Hitler and Nazi Anti-Semitism

Hitler's Early Anti-Semitism

• In 1922, before gaining power, Hitler expressed his intent to exterminate Jews, viewing them as a virus and a threat to the nation's health.
• Hitler envisioned public hangings of Jews in Munich and other cities until Germany was completely "cleansed."
• Nazi ideology intertwined hatred with idealism, portraying themselves as forces of light against the "satanic forces of degeneracy" represented by the Jews.
• Nazis believed world history was moving towards a cosmic confrontation between Aryans and Jews and they were meant to fight for the survival of the Aryans.
• Nazis saw this battle with the Jews as key for Germany's success.
• The Nazis interpreted Christianity as influenced by the "Jewish spirit," seeking to purge themselves of it.
• The Nazis combined rational/scientific and atavistic/apocalyptic elements, casting Jews both as a disease and a satanic force.

Anti-Semitism in Central Europe

• Resurgence of anti-Semitism occurred across East Central Europe between the world wars.
• Anti-Semitic parties and movements existed in Poland (Nationalist Endecja party), Hungary (Arrow Cross movement), and Romania (Iron Guard).
• The Iron Guard in Romania was known for extreme violence and sadism.
• Nationalist saw Jewish people as a threat to new nation states

German Anti-Semitism

• Germany was unique in its strict anti-Jewish laws regarding marriage and sexual relations.
• The government organized national programs against Jews, confiscating their property.
• The state became the primary vehicle for anti-Semitism in the 1930s.
• Eliminating Jewish influence was paramount for the Nazis.
• Hitler's goal was the complete elimination of the Jews.
• Despite Hitler's ambition, the process of eliminating Jews happened gradually, leading some to believe the situation wouldn't worsen.
• Hitler proceeded slowly due to the need to work with national conservative elites and the lack of a concrete plan of how to eliminate Jews

Early Nazi Violence and Discrimination

• Violence against Jews was present from the early months of Nazi rule in 1933.
• Stormtroopers engaged in violence against Jewish individuals and businesses with impunity.
• Violence included beatings, stripping, and attacks on homes and shops.
• Criticism abroad, especially in America, arose in response to the violence.
• The American Jewish Congress considered boycotting German goods & the Nazis responded by organizing their own boycots.

The Boycott of 1933

• The Nazi-organized boycott of Jewish-owned shops took place on April 1, 1933.
• Stormtroopers stood outside Jewish shops to discourage customers.
• Many Germans ignored the boycott, and major Jewish firms remained untouched due to their economic importance.
• Joseph Goebbels called off the boycott after a few days due to its lack of success.

Local Anti-Semitic Actions

• Local boycotts and intimidation against Jewish-owned shops continued throughout the 1930s.
• These actions were often initiated by local authorities and Nazi party officials.
• The idea of "working towards the Führer" involved individuals competing to find the most radical solutions to achieve Hitler's goals.
• Spontaneous expressions of anti-Semitism were framed as a common German sense of what was right.
• In Franconia in 1934, a local Nazi leader incited a violent anti-Semitic demonstration.
• Demonstrators rampaged through a town, attacking Jewish people and their properties.

Anti-Jewish Signs

• Villages and towns displayed signs boasting of being "Jew-free."
• Common signs said "Jews not wanted here".
• Signs used threats, religious appeals (demonizing Jews).

Discriminatory Laws

• The "Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service" in April 1933 dismissed Jews, communists, and social democrats from civil service.
• Laws discriminated against Jews entering the legal profession.
• Jewish doctors couldn't treat non-Jewish patients under national insurance healthcare.
• There were quotas on the number of Jewish school children in schools by clearing up space for "Aryans".

Defining a Jew

• Nazis believed a "biological" definition of a Jew existed but found it difficult to determine.
• Issues arose regarding individuals with one or more Jewish parents or grandparents.
• In 1933, the definition of a Jew was based on religious practice, not "racial" criteria.
• Widening the definition risked including more people and upsetting those with Jewish ancestry who served in the military.
• Restrictions were introduced in the army removing jews and losing many good soldiers in the process.
• Non-Aryan provisions offended the Japanese.

Why Jews Didn't Leave Germany

• Jews may not have left Germany because of anti-Semitism in neighboring countries & Nazi anti-Semitism may have seemed relatively ordinary but was not the case later on.
• Jews hadn't been taken to concentration camps at that time.
• Some Jews thought the Nazi regime was a phase.
• Jews may have felt that they haven't been forcibly sterilized or imprisoned.
• People thought the Nazis were only venting, and things would eventually calm down.
• Taking Hitler seriously, but not literally.
• People were reluctant to leave their home country and lose everything.
• Jewish Germans may identify as Germans first.

The Summer of 1935

• An integration vote occurs in Germany.
• Regime was still under economic pressure & decided to increase anti-semitism tension.
• Joseph Goebbels and Julius Streicher gave inflammatory anti-Semitic speeches.
• Goebbels stated they've "taken our eyes off the ball with the Jews".
• These speeches led to a resurgence of boycotts.
• In Weimar, Jews couldn't go to the cinema, and in Magdeburg, trams didn't allow Jews.
• Restaurants and inns closed to Jewish Customers.

Violence and Backlash

• A backlash against the violence began due to the disorder and hooliganism.
• Concerns arose among the middle classes about the rampaging behavior.
• In Breslau, stormtroopers beat up the Swedish consul, causing a diplomatic protest.
• Nazis started to make statements to calm down the situation and restore order due to Hitler's influence to maintain order.
• Hitler was torn between radicalism and conservatism, needing the support of business leaders, industrialists, and generals.
• Process of violence and anti-semitism moves back and forward ending in more intense action.

The Nuremberg Laws of 1935

Overview

• In August 1935, Hitler ordered a stop to "individual actions" against Jews.
• At the party rally of 1935 in Nuremberg

The Flag Law

• The swastika would be the flag of Germany under this law.

The Citizenship Law

• Citizens of the Reich had to be of "German or Kindred blood"
• This law took away Jewish citizenship, leading to them becoming subjects.

The Law to Protect German Blood

• Hermann Göring introduced this, which prohibited marriage and sexual relations between Jews and Germans.
• Jews couldn't employ young German women as servants.
• The SS became more involved because of their control over the police.
• Sexual activity out of wedlock between Germans and Jews could be considered a criminal act.

Hitler's Dilemma

• Activists wanted to pursue direct action, while conservatives wanted to use the law.

Impact and Ambiguity of the Nuremberg Laws

• Ambiguity in the definition of a Jew led to squabbling amongst officials.
• The SS became more focused on their desire for a racial aristocracy to defend those uncorrupted by Jewish blood.
• Genealogists became very important for finding documents to prove heritage.
• Anti-Semitism seeped into German life leading to people denouncing others.

Letters

• Letters from Social Democratic party agents described how anti-Semitic views people initially rejected were eventually incorporated.
• German-Jewish children started attending their own schools.

Immigration and Foreign Policy

• Around 37,000 people immigrated in 1933, and about 21,000-25,000 from 1934-37.
• The SS and Ikan were encouraging immigration.
• Victor Klemperer stayed until the firebombing of Dresden.
• Klemperer refused to leave Germany due to his German identity.
• Klemperer despised Zionism because he saw it as nationalism.

The Olympic Pause

• Hitler attempted to hide anti-Semitic views for public issue.
• Anti-Jewish signs became less prevalent, and violent actions decreased.
• There were three people with Jewish ancestry on the Olympic team.
• Hitler reinstated anti-Semitic views to start a new goal.

The Nazis viewed Jews as a threat and a virus to the nation's health, with Hitler planning their extermination. They saw history as a battle between Aryans and Jews, and purged any perceived Jewish influence. The Nazi ideology combined rational and apocalyptic elements.