The History of Anti-Semitism

1. The History of Anti-Semitism

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. Picture of a Jew Poisoning A Well

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Historical Background • WWI (1914-1918): Very crippling defeat for Germany • The Weimar Republic was established after the monarchy came to an end after WWI

22. Nazi Propaganda • What is propaganda? • --some sort of communication to large groups of people for the purpose of manipulating their thoughts.

23. 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?

24. The worm • “Where something is rotten, the Jew is the cause.” • The worm is named “Jewish scandals” • The apple is named “the German economy”

25. Nazi Propaganda Posters after Hitler comes into Power

26. Germany on the Cross • Example of religious Christian symbolism used for Nazi propaganda • Anti-Semitic • Germany being crucified like Christ

27. 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)

28. 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.

29. The Cultural war against the Jews After the Nazis came to power and during the Holocaust

30. 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

31. The idea of the conspiracy of the Jews • Symbolically represents many arguments against the Jews • What symbols do you see?

32. The Jew: War instigator and war lengthener • Particularly nasty poster • Blames Jews for WWII

33. Propaganda for Children • This is a children’s book • Called the poison mushroom • What does this picture imply?

34. The eternal Jew • Movie poster • For the worst of the anti-Semitic films

35. 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

36. 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.”

37. 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.

38. 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”

39. 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

40. The Holocaust spread all over Europe • As the Nazis occupy different countries, the persecution and deportation of Jews and other “undesireable” groups spreads

41. 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.”

42. Jewish Population in Europe • 1933- 9 million Jews in Europe • By 1945- 2 out of every 3 had been killed • View map

43. Why the Jews? • Traditionally the scapegoats • Hitler conveniently blamed them for everything

44. 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

45. 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

46. 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