The History of Anti-Semitism

Who are the Jews?

Confusing concept J.P. Sartre, French philosopher, said:

“Anyone is a Jew who thinks he is one, or who is regarded by others as one.”

Important comment because it shows the arbitrary criteria on which hatred can be founded.

Jews, the Semitic tribe

Historically, they occupied the territory near the Dead Sea and the river Jordan.

Area became a Roman protectorate shortly after the time of Christ

70 AD rebellion against Rome The temple of Jerusalem destroyed, the

Diaspora begins, The dispersal of the Jews throughout the Roman

empire.

The Term Anti-Semitism

First used as a term in Germany in the 1870’s by Wilhelm Marr

Not accurate. Anti-Judaism would be more accurate

When does Anti-Semitism/Judaism begin?

Has existed since the earliest Jewish Communities

Why? Romans disliked the Jews because they did

not swear allegiance to the Roman gods.

11th Century- The Crusades

First real massacre of Jews in Europe Marks beginning of blind unreasoning

prejudice against the Jews. First crusade, 1096- Pope Urban II wants

to liberate Jerusalem from the control of Islam

Anti-Judaism’s Fantasy accusations

Stole Christian children-blood libel Poisoned wells Caused the plague Desecrated the communion wafer Engaged in a world wide conspiracy to destroy

Christianity There is not one documented case that the Jews

did any of this. Confessions achieved through torture.

Picture of a Jew Poisoning A Well

Restrictions on Jews in Middle Ages

Not allowed to own land, they could not farm Most professions off limits Not allowed to join guilds, barred from manufacturing

activities Not allowed to practice law or medicine Could not hold office Since Christians were prohibited from usury (lending

money) Jews took over banking functions. Jews prohibited from living in certain parts of town;

Ghettos in all major cities.

The Protestant Reformation

Was the split between the Catholic and Protestant Churches

Martin Luther accepted the Jews until they would not convert to Lutheranism

His writings later exploited by the Nazis His dislike for Jews is much different, based on

religion, not race. Samples of Anti-Jewish Themes in Martin Luther

’s Works

Between 16th and 18th Centuries

Changes in attitudes Economic expansion for all, including the

Jews Jews gained full citizenship rights in

western Europe France, Austria and Prussia were among

the first to grant Jews civil freedoms and rights of citizenship

Jews in Germany in the 1800’s

Very well assimilated into German society 1871 national laws made Jews equal Jews emerged from Ghettos Jews regarded Germany as a country

where merit counted above all They converted, dropped Jewish names Jews thought of themselves as Germans

of Jewish decent

Anti-Semitism still present

As Jews became successful, old anti-Semitic hatreds resurfaced

They were associated with capitalism With the massive changes in society from

the 18th century on, capitalism became vilified.

Anti-Semitism was everywhere

Rise of Modern Anti-Semitism

1882-1886 The beginning of racial anti-Semitism.

Emerged out of an emphasis on Nationalism

Germany unified under Bismark in 1871 An identity declared through exclusivity

and the creation of a common enemy

Before WWI

Germany still very prosperous Things are not bad, but when things go bad, the

Jews are blamed But society is changing, change is frightening Industrialization, displacement, impoverishment

of workers, insecurity People wanted an answer, a simple answer. Racial anti-Semitism grew in these conditions.

Racial Anti-Semitism

Late 19th century, ancient prejudices are recast in racial form

Use of modern science for racial theories But really a pseudo-science, not legitimate Helped to legitimize anti-Semitism Proliferated throughout Germany and all of

Europe, even in the USA.

Extermination

The notion came into its own before WWI Was a minority view. Not taken seriously by most people

Calls for the genocide or for the removal of the Jews to a distant land

Just about all that the Nazis thought about the Jews was already a part of public discourse before they came to power.

Austria

Where Hitler was from Hotbed of anti-Semitism Very large numbers of Jews lived in

Austria and Vienna Jews assumed leading positions in cultural

fields

Political Anti-Semitism

Also in France, the Dreyfus Affair In Germany, Anti-Semitism did not

become part of political programs of parties until the Nazis

How did Hitler Come to Power?

Looking at Nazi propaganda to see how he did it.

Early propaganda and Nazi party advertisements show how he appealed to the German public.

Look for anti-Semitism as a political tool

Historical Background

WWI (1914-1918): Very crippling defeat for Germany

The Weimar Republic was established after the monarchy came to an end after WWI

Nazi Propaganda

What is propaganda? --some sort of communication to large groups

of people for the purpose of manipulating their thoughts.

Joseph Goebbels giving a speech

Minister of Propaganda

Ensured a one-sided exposure of the public to Nazi ideology

What did Hitler want art (movies, posters, paintings, etc.) to do?

The worm

“Where something is rotten, the Jew is the cause.”

The worm is named “Jewish scandals”

The apple is named “the German economy”

Nazi Propaganda Posters after Hitler comes into Power

Germany on the Cross

Example of religious Christian symbolism used for Nazi propaganda

Anti-Semitic Germany being

crucified like Christ

First kind of “therapy” was euthanasia.

In the 1930’s they began to murder the mentally handicapped and the physically handicapped

T4 program of euthanasia, euphemism for murder of social outcasts

Hidden from the public, deception made easier by the confusion caused by the WWII (begins 1939)

Another “therapy”: the Holocaust

When Germany invaded Poland in 1939 WWII began

Now the Nazis had 3 million Jews in Poland to deal with

They applied what they had learned from their “euthanasia” program to the “problem” there

Einsatzgruppen were inefficient Gassing experience applied on a grand scale Making the “Volk” “healthy” and “beautiful”

translates into mass murder.

The Cultural war against the Jews

After the Nazis came to power and during the Holocaust

Anti-Semitic propaganda goes mainstream

Begins to appear in all sorts of cultural arenas

Its purpose was to project powerful images of internal and external foes

This helped to maintain the illusion of national unity

Helped to keep the people committed to the war effort

The idea of the conspiracy of the Jews

Symbolically represents many arguments against the Jews

What symbols do you see?

The Jew: War instigator and war lengthener

Particularly nasty poster

Blames Jews for WWII

Propaganda for Children

This is a children’s book

Called the poison mushroom

What does this picture imply?

The eternal Jew

Movie poster For the worst of the

anti-Semitic films

A scene in the film

It equates Jews to rats

Shows rats Too much for the

German audience People left the theatre But the less blatant

propaganda was successful

Conclusion

Why did the Germans accept the Nazis? It was a time of crisis. The party propaganda gave them easy answers

to the turmoil they saw around them Eventually this propaganda made it easier for

the Nazis to implement the Holocaust “We had the moral right to annihilate the people

who wanted to annihilate us.”

Nuremberg (Nuernberg) Laws of 1935

Nuremberg is where the Nazis had their party rallies.

These laws withdrew citizenship from Jews. Now they were only subjects.

Forbade marriage and sexual relations between Jews and Germans.

Jews could not employ German women under 45 in their household.

Identified who was Jewish by % Jewish blood. Organized persecution of Jews began in earnest.

The Fate of more Jews in the Hands of the Nazis

Poland had 3 million Jews Germany only 500,000 Suddenly the Nazis had more Jews to deal with. At one point they thought of a plan to send the Jews

to Madagascar British sea power curtailed this plan First Jews were “resettled” in ghettos When the USSR attacked in 1941, the Jews were

seen as a particular problem The Nazis began to think of a "solution”

The Unforeseen Danger for the Jews

Especially the Jews outside of Germany did not see the danger

They thought the Nazis were a passing phase to deal with and to survive

They could not anticipate what was coming. After the war began, it was difficult for anyone to

emigrate. Jews ordered to wear the Star of David in

November 1939, now they were easily identified

The Holocaust spread all over Europe

As the Nazis occupy different countries, the persecution and deportation of Jews and other “undesireable” groups spreads

Fall 1941-Winter 1942: Decision for the “Final Solution”

There was no written order for this. Hitler spoke out his orders. Decision made to exterminate the Jews under

Nazi control in first in mobile vans then in death camps.

December 11. Following bombing of Pearl Harbor, Germany declares war on the U.S.

January 1942: The Wannsee Conference. Coordination of the “Final Solution.”

Jewish Population in Europe

1933- 9 million Jews in Europe By 1945- 2 out of every 3 had been killed View map

Why the Jews?

Traditionally the scapegoats Hitler conveniently blamed them for

everything

Why The Jews

World War I 100,000 Jews serve Germany 12,000 killed Some even had converted to Christianity

Hitler and the Jews Hitler blames Jews for Germany’s loss in WWI Portrayed them as enemies and less than human

Why The Jews

Hitler and the Jews Encouraged scientists to prove they were

inferior Hitler believed in the superiority of the Aryan

race Needed to purify Germany

Called racial hygiene Racial theories turned into scientific proof

Why The Jews

Adolf Hitler did not invent prejudice Created an environment in which Holocaust could

take place How do we view someone who is different? Antisemitism dates back to the beginning of

Christianity rumors of blood libel Christians blame Jews for death of Jesus Policies against the Jews