets, square toes, early rising, temperance, and respectability, at a moment's notice.

When Hal becomes king, Poins is rewarded for his loyalty with a knighthood. The now "Sir Edward Poins" writes a dismissive letter to Falstaff informing him that he will only be allowed in the royal palace when it is open to the public for viewing tapestries.

In Robert Nye's 1976 novel *Falstaff*, written as the autobiography of the knight, Falstaff refers to Poins as Hal's squire. He says "I never liked Ned Poins. He didn't like me either", calling him "a greasy little prick". After saying that Poins was homosexual, he adds that he once spent the night with Mistress Quickly to win a bet, but was terrified by her body. He was first disturbed by the sight of her pubic hair, but ended up "shitting in the bed" when she tried to arouse him sexually. Mirroring Shakespeare's unexplained dropping of Poins, Falstaff says he will show his contempt for him by simply omitting him from the rest of the narrative: "it will give me great pleasure to write him right out of my book", as "one of the pleasures of authorship" is simply "*forgetting* a character".

## InfoBox

| Edward Poins | |
| --- | --- |
| *Henriad* character | |
| Poins and Hal, illustration by Fred Barnard | |
| First appearance | *Henry IV, Part 1* |
| Last appearance | *Henry IV, Part 2* |
| Created by | William Shakespeare |
| Portrayed by | Tony Beckley<br>Jack Galloway |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | royal hanger-on |
| Religion | Christian |
| Nationality | English |


title: Gdleen

abstract: Jikō Wakusei Gdleen, known simply as Gdleen, is a Japanese science fiction light novel series written by Yuto Ramon and illustrated by Hitoshi Yoneda. The first novel in the series, subtitled Kamigami no Mikotachi, was published in September 1989 by Kadokawa Shoten under the Sneaker Bunko imprint. It was adapted into an original video animation and released in 1990. A role-playing video game based on the anime was developed by Jorudan and published by SETA, for the Super Famicom in 1991.

text:
# Gdleen

***Jikō Wakusei Gdleen*** (自航惑星ガデュリン, *Jikō Wakusei Gadyurin*), known simply as ***Gdleen***, is a Japanese science fiction light novel series written by Yuto Ramon and illustrated by Hitoshi Yoneda. The first novel in the series, subtitled *Kamigami no Mikotachi* (神々の巫子たち, trans. *The Shamans of the Gods*), was published in September 1989 by Kadokawa Shoten under the Sneaker Bunko imprint. It was adapted into an original video animation and released in 1990.

A role-playing video game based on the anime was developed by Jorudan and published by SETA, for the Super Famicom in 1991.

## Plot

The plot of *Gdleen* revolves around Ryūn who crash lands on the planet Gdleen. There he meets Fana and the two are soon entangled in a long-standing war between the Babaress and Miyorl tribes.

## Media

### Light novels

*Jikō Wakusei Gdleen* series

| No. | Subtitle | Release date | ISBN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | *Kamigami no Mikotachi* (神々の巫子たち, trans. *Shamans of the Gods*) | September 1989 | 978-4044112011 |
| 2 | *Ryūn no Densetsu* (リューンの伝説, trans. *Legend of Ryūn*) | November 1989 | 978-4044112028 |
| 3 | *Gdleen Keikaku* (ガデュリン計画, trans. *The Gdleen Project*) | January 1990 | 978-4044112035 |

*Gdleen (Ai Hōrō Hen (愛・放浪編))* series

| No. | Subtitle | Release date | ISBN |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | *Atsuki Kaze no Otome* (熱き風の乙女, trans. *Maiden of the Passionate Wind*) | October 1990 | 978-4044112042 |
| 2 | *Kurenai no Senshi-tachi* (紅の戦士たち, trans. *The Crimson Warriors*) | December 1990 | 978-4044112059 |
| 3 | *Unmei no Hijiri Kyōdai* (運命の聖兄妹, trans. *The Fated Holy Siblings*) | May 1991 | 978-4044112066 |
| 4 | *Taiyō no Musume* (太陽の娘, trans. *Daughter of the Sun*) | November 1991 | 978-4044112073 |

### Anime

The OVA, called *Gdleen*, was directed by Takao Kato and Toyoo Ashida and based on a screenplay written by Michiru Shimada.

### Video game

The video game adaptation, called *Gdleen*, was designed by Yuhei Yamaguchi, while the music was composed by Psychosonic, You Ohyama, and Toshimichi Isoe. It is a single-player video game, and was the first role-playing game for the Super Famicom, released six months after the video game console's launch in Japan.

## InfoBox

| Jikō Wakusei Gdleen | |
| --- | --- |
| Cover of the first light novel | |
| 自航惑星ガデュリン<br>(*Jikō Wakusei Gadyurin*) | |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Yuto Ramon |
| Illustrated by | Hitoshi Yoneda |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| Imprint | Sneaker Bunko |
| Demographic | Male |
| Original run | September 1989November 1991 |
| Volumes | 7 |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Takao Kato, Toyoo Ashida |
| Written by | Michiru Shimada |
| Music by | Michiaki Kato |
| Studio | Tokyo Laboratory |
| Released | March 1, 1990 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Video game | |
| Developer | Jorudan |
| Publisher | SETA |
| Genre | Role-playing game |
| Platform | Super Famicom |
| Released | May 28, 1991 |


title: Ideology of the SS

abstract: The ideology of the Schutzstaffel, a paramilitary force and an instrument of terror of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, emphasized a racist vision of "racial purity", primarily based on antisemitism and loyalty to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Members of the SS were indoctrinated with the belief they were part of a "master race" and their core ideology was, even more so than Nazism in general, built on the belief in a superior "Aryan race". This led to the SS playing the main role in political violence and crimes against humanity, including the "mercy killing" of those with congenital illnesses and the Holocaust. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the SS and Nazi Party were declared criminal organizations by the international tribunal at Nuremberg.

text:
# Ideology of the SS

The **ideology of the *Schutzstaffel*** ("Protection Squadron"; SS), a paramilitary force and an instrument of terror of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany, emphasized a racist vision of "racial purity", primarily based on antisemitism and loyalty to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.

Members of the SS were indoctrinated with the belief they were part of a "master race" and their core ideology was, even more so than Nazism in general, built on the belief in a superior "Aryan race". This led to the SS playing the main role in political violence and crimes against humanity, including the "mercy killing" of those with congenital illnesses and the Holocaust. After the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, the SS and Nazi Party were declared criminal organizations by the international tribunal at Nuremberg.

## Ideological foundations

The ideology of the SS was built upon and mainly congruent with Nazi ideology. At its center laid the belief in a superior "Nordic race" and the "inferiority" of other races. The SS itself had four principal mythologies built into their intellectual edifice; these were blood (*Blut*), soil (*Boden*), ancestors (*Ahnen*), and kin (*Sippe*). For the SS, their perception of Germanic ethnicity was based on Hans Günther's theories of the Nordic race, members of which were alleged to possess particularly desirable mental and physical characteristics. These were tied to the natural environment from where they derived, a climate that imbued them with special cultural features atop a certain "hardness" and "combat readiness." Since these Germanic ancestors had "spread across many countries" over the centuries, Himmler's vision was to conquer areas previously belonging to them so as to bring together this pan-Germanic community once again. Re-acquiring these territories was viewed by the SS as its mission, beyond traditional nation-state imperialism, in order to convert these regions into agriculturally focused communities and create an organic utopia, "a close-knit community bound by blood and soil."

This racially aligned community, based on SS "blood and soil" ideology, was linked with the "idealization" of their ancestors, making their worldview likewise "historically oriented and retrospective." Ancient Germanic peoples formed prototypes for maintaining social cohesion under exclusivist racial auspices, since they were unlike their modern descendants that had been exposed to "racial interbreeding." Therein, an "ancestral inheritance" (*Ahnenerbe*) was ascribed to these predecessors, who were thought to possess a "suprahistorical source of wisdom"; they were likewise mythologized for their military prowess, providing the SS with inspiration and exemplary heroes to emulate. The SS ideology further linked this "ancestral heritage" with a collectivist notion of racial kinship, which SS members were taught to protect, being members of an "Order of the Race" (*Sippenorden*).

To this end, the SS served as the central institution for the broader extension of Nazi ideology and its realisation. Representing the ideological opponents of the regime in one form or fashion, historian George C. Browder identified the Nazi state's list of enemies as follows: enemy states, miscegenation, the Jews, Catholicism, freemasonry, Communism, the Republic (hostility directed at the liberal republican constitution and form of government), homosexuality, moral decay, capitalists, and the "Old Guard" (hate and fear of traditionally powerful influences and institutions of the old society as unjust, retarding influences in German society). These groups became the focus of the SS—the predominant instrument of power for the Nazi totalitarian state—as they sought to direct and influence ideology and ethics within the Reich.

Beginning as early as 1933, the leadership of the SS and the police organizations in Nazi Germany showed a "high-degree of interest in ideological indoctrination," since the SS leader, Heinrich Himmler was "convinced that *weltanschauliche Erziehung* (ideological education) was key to the coherence and effectiveness of his growing SS and police apparatus." One of the primary functions Himmler foresaw to this end was the power of ideology and indoctrination to prepare members of the SS to effectively police German society and extirpate the nation of its "enemies." Ideological training was designed to foster an attitude of "energetic ruthlessness, self-conscious determination," and the ability to adjust to any situation. Himmler intended for the SS to be a hierarchical system of "ideological fighters" from the organization's inception. The SS proved to be that and more, becoming the instrument most responsible for the actualization of Nazi beliefs. SS ideology comprised perhaps the single most significant philosophical dimension of Nazism, employing ontological, anthropological, and ethical elements to their methods under the guise of science, shaping the Nazi state's doctrine and crystallizing ideals (no matter how callous) into dogmatic truths. SS principles and thinking provided pseudo-scientific rationales for the devaluation of humanity, and ideological justification for Nazi violence and genocide.

The SS placed an intense emphasis in their indoctrination upon elitism and portrayed themselves as part of an "elite" order which "explicitly modelled \[themselves\] on an historical version of religious orders, such as the Teutonic Knights or the Jesuits, whose dedication to a higher idea was admired in these otherwise anti-clerical circles".

## Indoctrination

The strict training program was focused on the fundamental ideological principles of the Nazi Party, namely the belief in a "superior Nordic race", loyalty and absolute obedience to Adolf Hitler, and hatred for those who were considered "inferior people", with great emphasis on antisemitism. Students studied the most anti-Semitic passages of *Mein Kampf* ("My Struggle")—Hitler's autobiographical manifesto—and the *Protocols of the Elders of Zion*, a fraudulent anti-Semitic document first published in Russia in 1903, which purported to describe a Jewish plan for global domination. The SS educational leaders were also responsible for general anti-religious training, which was part of the Nazi attempt at "reversing the bourgeois-Christian system of values." Educational training was clearly linked with "racial selection, at the end of which stood the 'weeding out' and selective breeding of human beings"; this facet coincided the impending Nazi effort to Germanize Europe and formed part of the policy for the racial-imperialist conquest in the East.

Following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, membership in the SS grew considerably, prompting an increase in ideological instruction. The *SS-Schulungsamt* took over the task of heading the educational matters of the SS, led by Karl Motz. The SS published two additional magazines for ideological propaganda: the monthly *FM-Zeitschrift*, funded by 350,000 non-member financial patrons of the SS, and the weekly *Das Schwarze Korps*, the second biggest weekly paper in Nazi Germany. As part of an effort to professionalize their officers, the SS founded a Leadership School in 1934 at the Bavarian town of Bad Tölz; a second school was established at Braunschweig—these came to be known as SS-Junker Schools.

Beginning in 1938, the SS intensified the ideological indoctrination of the *Hitler-Jugend Landdienst* ("Hitler Youth Land Service"). It set out the ideal of the German "*Wehrbauer*" ("Soldier Peasant"). Special high schools were created under SS control to form a Nazi agrarian "elite" that was trained according to the principle of "blood and soil". While SS leader Heinrich Himmler remained concerned about the racial elitism of his SS, it was Reinhard Heydrich, Himmler's deputy and protégé, who focused his attention on their political indoctrination through the creation of "racial detectives" who would become Hitler's "ideological Shock Troops". This being done through the *Sicherheitsdienst* (Security Service; SD) which was tasked with the detection of actual or potential enemies of the Nazi leadership and the neutralization of any opposition. The SD used its organization of agents and informants, all part of the development of an extensive SS state and a totalitarian regime without parallel.

The SS practiced a wide variety of disciplinary measures, with punishments composed of reprimands, prohibition to wear the uniform, detention, demotion, suspension, and expulsion. Contrary to claims made by many SS-members after 1945, no one had to fear being incarcerated in a concentration camp for delinquencies. Starting in June 1933, the SS had its own courts to deal with crimes and misdemeanors within its ranks. On 17 October 1939, Himmler succeeded in having the SS put under its own special jurisdiction. Once this change occurred, SS-members could no longer be tried in civil courts. Even though Himmler and the other SS leaders repeatedly demanded sobriety within their ranks, alcoholism was a frequent problem. For example, between 1937 and 1938 some 700 members were excluded from the SS for "listlessness and laziness." In the same period a further 12,000 left the SS for unknown reasons, calling into question the institution's claims of "loyalty for life".

### Meritocracy

The SS itself was meritocratic in its general operational structure, following the Nazi principle of *Volksgemeinschaft*. In contrast to the German army's traditions, officer promotions in the SS were based on the individual's commitment and political reliability, not on Junker status or upper-class family background. Consequently, the SS officer schools offered a military career option for those of modest social background, which was not usually possible in the Wehrmacht. The relationship between officers and soldiers was also less formal than in the regular armed forces. Though SS membership was open to all who met Himmler's eugenic and genealogical standards, many of the men first to enter the SS came from the aristocracy. In addition, academics were twofold over-represented in the SS in comparison to the general population.

## Racial policies

Consistent with the eugenic and racial policies of the Nazis, Himmler advocated racial elitism for his SS members. Racial criteria like proving pure "Aryan" lineage back to 1750 or 1800 constituted part of the vetting for entrance into the SS. Throughout the existence of the SS, its members were regularly encouraged to procreate to maintain and increase the "Aryan-Nordic bloodline"; the SS members, along with their wives and children, were to become an exclusive racial community (*Sippengemeinschaft*) within the Nazi state. Along these lines, Himmler stated on 8 November 1937 at a *Gruppenführer* meeting in Munich in the officers' quarters:

> The SS is a National Socialist order of soldiers of Nordic race and a community of their clans bound together by oath ... what we want for Germany is a ruling class destined to last for centuries and the product of repeated selection, a new aristocracy continuously renewed from the best of the sons and daughters of our nation, a nobility that never ages, stretching back into distant epochs in its traditions, where these are valuable, and representing eternal youth for our nation.

Similarly, Himmler drew an analogy between the Nordic race and Bolshevism and argued during a speech that the triumph of Bolshevism would mean the extermination of the Nordic race. He also believed that once the SS had succeeded in being a racially pure organisation then other Germans would naturally join the SS. Correspondingly, SS men were indoctrinated with anti-Slavic beliefs.

Hitler subscribed to these views and once remarked that the "elite" of the future Nazi state would stem from the SS since "only the SS practices racial selection." Wives of SS members were scrutinized accordingly for their "racial fitness", and marriages had to be approved through official channels as part of the SS ideological mandate. According to their ideology, SS men were believed to be the bearers of the very best of the so-called Nordic blood, and it was their ideological tenets and scholarly justifications that shaped numerous Nazi actions and policies, merging racial determinism, Nordicism, and antisemitism.

An SS Doctors' Leader School was established in the small village of Alt-Rehse which encouraged the practice of "racial hygiene" and focused on the future of "German genetic streams" (*deutsche Erbströme*). Medical journal articles written by SS intellectuals stressed the importance of genetic heritage, arguing that "biology and genetics are the roots from which the National Socialist worldview has derived its knowledge, and from which it continues to derive new strength." In order to promote its role as a preserver of Germanic heritage, the SS founded the *Ahnenerbe* institute in 1935. It conducted anthropological, historical, and archeological studies to provide "scientific" backing for Himmler's ideals. From its founding until 1939, the institute commissioned studies on places like the Viking village Hedeby, and even conducted erratic studies into medieval witch-hunts; Himmler believed these witch-hunts were murders committed by the Roman Catholic Church against Germanic women of "good blood". After World War II started, the *Ahnenerbe* was heavily involved in medical experiments conducted at concentration camps—many of these experiments were cruel and inhumane, costing the lives of thousands of inmates.

Not only was contact with racial "others" a concern of the SS and its agencies, but attrition through war was an additional factor. Fear of losing a large percentage of Germanic racial stock once the Second World War began drove SS ideology, as victory in the field could not prevail without a corresponding biological legacy of children to carry on the mission. Himmler stressed that SS men were obliged to procreate to preserve Germany's genetic legacy so the "master race" could secure and sustain the "Thousand Year Reich" of the future.

However, SS men did not fulfill the expectations: at the end of 1938, 57% of the members were still unmarried, only 26% had fathered a child and just 8% had reached Himmler's desired goal of at least four children. Also in 1935, the SS initiated *Lebensborn*, an association created to provide unmarried, pregnant women of "good blood" with opportunities to deliver their children, who were then given up for adoption into families deemed racially suited. The *Lebensborn* facilities were situated in remote locations, guaranteeing the anonymity of the women. *Lebensborn* was only moderately successful, producing only an estimated 8,000 - 11,000 births in the ten years of its existence.

After the beginning of World War II, the SS recruited large numbers of non-Germans from the "inferior races" espoused by the Nazi and SS ideology. To justify this contradiction, Himmler began to stress a shared European identity more strongly in the early 1940s, promising that "all those who are of good blood will be given the possibility to grow into the German *Volk*". According to historian Mark P. Gingerich, of the one million *Waffen-SS* men who served during the war, over half were not even German citizens.

## Attitude toward religion

According to German historian Peter Longerich, Himmler saw a main task of the SS to be that of "acting as the vanguard in overcoming Christianity and restoring a Germanic way of living" for the coming conflict between "humans and subhumans". Longerich writes that, while the Nazi movement as a whole launched itself against Jews and Communists, "by linking de-Christianisation with re-Germanization, Himmler had provided the SS with a goal and purpose all of its own." Himmler was vehemently opposed to Christian sexual morality and the "principle of Christian mercy", both of which he saw as a dangerous obstacle to his planned battle with "subhumans". In 1937, he said that the movement was an era of the "ultimate conflict with Christianity" and that "It is part of the mission of the SS to give the German people in the next half century the non-Christian ideological foundations on which to lead and shape their lives."

The SS developed an anti-clerical agenda. Chaplains were not allowed in its units for instance (although they were allowed in the regular army). The *Sicherheitsdienst* (Security Service; SD) department of the SS and Gestapo under Reinhard Heydrich were used to identify and assist other Nazi organizations in suppressing Catholic influence in the press, youth clubs, schools, publications, and in discouraging pilgrimages and religious processions.

Himmler used the Jesuits as the model for the SS, since he found they had the core elements of absolute obedience and the cult of the organisation. Hitler is said to have called Himmler "my Ignatius of Loyola". As an order, the SS needed a coherent doctrine that would set it apart. Himmler attempted to construct such an ideology, and deduced a "pseudo-Germanic tradition" from history. Himmler dismissed the image of Christ as a Jew and rejected Christianity's basic doctrine and its institutions. Starting in 1934, the SS hosted "solstice ceremonies" (*Sonnenwendfeiern*) to increase team spirit within their ranks. In a 1936 memorandum, Himmler set forth a list of approved holidays based on pagan and political precedents meant to wean SS members from their reliance on Christian festivities. In an attempt to replace Christianity and suffuse the SS with a new doctrine, SS-men were able to choose special *Lebenslauffeste*, substituting common Christian ceremonies such as baptisms, weddings and burials. Since the ceremonies were held in small private circles, it is unknown how many SS-members opted for these kind of celebrations.

### Rejection of Christian precepts

Many of the concepts promoted with the SS violated accepted Christian doctrine, but neither Himmler nor his deputy Heydrich expected the Christian church to support their stance on abortion, contraception or sterilization of the unfit – let alone their shared belief in polygamy for the sake of racial propagation. This did not however represent disbelief in a higher power from either man nor did it deter them on their ideological quest. In fact, atheism was banned within the SS as Himmler believed it to be a form of egotism that placed the individual at the center of the universe, and thus constituted a rejection of the SS principle of valuing the collective over the individual. All SS men were required to list themselves as Protestant, Catholic or *gottgläubig* ("Believer in God"). Himmler preferred the neo-pagan "expression of spirituality". Still, by 1938 "only 21.9 percent of SS members described themselves as *gottgläubig*, whereas 54 percent remained Protestant and just under 24 percent Catholic." Belief in God among the SS did not constitute adherence to traditional Christian doctrine nor were its members consummate theologians, as the SS outright banned certain Christian organizations like the International Bible Research Association, a group whose pacifism the SS rejected. Dissenting religious organizations like the Jehovah's Witnesses were severely persecuted by the SS for their pacifism, failure to participate in elections, non-observance of the Hitler salute, not displaying the Nazi flag, and for their non-participation in Nazi organizations; many were sent to concentration camps where they perished. Heydrich once quipped that any and all opposition to Nazism originated from either "Jews or politicized clergy."

### Neo-pagan doctrine

In order to promote his religious ideas and link them to an alleged Germanic tradition, Himmler began to establish cult sites. The most important of these was the Wewelsburg, close to Paderborn. The SS leased the castle in 1934, after Himmler had first seen it in November 1933 while campaigning with Hitler. Originally planned as a school for high ranking SS-men, the castle soon became the object of far reaching construction plans, with an aim at establishing the Wewelsburg as the "ideological center" of the SS and its pseudo-Germanic doctrine. In accordance with the other efforts of Himmler to replace Christian rituals and establish the SS as the Nazi "elite", the Wewelsburg received special rooms, such as crypts, a General's hall with a sun wheel embedded in the floor and a crest hall. As a second location, Himmler ordered for a memorial of 4,500 standing stones to be placed near Verden an der Aller, the scene of the infamous Massacre of Verden in 782, calling the place *Sachsenhain* (Saxon Grove). At the site of the Externsteine, which at the time was believed to be close to the scene of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Himmler ordered excavations in order to prove that during the Middle Ages, Christian monks had destroyed a Germanic cult site known as an *Irminsul*. The SS also took over and remodelled Quedlinburg Abbey, burial place of Henry the Fowler, who Himmler celebrated for his refusal to be anointed by a Roman bishop.

Himmler instituted additional rites and rituals to try and foster a greater sense of belonging within the SS fraternal order. For example, each year on the anniversary of the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch, SS men duty-bound for the military units were sworn in at 10:00 pm in front of Hitler. There by torchlight, they swore "obedience unto death".

However, these attempts to establish a new, neo-pagan religion were unsuccessful. Historian Heinz Höhne observes that the "neo-pagan customs" Himmler introduced into the SS "remained primarily a paper exercise". Most of Himmler's attempts to link "old Teutonic" traditions into the spiritual life of the SS and society at large were criticised by the Church as a form of "new heathenism." Although the SS never endorsed Christian beliefs, the traditional rituals and practices of the Christian faith were generally tolerated and respected. According to Bastian Hein, two reasons contributed to Himmler's *Ersatz* religion never catching on: On the one hand, Himmler himself was in a constant search for religious certainty, leaving his doctrine vague and unclear. On the other hand, Hitler personally intervened after the churches lamented the "neo-heathenish" tendencies within the SS, telling Himmler and Alfred Rosenberg to "cut out the cultic nonsense".

## Culture of violence

The SS was built on a culture of violence, which was exhibited in extreme form by the mass murder of civilians and prisoners on the Eastern Front. In the summer of 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, participants in ideological training at the Fürstenberg SS school were sent out among the notorious *Einsatzgruppen,* where unit commanders were literally in competition to take the most violent and drastic measures against people deemed "enemies of the Reich." Many of these officers, whether trained at the SS schools at Fürstenberg, Berlin-Charlottenburg, or elsewhere, occupied *Einsatzgruppen* posts in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, and the Soviet Union, as well as other security police and Gestapo offices throughout occupied-Europe, where they carried out atrocities and mass murder. Training in the SS schools facilitated the necessary state of mind (*Haltung*) that rationalized violence—bolstered by stereotypes and prejudices—which was "reinforced by the preceding ideological manipulation."

Historian Hans Buchheim wrote that the mentality and ideal values of the SS men were to be "hard," with no emotions such as love or kindness; hatred for the "inferior" and contempt for anyone who was not in the SS; unthinking obedience; "camaraderie" with fellow members of the SS; and an intense militarism that saw the SS as part of an "elite order" fighting for a better Germany. The principal "enemy" of the SS, represented as a force of uncompromising, utter evil and depravity, was "world Jewry". Members of the SS were encouraged to fight against the "Jewish-Bolshevik revolution of subhumans".

The SS value of "fighting for fighting's sake" could be traced back to the values of the front-line German soldiers in World War I and the post-war *Freikorps*, and in turn led SS members to see violence as the highest possible value, and conventional morality as a hindrance to achieving victory. The SS mentality fostered violence and "hardness". The ideal SS man was supposed to be in a state of permanent readiness. As historian Hans Buchheim quips, "the SS man had to be forever on duty." For members of the SS their mentality was such that for them, nothing was impossible no matter how arduous or cruel, to include the "murder of millions". SS men who attempted to live by that principle of violence had an unusually high suicide rate. The "soldierly" values of the SS were specific to the German post-World War I concept of the "political soldier" who was indoctrinated to be a "fighter" who would devote his life to struggling for the nation.

Although not an SS document, the 1930 book *Krieg und Krieger* ("War and Warriors"), edited by Ernst Jünger, with contributions by Friedrich Georg Jünger, Friedrich Hielscher, Werner Best and Ernst von Salomon, served as an excellent introduction to the intellectual traditions from which the SS ideal arose. The essays in *Krieg und Krieger* called for a revolutionary reorganization of German society, which was to be led by "heroic" leaders who would create a "new moral code" based upon the idea that life was a never-ending, Social Darwinian "struggle" that could only be settled with violence. The book claimed that Germany had only been defeated in the First World War because the country had been insufficiently "spiritually mobilized", and what was required to win the next war was the proper sort of "heroic" leaders, unhindered by conventional morality, who would do what was necessary to win. The values of the "heroic realism" literature gloried the principle and practice of fighting to the death regardless of the military situation.

Out of the intellectual heritage of the "heroic realism" literature came a rejection of the traditional values of Christianity and the enlightenment (principles which were considered too sentimental); what emerged in its place was a cold indifference to the value of human life. Marriage of the image of the "fighter" from "heroic realism" literature and the practical need of the SS to serve as political cadres for the National Socialist state, led to the elevation of the concept of "duty" as the highest obligation of the SS man. The SS ethos called for "achievement for achievement's sake", where achievement ranked as the highest measurement of success. As such, winning at all costs regardless the sacrifice became a supreme SS virtue. The SS principle of loyalty above all, as reflected in the official slogan "My honour is loyalty", was severed from traditional moral considerations and instead focused entirely upon Hitler. The idealized and distorted version of German history, which the organisation espoused, was intended to instill pride in members of the SS. Himmler admonished the SS against pity, neighborly love, and humility, instead celebrating hardness and self-discipline. Indoctrinating the SS to perceive racial "others" and state enemies as undeserving of their pity, helped create an environment and a mental framework where the men saw acts of wanton violence against those same enemies, not as a crime, but part of their patriotic obligation to the Nazi state.

## Ideology of genocide

As historian Claudia Koonz points out, "the cerebral racism of the SS provided the mental armor for mass murderers." When Himmler visited Minsk and witnessed a mass killing of 100 people, he made a speech to the executioners emphasizing the need to put orders over conscience, saying that "soldiers ... had to carry out every order unconditionally". According to historian George Stein, unquestioning obedience and "submission to authority" on the part of the SS represented one of the ideological "foundation stones" to combat the party's enemies. As the *Waffen-SS* took part in the invasions of eastern European countries and the Soviet Union, the men wrote of their "great service in saving western civilization from being overrun by Asiatic Communism."

One *Waffen-SS* recruiting pamphlet told potential members that answering the call meant being "especially bound to the National Socialist ideology," a doctrine which implied both an ideological battle and a racial struggle against subhumans (*Untermenschen*) accompanied by an unprecedented brutalization of warfare. Participation in the "repellent task" of becoming psychologically involved in the killings was a rite of initiation of sorts and showed just how "internalized" the Nazi beliefs were for members of the SS. It was also part of the rhetoric of legitimation that gave meaning to their acts of extermination and habituated the SS to an ideology of genocide.

Special SS death squads known as *Einsatzgruppen* were used for large-scale extermination and genocide of Jews, Roma and communists. On 17 June 1941, Heydrich briefed the leaders of the *Einsatzgruppen* and their subordinate units on the general policy of killing Jews in the Soviet lands. SD member Walter Blume later testified that Heydrich called Eastern Jews the "reservoir of intellectuals for Bolshevism," and said that the "state leadership held the view that \[they\] must be destroyed."

The SS *Einsatzgruppen* were supplemented by the specially created Order Police (drawn from Germany and/or the local populations) who were indoctrinated by the SS to also take part in mass killings. Transforming members of the police organs of Germany into "instruments of genocide" was a marriage of "martial attitude" and "Nazi racial ideology," according to historian Edward B. Westermann. To this end, Himmler and Kurt Daluege created an organizational culture across the entire SS and police complex that embodied militarization, obedience, and encompassed a specific worldview, actualizing the most extreme National Socialist ideals in the process. Among these conceptions was the notion of the SS and the police as political soldiers with a higher calling against Bolshevism and Jews.

One Order Police participant named Kurt Möbius testified during a postwar trial, that he believed the SS propaganda about the Jews being "criminals and sub-humans" who had caused "Germany's decline after the First World War." He went on to state that evading "the order to participate in the extermination of the Jews" never entered his mind. One SS officer, Karl Kretschmer, "saw himself as a representative of a cultured people fighting a primitive, barbaric enemy," and wrote to his family of the need to desensitize himself from the mass killings. Burleigh and Wippermann write: "Members of the SS administered, tortured, and murdered people with a cold, steely precision, and without moral scruples."

The SS and its accompanying principles represented the realization of Nazi ideology and played a crucial role in the extermination of European Jews that followed the Nazis' rise to power. As historian Gerald Reitlinger states, while the idealism and machinery of the SS as a state within a state will all be forgotten, their acts of "...racial transplantations, the concentration camps, the interrogation cells of the Gestapo, the medical experiments of the living, the mass reprisals, the manhunts for slave labor and the racial exterminations will be remembered forever."

Historian Hans Buchheim argues there was no coercion to murder Jews and others, and all who committed such actions did so out of free will. He wrote that chances to avoid executing criminal orders "were both more numerous and more real than those concerned are generally prepared to admit". Buchheim commented that until the middle of 1942, the SS had been a strictly volunteer organization, and that anyone who joined the SS after the Nazis had taken over the German government either knew or came to know that he was joining an organization that would be involved in atrocities of one sort or another. There is no known record of an SS officer refusing to commit an atrocity; they willingly did so, and then cherished the awards they received for doing it.

Initially the victims were killed with gas vans or firing squad by SS *Einsatzgruppen* units, but these methods proved impracticable for an operation of the scale carried out by the Nazi state. In August 1941, SS leader Himmler attended the shooting of 100 Jews at Minsk. Nauseated and shaken by the experience, he was concerned about the impact such actions would have on the mental health of his SS men. He decided that alternate methods of killing should be found. On his orders, by spring 1942 the camp at Auschwitz had been greatly expanded, including the addition of gas chambers, where victims were killed using the pesticide Zyklon B. Industrialized killing at the SS operated extermination camps made these Nazi-conceived institutions into places where the productive output was corpses. By the end of the war, at least eleven million people, including 5.5 to 6 million Jews and between 200,000 and 1,500,000 Romani people had been killed by the Nazi state with assistance by collaborationist governments and recruits from occupied countries. Historian Enzo Traverso asserts that massacring millions of people was part of the Nazi ideology comprising "total war," which constituted their attempt at conquest for both "racial" and colonial purposes. Acting on Hitler's orders, Himmler was a main architect of the Holocaust and the SS was the main branch of the Nazi Party that implemented it.

## Post-war

On 23 May 1945, Himmler, who had been responsible for so much of the SS doctrine and that of the Nazi state, committed suicide after he was captured by the Allies. Other senior members of the SS fled. Chief of the Reich Security Main Office, SS-*Obergruppenführer* Ernst Kaltenbrunner, who was the highest-ranking member of the SS upon Himmler's suicide, was captured in the Bavarian Alps and tried at the Nuremberg Tribunal along with other leading Nazis like Hermann Göring, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, Hans Frank, among others. Kaltenbrunner was convicted of crimes against humanity and executed on 16 October 1946.

Other SS intellectuals and physicians were also brought to trial and convicted, including the SS *Ahnenerbe* doctors who killed the enfeebled and/or disabled persons deemed "unworthy to live" or who performed medical experiments on concentration camp prisoners. During questioning after the war, many of the SS doctors from the concentration camps avowed that the allegiance they had sworn to Hitler superseded any of the rituals performed at medical school, to say nothing of the Hippocratic Oath they had otherwise ignored. SS members absolved themselves through the pseudo-scientific justification that they were merely acting as instruments (men of action) on behalf of the German people in pursuit of "racial hygiene." Similar strategies of negation and dismissal of responsibility were displayed by SS men during their post-war trials, either by way of legitimizing their actions as a result of unconditional obedience to their superiors (intimating responsibility onto them) or through the use of innocuous-sounding bureaucratic language.

Given the impact that the Nazi ideology had on the European continent in causing a catastrophic war and unparalleled crimes, the Allied powers demilitarized Germany and divided the country into four occupation zones. They also began the process of denazification (*Entnazifizierung*). This was essentially an effort to "purge" the German people of the Nazi ideology that had pushed them to war and resulted in the Holocaust. Many members of the SS, including some from the upper echelons, faced little more than a stint in a prisoner-of-war camp and a short denazification hearing. One writer has said that they were treated with "remarkable leniency".

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121. Rhodes 2003, p. 159.
122. Schroer 2012, p. 38.
123. Burleigh & Wippermann 1991, p. 274.
124. Reitlinger 1989, p. 454.
125. Buchheim 1968, pp. 372–373.
126. Buchheim 1968, p. 373.
127. Buchheim 1968, p. 390.
128. Blood 2006, p. 16.
129. Evans 2008, pp. 256–257.
130. Gilbert 1987, p. 191.
131. Longerich 2012, p. 547.
132. Gerwarth 2011, p. 199.
133. Evans 2008, pp. 295, 299–300.
134. Traverso 2003, pp. 38–39.
135. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
136. Hancock 2004, pp. 383–396.
137. Rummel 1994, p. 112.
138. Snyder 2010, p. 416.
139. Traverso 2003, p. 75.
140. Shirer 1960, p. 236.
141. Longerich 2012, p. 3.
142. Longerich 2000, p. 14.
143. Evans 2008, p. 729.
144. Weale 2012, p. 410.
145. Wistrich 2001, p. 136.
146. Pringle 2006, pp. 295–296.
147. Lifton 1986, p. 207.
148. Ingrao 2013, pp. 258–259.
149. Ingrao 2013, pp. 228–248.
150. Bessel 2010, pp. 169–210.
151. MacDonogh 2009, pp. 348–362.
152. Höhne 2001, p. 581.

### Bibliography

### Online

## Further reading


title: Placoschema

abstract: Placoschema dimorpha is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae, the only species in the genus Placoschema.

text:
# Placoschema

***Placoschema dimorpha*** is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae, the only species in the genus ***Placoschema***.

## InfoBox

| *Placoschema dimorpha* | |
| --- | --- |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Family: | Cerambycidae |
| Genus: | ***Placoschema*** |
| Species: | ***P. dimorpha*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Placoschema dimorpha***<br>Chemsak & Hovore, in Eya, 2010 | |
|


title: WWOR EMI Service

abstract: WWOR EMI Service was a New York City-based American cable television channel that operated as a superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey-licensed WWOR-TV. The service was uplinked to satellite from Syracuse, New York, by Eastern Microwave, Inc., which later sold the satellite distribution rights to the Advance Entertainment Corporation subsidiary of Advance Publications, a Syracuse-based company that also owned various print, broadcast and cable television properties. In the New York metropolitan area, the superstation feed was not carried on local cable providers but was available to satellite subscribers. Two exceptions to this took place; once on February 26, 1993, after the World Trade Center bombing, when the local WWOR's transmitter was knocked out for the day. Cable providers in the New York metro area used the superstation feed as a substitute until the transmitter returned to service. The other was on Long Beach Island in Ocean County, New Jersey. Although that area falls within the New York City market, the Comcast system serving that area carried WWOR EMI Service instead of the local feed, as they were unable to obtain a microwave link to be able to carry channel 9. Months after the end of the feed, that system began carrying the local feed, which by that point was uplinked to satellite.

text:
# WWOR EMI Service

**WWOR EMI Service** was a New York City-based American cable television channel that operated as a superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey-licensed WWOR-TV (channel 9). The service was uplinked to satellite from Syracuse, New York, by Eastern Microwave, Inc., which later sold the satellite distribution rights to the Advance Entertainment Corporation subsidiary of Advance Publications, a Syracuse-based company that also owned various print, broadcast and cable television properties.

In the New York metropolitan area, the superstation feed was not carried on local cable providers but was available to satellite subscribers. Two exceptions to this took place; once on February 26, 1993, after the World Trade Center bombing, when the local WWOR's transmitter was knocked out for the day. Cable providers in the New York metro area used the superstation feed as a substitute until the transmitter returned to service. The other was on Long Beach Island in Ocean County, New Jersey. Although that area falls within the New York City market, the Comcast system serving that area carried WWOR EMI Service instead of the local feed, as they were unable to obtain a microwave link to be able to carry channel 9. Months after the end of the feed, that system began carrying the local feed, which by that point was uplinked to satellite.

## History

In 1989, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed the "Syndication Exclusivity Rights rule" (or "SyndEx") into law. This law meant that whenever a local television station had the exclusive rights to broadcast a syndicated program, that particular program must be blacked out on any out-of-market stations that were carried by local cable providers. After the law was passed, EMI purchased the rights to programs that no stations had claimed exclusive rights to, and launched a special national feed for cable and satellite subscribers outside of the New York City market on January 1, 1990, called the "WWOR EMI Service". Most of the syndicated programs that WWOR-TV had the rights to show in the New York City market were covered up by the alternate programming shown on the national feed—with the exception of most sporting events, local newscasts and other WWOR-produced programming such as *Steampipe Alley*, *The Joe Franklin Show*, the overnight *Shop at Home* program, the annual *Weekend with the Stars Telethon* for United Cerebral Palsy, the annual *Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon* for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and a select number of programs that were not claimed as exclusive to any market. Most of the programs came from the libraries of Universal Television (whose parent company, MCA Inc., owned WWOR-TV at the time of the EMI Service's founding), MGM Television and Quinn Martin, along with some shows from the *Christian Science Monitor*'s television service, as well as some holdover shows that had aired on the local New York feed before the SyndEx law's passage.

In mid-1996, EMI sold the satellite distribution rights to WWOR and Boston's WSBK-TV to Advance Entertainment Corporation. On December 31, 1996, AEC discontinued the feed, selling WWOR's former satellite transponder slot to Discovery Communications for the then six-month-old Animal Planet, which Advance still presently owns in part.

## InfoBox

WWOR EMI Service
| Type | Cable and satellite network |
| --- | --- |
| Country | United States |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Eastern Microwave, Incorporated (uplinker, 1965–1996; Superstation programmer, 1990–1996)<br>Advance Entertainment Corporation (uplinker and Superstation programmer, 1996) |
| History | |
| Launched | January 1, 1990 (1990-01-01) |
| Closed | December 31, 1996 (1996-12-31) |


title: George French (judge)

abstract: George French (1817–1881) was a British judge. He was the Chief Justice of both the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone and the British Supreme Court for China and Japan.

text:
# George French (judge)

**George French** (1817–1881) was a British judge. He was the Chief Justice of both the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone and the British Supreme Court for China and Japan.

## Early life

French was born in 1817, in Tortola, the West Indies, His father, Mark Dyer French, was a barrister in the West Indies who had also served at one time as Registrar of the Court of Common Pleas of the British Virgin Islands. French went to Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he obtained a B.A (jun. op.) in 1839 and an MA in 1842. His father died while he was at university and left him the relatively large sum for the time of £5,000.

## Career

French was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1844. As a barrister, French "did not have a large business in court." But he was well known in the courts as a law reporter for *The Times* and the *Law Journal* in the court of the Vice Chancellor. For a number of years he sat as a deputy county court judge.

In 1867 French was appointed Chief Justice of the courts of Sierra Leone. He also sat as a Judge of the Mixed Courts in Sierra Leone from 1871 to 1875. In his capacity as Chief Justice, he was also Acting Governor of Sierra Leone from December 1874 to 1875. In 1875, the Sierra Leone government faced serious financial difficulties and French was placed on a pension.

In 1877, French was appointed Chief Judge of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan in Shanghai, replacing Sir Edmund Hornby. In 1878, his title was changed to Chief Justice.

## Death

French died in office in Kobe on November 13, 1881. He was buried in Onohama Cemetery in Kobe. His coffin was carried to the cemetery by sailors from HMS Flying Fish. He was succeeded by Richard Rennie.

His grave was moved to Futatabi Cemetery after World War II where it remains to this day.

## Further reading

* Clark, Douglas (2015). *Gunboat Justice: British and American Law Courts in China and Japan (1842-1943)*. Hong Kong: Earnshaw Books., Vol. 1: ISBN 978-988-82730-8-9; Vol. 2: ISBN 978-988-82730-9-6; Vol. 3: ISBN 978-988-82731-9-5

## InfoBox

| George French | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Sierra Leone | |
| **In office**
1867–1875 | |
| Chief Justice, British Supreme Court for China and Japan | |
| **In office**
1877–1881 | |
| Preceded by | Edmund Grimani Hornby |
| Succeeded by | Richard Rennie |
|  | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1817
Tortola, the West Indies |
| Died | November 13, 1881
Kobe, Japan |
|  | |


title: Plantar cuneocuboid ligament

abstract: The plantar cuneocuboid ligament is a fibrous band that connects the plantar surfaces of the cuboid to the lateral surface of the cuneiform bones.

text:
# Plantar cuneocuboid ligament

The **plantar cuneocuboid ligament** is a fibrous band that connects the plantar surfaces of the cuboid to the lateral surface of the cuneiform bones.

## InfoBox

| Plantar cuneocuboid ligament | |
| --- | --- |
| Details | |
| From | cuneiform |
| To | cuboid |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | *ligamentum cuneocuboideum plantare* |
| TA98 | A03.6.10.522 |
| TA2 | 1947 |
| FMA | 44266 |
| Anatomical terminology | |


title: Martinique curlytail lizard

abstract: The Martinique curlytail lizard is an extinct species of lizard in the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae).

text:
# Martinique curlytail lizard

The **Martinique curlytail lizard** (***Leiocephalus herminieri**)* is an extinct species of lizard in the family of curly-tailed lizard (Leiocephalidae).

## Etymology

The specific name, *herminieri*, commemorates French naturalist Félix Louis L'Herminier.

## Extant specimens

There are five specimens of *L. herminieri*, of which three are deposited in the National Museum of Natural History, Paris, one in London, and the other in Leiden.

## Geographic range

Though Martinique is assumed as the geographic range of *L. herminieri*, there was some confusion about the type locality in the past. While André Marie Constant Duméril and Gabriel Bibron stated Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago as type locality, George Albert Boulenger has given only Trinidad and Tobago as *terra typica*.

## Biology and extinction

The biology of *L. herminieri*, the reasons for its extinction, and the date of extinction are unknown. This species was last collected in the 1830s.

## Description

Of the three specimens of *L. herminieri* in Paris, the largest female is measured at 139 mm (5.5 in) snout-to-vent length (SVL), and the largest male at 126 mm (5.0 in) SVL. The large head scales are more or less distinctly striate. The large dorsal scales are keeled and forming continuous oblique series. The smaller lateral and ventral scales are keeled too. The back is greenish brown with or without irregular yellowish crossbands. The head is yellowish with four or five black bars on the sides. The venter is yellowish. The throat has oblique black transverse bands.

## Further reading

* Boulenger GA (1885). *Catalogue of the Lizards in the British Museum (Natural History). Second Edition. Volume II. Iguanidæ ....* London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 497 pp. + Plates I-XXIV. (*Liocephalus* \[sic\] *herminieri*, p. 166).
* Duméril AMC, Bibron G (1837). *Erpétologie générale ou Histoire naturelle complète des Reptiles. Tome quatrième* \[Volume 4\]. Paris: Roret. ii + 571 pp. (*Holotropis herminieri*, new species, pp. 261–263 + Plate 44). (in French).
* Gray JE (1845). *Catalogue of the Specimens of Lizards in the Collection of the British Museum*. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Edward Newman, printer). xxviii + 289 pp. (*Leiocephalus herminieri*, p. 217).
* Schwartz A, Henderson RW (1991). *Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History*. Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida. 714 pp. ISBN 0-8130-1049-7.
* Schwartz A, Thomas R (1975). *A Check-list of West Indian Amphibians and Reptiles*. Carnegie Museum of Natural History Special Publication No. 1. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 216 pp. (*Leiocephalus herminieri*, p. 130).

## InfoBox

| Martinique curlytail lizard | |
| --- | --- |
|  | |
| Conservation status | |
|
Extinct  (IUCN 3.1) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Iguania |
| Family: | Leiocephalidae |
| Genus: | *Leiocephalus* |
| Species: | ***L. herminieri*** |
| Binomial name | |
| ***Leiocephalus herminieri***
(A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1837) | |
|
| Synonyms | |
| * *Holotropis herminieri*
A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1837 * *Leiocephalus herminieri*
Gray, 1845 * *Liocephalus* \[sic\]  *herminieri*
Boulenger, 1885 * *Leiocephalus herminieri*
Schwartz & Thomas, 1975 | |


title: Yukio Matsumoto

abstract: Yukio Matsumoto is a Japanese mathematician, who worked mostly in the field of geometric topology and low-dimensional topology. He was a former professor for mathematics at the university of Tokyo. He received his Ph.D in 1973 from the university of Tokyo and his supervisor was Ichiro Tamura. In 1984 he won the Iyanaga Prize of the Mathematical Society of Japan.

text:
# Yukio Matsumoto

**Yukio Matsumoto** (松本 幸夫, *Matsumoto Yukio*; born 1944) is a Japanese mathematician, who worked mostly in the field of geometric topology and low-dimensional topology. He was a former professor for mathematics at the university of Tokyo.

He received his Ph.D in 1973 from the university of Tokyo and his supervisor was Ichiro Tamura.

In 1984 he won the Iyanaga Prize of the Mathematical Society of Japan.

## Selected publications

### Books

#### Solo

* Matsumoto, Yukio (2001). *An Introduction to Morse Theory*. Translations of Mathematical Monographs. ISBN 978-0821810224.

#### Joint

* Kojima, Sadayoshi; Matsumoto, Yukio; Saito, Kyōji; Seppälä, Mika (1995). *Topology and Teichmüller spaces*. World Scientific Publishing. doi:10.1142/3122.

1. "Yukio Matsumoto". *researchmap.jp*. researchmap. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
2. Yukio Matsumoto at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
3. "List of Spring and Autumn Prizes Winners". *www.mathsoc.jp*.
4. https://www.gakushuin.ac.jp/univ/new/pamphlet-english.pdf