Anti Semitism
o Means, hostility or hatred toward the Jewish people.
o A.S. developed due to a number of factors: They are a displaced people, living in other countries but refusing to give up any of their Jewishness to fit in with other countries – this brings a certain antagonism from those in the country who think, “if they’re going to live in our country they can at least live our way”. Secondly, Jews are seen as the Christ killers and for those ‘Christians’ (even just Christianised countries) who don’t value forgiveness, this gives them further reason to hate the Jews. Thirdly, the Jews tended to excel in financial professions and often made a lot of money. This creates something of a tall poppy syndrome where people hate them for succeeding where others haven’t.
o In the 19th Century, Jews had a good deal of acceptance within German society but late in that century a number of nationalist and racist groups emerged who saw the Jews as a challenge to the German culture and the pure Germans. Heinrich von Treitschke said, “the Jews are our misfortune” in 1880. The Nazis took this slogan up in the 1930’s. From the start of the 20th century, many Germans believed in the idea of the pure Aryan race and Jews were not part of this.
o These beliefs were prevalent in Vienna before WW1 and many believed Hitler developed his ideas during his lonely time in the streets of Vienna.
o Hitler believed in the Pure Aryan idea and saw Jews as a ‘parasite in the body of other nations”. (Mein Kampf).
The Nuremberg Laws
o The Nazis had already put in place a number of laws and policies against the Jews however, in September 1935, the Nuremberg laws took their practice of Anti Semitism to a new level.
o Two Laws established at this time:
1. Marriages between Germans and Jews were forbidden.
2. All German Jews were deprived of German citizenship. (they later had to define exactly what a German Jews was – this was anyone with three Jewish grandparents.)
Policy in Practice
o April 1933, ‘Law against the overcrowding of German schools’ saw Jews restricted from public schools.
o April 1933, SA men supervised boycott of Jewish shops
o September 1933, ‘Hereditary Farm Law’ banned Jews from owning land.
o September 1935, Nuremberg Laws: See above.
o July1938, All Jewish street names replaced.
o August 1938, Jewish men had to add ‘Israel’ to their middle name and Jewish women, ‘Sarah’.
o November 1938, All remaining Jewish Children removed from German Schools.
o 9 November 1938, Kristallnacht was the organised destruction of Jewish property across Germnay by the SA and SS. 90 people killed, 1000 Jewish shops or businesses looted and 191 synagogues burnt down. Initiated by Goebbels and other Nazi leaders. Was in response to the murder of a Nazi diplomat in Paris by a Jewish student. Following this was the closing or Aryanisation of all Jewish businesses.
o Propaganda was a major too to spread Anti Semitic ideas. Goebbels was highly Anti Semitic and used every avenue (radio, newspapers, magazines, films, school text books) to spread Anti Semitic feeling and to associate Jews with all that Germany hated, such as the defeat of 1918 and the economic hardship of the Weimar years (pre Stresemann).
Some useful sources:
A Children’s School text book (the Poisonous Mushroom) tells the story of a Jewish doctor who assaults his young female patients.
A message for the SS to local police commanders tells of upcoming attacks against Jews and their role in this. “Preparations must be made for the arrest of from 20000 to 30000 Jews with the Reich. In particular affluent Jews are to be selected.” R. Schnabel, Macht Ohne Moral. Eine Dokumentation uber die SS, Frankfurt, 1959, p.78
Goebbels, regarding Kristallnacht
“…it was neither organised nor prepared, but erupted spontaneously from the nation.” Volkischer Beobachter, 12 November 1938.
o Means, hostility or hatred toward the Jewish people.
o A.S. developed due to a number of factors: They are a displaced people, living in other countries but refusing to give up any of their Jewishness to fit in with other countries – this brings a certain antagonism from those in the country who think, “if they’re going to live in our country they can at least live our way”. Secondly, Jews are seen as the Christ killers and for those ‘Christians’ (even just Christianised countries) who don’t value forgiveness, this gives them further reason to hate the Jews. Thirdly, the Jews tended to excel in financial professions and often made a lot of money. This creates something of a tall poppy syndrome where people hate them for succeeding where others haven’t.
o In the 19th Century, Jews had a good deal of acceptance within German society but late in that century a number of nationalist and racist groups emerged who saw the Jews as a challenge to the German culture and the pure Germans. Heinrich von Treitschke said, “the Jews are our misfortune” in 1880. The Nazis took this slogan up in the 1930’s. From the start of the 20th century, many Germans believed in the idea of the pure Aryan race and Jews were not part of this.
o These beliefs were prevalent in Vienna before WW1 and many believed Hitler developed his ideas during his lonely time in the streets of Vienna.
o Hitler believed in the Pure Aryan idea and saw Jews as a ‘parasite in the body of other nations”. (Mein Kampf).
The Nuremberg Laws
o The Nazis had already put in place a number of laws and policies against the Jews however, in September 1935, the Nuremberg laws took their practice of Anti Semitism to a new level.
o Two Laws established at this time:
1. Marriages between Germans and Jews were forbidden.
2. All German Jews were deprived of German citizenship. (they later had to define exactly what a German Jews was – this was anyone with three Jewish grandparents.)
Policy in Practice
o April 1933, ‘Law against the overcrowding of German schools’ saw Jews restricted from public schools.
o April 1933, SA men supervised boycott of Jewish shops
o September 1933, ‘Hereditary Farm Law’ banned Jews from owning land.
o September 1935, Nuremberg Laws: See above.
o July1938, All Jewish street names replaced.
o August 1938, Jewish men had to add ‘Israel’ to their middle name and Jewish women, ‘Sarah’.
o November 1938, All remaining Jewish Children removed from German Schools.
o 9 November 1938, Kristallnacht was the organised destruction of Jewish property across Germnay by the SA and SS. 90 people killed, 1000 Jewish shops or businesses looted and 191 synagogues burnt down. Initiated by Goebbels and other Nazi leaders. Was in response to the murder of a Nazi diplomat in Paris by a Jewish student. Following this was the closing or Aryanisation of all Jewish businesses.
o Propaganda was a major too to spread Anti Semitic ideas. Goebbels was highly Anti Semitic and used every avenue (radio, newspapers, magazines, films, school text books) to spread Anti Semitic feeling and to associate Jews with all that Germany hated, such as the defeat of 1918 and the economic hardship of the Weimar years (pre Stresemann).
Some useful sources:
A Children’s School text book (the Poisonous Mushroom) tells the story of a Jewish doctor who assaults his young female patients.
A message for the SS to local police commanders tells of upcoming attacks against Jews and their role in this. “Preparations must be made for the arrest of from 20000 to 30000 Jews with the Reich. In particular affluent Jews are to be selected.” R. Schnabel, Macht Ohne Moral. Eine Dokumentation uber die SS, Frankfurt, 1959, p.78
Goebbels, regarding Kristallnacht
“…it was neither organised nor prepared, but erupted spontaneously from the nation.” Volkischer Beobachter, 12 November 1938.