What's happened
Hessy Levinsons Taft, born in Berlin in 1934, was featured as a supposed Aryan baby in Nazi propaganda after her photo was submitted by a photographer as a prank. Her family kept her identity secret during the Nazi era. She died at 91 in 2026, viewing her story as a form of revenge against Nazi pseudoscience.
What's behind the headline?
The story of Hessy Levinsons Taft reveals the absurdity of Nazi racial ideology, as her family’s decision to keep her hidden was driven by fear of execution. The photographer’s prank, submitting her photo as a joke, inadvertently exposed the pseudoscience underpinning Nazi propaganda. This act of defiance highlights how individual courage can undermine oppressive narratives. Her later pride in the story underscores the importance of confronting and mocking racist pseudoscience, turning a terrifying episode into a symbol of resistance. The story also illustrates how Nazi laws did not initially target Latvian Jews, allowing her family to survive longer in Germany, but the escalating Nazi power forced their emigration. Taft’s life, marked by resilience and scientific achievement, exemplifies how personal stories can challenge historical falsehoods and serve as a form of moral revenge against totalitarian regimes.
What the papers say
The New York Times, The Times of Israel, NY Post all detail Hessy Levinsons Taft’s life and her role in exposing Nazi pseudoscience. The NY Post emphasizes her death and her feelings of revenge, while The Times of Israel highlights her family’s fears and her pride in the story. The New York Times provides a comprehensive account, including her later career and personal reflections. Despite slight differences in tone, all sources agree on the core facts: her photo was used as Nazi propaganda, her family’s secret, and her eventual recognition as a symbol of resistance. The sources collectively underscore the story’s significance as a critique of Nazi racial theories and her personal resilience.
How we got here
In 1934, Latvian Jewish opera singers living in Berlin hired photographer Hans Ballin to take their infant daughter's portrait. Ballin submitted her photo to a Nazi contest seeking the perfect Aryan baby, which was selected by Joseph Goebbels and widely circulated. Her family, aware of her Jewish identity, kept her hidden to avoid persecution. They left Germany in 1937, fleeing Nazi rule, and eventually settled in New York. Taft later pursued a career in chemistry and education, and publicly shared her story as a critique of Nazi racial pseudoscience.
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