Untermensch (German for subhuman) is a term from Nazi racial ideology. Derived from 19th century racial theory, Nazi ideology held that the Germanic peoples were the master race (Herrenvolk), and that all other peoples represented lesser races of varying degrees. Groups regarded as Untermenschen included Jews, Gypsies, Slavic peoples, Altaic peoples and Africans.

The term was borrowed from older 19th century sources.

See also

• Übermensch
• Nuremberg Laws
• Racial hygiene

External links

• Der Untermensch propaganda poster published by the SS. The collection of the Simon Wiesenthal Center says that the caption runs "A Soviet enemy of Asiatic, inferior descent" and that it was used as the cover page for the Heinrich Himmler's Der Untermensch brochure.