J.R.R. Tolkien's Resolute Response to Nazi Inquiry on Jewish Ancestry Resurfaces
In 1938, English author J.R.R. Tolkien was asked by a Berlin-based publishing house, Rütten & Loening, to provide proof of his Aryan descent for a German translation of 'The Hobbit.' This request came amidst Nazi Germany's efforts to purge non-Aryan cultural influences, led by Joseph Goebbels. Tolkien, who privately expressed his disdain for Nazi 'race-doctrine' as 'wholly pernicious and unscientific' and noted his many Jewish friends, drafted two responses. The more forceful draft, widely quoted today, saw Tolkien correcting the Nazi's understanding of 'Aryan' as Indo-Iranian rather than Northern European. He also expressed regret at having no Jewish ancestors, whom he referred to as a 'gifted people,' and criticized the intrusive nature of such inquiries, stating that a German name might soon cease to be a source of pride. While it is believed his publisher, Stanley Unwin, sent a milder version, Tolkien's strong stance against the Nazi regime's racial policies remains a significant historical moment. 
