Is Chivalry Deadly? Contemporary Chivalric Disposition, Christian Knights, and the Third Reich

This paper critically explores the concept of chivalry and its relevance in contemporary social science. Adopting a Nietzschean philosophical perspective, it challenges the assumption that chivalrous values are inherently good and virtuous. A novel framework is introduced conceptualising chivalry as a culturally evolved set of values surrounding fortitude, deference, and virtue, and applied as an interpretive lens to examine the notorious historical case of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. The study qualitatively analyses two educational documents and compares the values they promote with those of medieval knightly orders and the contemporary chivalrous ideals they inspired. Through a compelling selection of revealing quotes, the analysis explicates a disturbing continuity between the Nazi-era values that led to militarism, authoritarianism, idealised racial purity and, ultimately, heinous crimes against humanity, with those we continue to positively regard as chivalrous today. The analysis urges a revaluation of such values, and a more of honour, duty, and virtue. An appeal is ultimately made for substantially more critical academic discourse on chivalry and its broader implications in matters of significant interest to social scientists.