Thomas Mann's Powerful Broadcasts Warned Against Nazi Tyranny

A new analysis of the Nobel laureate's BBC radio messages from exile highlights his moral courage and refusal to compromise with evil.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A newly published analysis of radio broadcasts delivered by Nobel laureate Thomas Mann during World War II is offering a chillingly relevant perspective on the dangers of appeasement and the moral responsibility of citizens in the face of tyranny. The work, presented by Arnaldo Benini, meticulously documents Mann's powerful condemnations of Nazi Germany, broadcast via the BBC from his exile in the United States.

Why it matters

Thomas Mann's broadcasts stand as a powerful testament to the importance of moral courage, intellectual honesty, and unwavering resistance in the face of tyranny. His words serve not only as a historical record but as a vital warning for the present and future, reminding us that freedom demands constant vigilance and a refusal to compromise with evil.

The details

Forced to leave his homeland and stripped of his German citizenship, Mann found himself in Princeton, where he utilized BBC frequencies to denounce what he saw as Germany's moral collapse and the 'blindness' of his compatriots. Mann vehemently opposed the 1938 sacrifice of Czechoslovakia, arguing that the notion of choosing between abandoning a country and starting a war was a false dilemma. He also repeatedly addressed the escalating persecution of Jews, offering crucial testimony against those who claim ignorance of the Holocaust.

  • In October 1940, Mann's daughter Erika initiated his BBC broadcasts.
  • In January 1942, Mann specifically mentioned the fate of Dutch Jews in Amsterdam.
  • In March 1939, Mann recorded the 'wave of desperation' following the Wehrmacht's entry into Prague.

The players

Thomas Mann

A Nobel laureate who was forced to leave Germany and live in exile in the United States during World War II, where he utilized BBC radio to deliver powerful condemnations of the Nazi regime.

Erika Mann

Mann's daughter, who initiated his BBC broadcasts in October 1940.

Albert Einstein

A renowned physicist who was a colleague of Mann's at Princeton University.

Arnaldo Benini

The author of the new analysis of Mann's BBC broadcasts, titled 'I throw stones at Hitler's window.'

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What they’re saying

“Never has such an alternative existed, and peace could never be saved only by betrayal.”

— Thomas Mann (L'Osservatore)

“I throw stones at Hitler's window.”

— Thomas Mann (L'Osservatore)

The takeaway

Thomas Mann's broadcasts serve as a powerful reminder of the moral courage and intellectual honesty required to confront tyranny. His refusal to compromise with evil and his insistence on maintaining his German identity while condemning the Nazi regime offer valuable lessons for navigating contemporary geopolitical challenges and upholding the principles of freedom and democracy.