Pre War Germany Anti Semitism

Question 1

Anti Semitism post ww1

Answer 1

1817-1918 - jews could not be professors in universities or officers in the army

1893 - union of Jewish citizens of the Jewish faith (cv)
It’s goal was to combat antisemitism via affecting public opinion and juridical means , apolitical

1897- Zionist union for Germany one year after founding of world Zionist union smaller than cv

Both dissolved after Kristallnacht

WW1 - turning point
Sparked wave of patriotism amoung Germans including amoung German jews

Prolonged war spurred antisemitism and 2 main myths about Jews

1) Jews didn’t participate in the war but wrong more than 10,000 died they were over represented
2) Jews led socialist/ communist revolutions at the end of the war and betrayed Germany

• Russian revolution
• Hungary
• Bavaria all 3 radicle revolutions in Bavaria were led by Jews

1918-19 revolution in Germany
Rosa Luxembourg
Karl Liebknecht

Question 2

Jews during Weimar

Answer 2

Contradictory era German jews finally received full emancipation but saw rise of radicle and violent antisemitism

Jews could now fully participate in society
Centre of Jewish culture but antisemitism grows

Jewish reaction - cv becomes more active and political supported and voted for liberals Catholics and socialists

Sep 1930 nazis win more than 100 reps in reichstag
1932 NSDAP wins 37%
Zionists tried to join cv in changing German atmosphere

Question 3

Jews in Nazi germany 1933 onward

30 Jan 1933 hitler chancellor within few months Germany transforms from democracy to totalitarian state

March 1933 - enabling act

June 1934 - night of long knives - purge of SA

August 1934 - Hindenburg dies hitler takes time of fuhrer and chancellor

Answer 3

Combination of top down and bottom up

Huge local differentiation
Jews in small villages affected earlier
Worse in Munich

1 April 1933 Jewish boycott - bottom up organised by Nazi party not Gov
Emphasized should not be violent
Not so successful , some areas nazis not strong, on Shabbat, some communists and women resisted

7 April 1933 law of restoration of proffesional civil service - top down
Did not use “Jew”

10 May 1933 - book burnings - bottom up
Organised by students

Question 4

Gleichschaltung (coordination bringing into line)

Answer 4

Nazis abolished the majority of non- nazi organizations BUT but Jewish orgs not abolished till 1938 why?

Because Jews weren’t part of gleichschaltung because Jews were not Aryans

First goal was to isolate Jews

Zionism becomes mass movement thought they could all move to Israel in 30 decades didn’t realize that in 3 years would no longer be a possibility

Liberal Jews had to reorientate