86

In the fall of 1935, the Nazi’s met to pass a series of citizenship laws in Nuremburg,

Germany. They argued that it was important for the country to clearly define who was and who

was not a German citizen. These laws would become the basis for all future action against the

Jewish people, who had previously been considered to be full German citizens.

Reich Citizenship Law of September 15, 1935

(Translated from Reichsgesetzblatt I, 1935, p. 1146.)

The Reichstag has unanimously enacted the following law, which is

promulgated herewith:

Article 1 1. A subject of the state is a person who enjoys the protection of the

German Reich and who in consequence has specific obligations

toward it.

2. The status of subject of the state is acquired in accordance with

the provisions of the Reich and the Reich Citizenship Law.

Article 2 1. A Reich citizen is a subject of the state who is of German or

related blood, and proves by his conduct that he is willing and fit to

faithfully serve the German people and Reich.

2. Reich citizenship is acquired through the granting of a Reich

citizenship certificate.

3. The Reich citizen is the sole bearer of full political rights in

accordance with the law.

Article 3 The Reich Minister of the Interior, in coordination with the

Deputy of the Führer, will issue the legal and administrative

orders required to implement and complete this law.

Nuremberg, September 15, 1935

At the Reich Party Congress of Freedom

The Führer and Reich Chancellor

[signed] Adolf Hitler

The Reich Minister of the Interior

[signed] Frick

Passports issued to a German Jewish couple, with “J” for “Jude” stamped on the cards.

December 29th, 1938

When he took over Germany, Hitler started to call himself “Fuhrer,” which means “Leader”

87

1. What do subjects get from the German government, according to

Article 1.1?____________________________________________

2. What two conditions are necessary for a German subject to be

considered a German citizen? (Article 2.1)

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

3. Who gets full political rights? (Article 2.3)_____________________

a. Give examples of what political rights might be?_______

______________________________________________

4. Who is given the power to make sure the law is followed? (Article 3)

______________________________________________________.

5. What is the difference between a Reich “subject” (Article 1) and a

Reich “citizen” (Article 2?) _________________________________

________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________.

6. What does Article 2 allow Hitler to do with all people who oppose his

goals for Germany?________________________________________

_______________________________________________________.

7. Why do you think that most people living in Germany would not be

afraid of a law like this in 1935?______________________________

________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________.

Only German citizens were allowed to fly Nazi flags in Germany during the 1930’s.

Jewish businesses were clearly marked and boycotted.

88

Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor of September 15, 1935

(Translated from Reichsgesetzblatt I, 1935, pp. 1146-7.)

Moved by the understanding that purity of German blood is the essential condition for the

continued existence of the German people, and inspired by the inflexible determination to ensure

the existence of the German nation for all time, the Reichstag has unanimously adopted the

following law, which is promulgated herewith:

Article 1 1. Marriages between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood are forbidden. Marriages

nevertheless concluded are invalid, even if concluded abroad to circumvent this law.

2. Annulment proceedings can be initiated only by the state prosecutor.

Article 2 Extramarital relations between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood are forbidden.

Article 3 Jews may not employ in their households female subjects of the state of German or related blood who are under 45

years old.

Article 4 1. Jews are forbidden to fly the Reich or national flag or display Reich colors.

2. They are, on the other hand, permitted to display the Jewish colors. The exercise of this right is protected by the

state.

Article 5 1. Any person who violates the prohibition under Article 1 will be punished with a prison sentence.

2. A male who violates the prohibition under Article 2 will be punished with a jail term or a prison sentence.

3. Any person violating the provisions under Articles 3 or 4 will be punished with a jail term of up to one year and a

fine, or with one or the other of these penalties.

Article 6 The Reich Minister of the Interior, in coordination with the Deputy of the Führer and the Reich Minister of Justice,

will issue the legal and administrative regulations required to implement and complete this law.

Article 7 The law takes effect on the day following promulgation, except for Article 3, which goes into force on January 1,

1936.

Nuremberg, September 15, 1935

At the Reich Party Congress of Freedom

The Führer and Reich Chancellor

[signed] Adolf Hitler

The Reich Minster of the Interior

[signed] Frick

The Reich Minister of Justice

[signed] Dr. Gürtner

The Deputy of the Führer

[signed] R. Hess

89

1. Summarize the preamble (beginning) of the Law for the Protection of

German Blood in your own words.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________.

2. What is the ultimate goal of Articles 1 and 2?________________

________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

a. Why would the Nazi’s be ok with a 55 year old Jewish

woman working as a housekeeper, but not a 35 year old

woman?__________________________________________

_________________________________________________

___________________________________.

3. What is the result of Article 4?_____________________________

_____________________________________________________.

a. Why would the Nazis be ok with Jews flying their own flags

if they were so against Jewish people?______________

_________________________________________________

________________________________________________.

4. Who has ultimate authority to enforce these laws? (Article 6)____

________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

All Jews had to wear a star that identified them as a Jew. Most would be in the form of a patch, that would be sewn onto a jacket or shirt and

had to be visible at all times.

90

91

92

Julia Julia decided not to be an active

member of the Jewish community, and has attended

only a handful of religious services over the last few years.

Her parents were married in 1878, and she was born in 1880.

Ruth Ruth is like her sister, Julia, and

does not attend regular services. She was born in 1880.

She and her husband attend Christian church services

weekly. Her husband was a German army commander in

WW1.

Jeanette Jeanette is Julia’s daughter. Jeanette is married to a very

prominent Nazi official and has received a special exemption

from the Fuhrer, declaring that she is full Aryan.

Paul Paul is Jeanette’s younger

brother. Paul was very close to his grandmother, who was a

devoted Jew, and Paul regularly attends religious services at his

local synagogue.

Hans Hans has recently connected with Paul and has begun to

attend services at Paul’s synagogue.

David David’s parents were married in

1936. David has two Jewish grandparents, both on his

father’s side. David is 7 years old.

Elizabeth Elizabeth is not actively involved in the Jewish Community. She

was born in 1909. She is married to a German

businessman.

Abigail Abigail does not like her family’s

faith, but her father, Hans, makes her attend religious

services. She is Roger’s younger sister, and is currently 13 years

old.

Roger Roger is not an active member of his Jewish community. His wife who he married in 1937,

also is not an active member of the community, but she has 3

Jewish grandparents.

93

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

-Martin Niemoller

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Both of the quotes above were written by German pastors. Niemoller had supported Hitler at first. When the German church had called several meetings to decide what to do about the Nazis and Hitler, Niemoller had been a very powerful voice supporting Hitler. Once he saw how far the Nazi’s were willing to go to achieve their goal, Niemoller renounced his support and spent all of WW2 in a concentration camp. In regret for his opportunity to have stopped Hitler before he became too powerful, he wrote the poem you see above.

Bonhoeffer was against the Nazis from the very beginning. He was an outspoken critic of Nazi ideology, but also of the German Christian Church, which he felt was abandoning their true faith by allowing the Nazis to take over Germany. He worked tirelessly to rally support against Hitler. Bonhoeffer’s work eventually went as far as a becoming a spy for the Allied forces and being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer was arrested in 1943 and executed in April of 1945 just weeks before the Nazis surrendered.

Writing Prompt: How can you use the information you have learned about how

Hitler and the Nazis came to power in Germany in the 1930’s today? Explain how you believe

the quotes given above relate to our responsibilities as American citizens today.

Niemoller Bonhoeffer