Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

Jewish Emigration in Nazi Germany

Jews emigrated for one of two reasons. Either they wanted to escape the Nazi anti-Semitism or the Nazis forced them to leave.

Emigrating by choice

Since the Nazis came to power in 1933, Jews had begun to emigrate from Germany.
- For example, 33,000 left in 1933.
As Nazi anti-Semitic policy developed, more Jews chose to leave Germany.
- By November 1938, 150,000 Jews had left.
Some Jews (Zionists) went to Palestine. This was encouraged and supported by the Nazis. Adolf Eichmann was in charge of the Resettlement Unit in the SS.
The Nazis encouraged emigration.

Those who refused to leave

Many Jews, particularly members of the older generations, refused to leave Germany.

Escalation of emigration

After Kristallnacht, many German Jews did not feel safe in Germany.
Emigration increased, especially parents sending their children to safety in Western Europe.

Nazi controlled emigration

As well as people volunteering to leave Germany, emigration was a policy used by the Nazis.
Emigration enabled the Nazis to seize Jewish assets. This brought economic benefits to the Nazis.
In 1938, the Nazis established the Central Office for Jewish Emigration.
- After the Anschluss 45,000 Austrian Jews were compelled to emigrate by the Nazis.

The Impact of War Against Poland on the Jewish Community

The war shaped Nazi policy towards the Jews. Their ultimate aim was to rid Europe of Jews in any way possible.

Nazi invasion of Poland

The Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939.
The Nazis used the war to radicalise their anti-Semitic policy.
Following the invasion of Poland by Germany and the USSR, Poland was split into three parts:
- The east was controlled by the USSR.
- The west was controlled by Germany.
- The centre was controlled by the 'General Government'.

General Government

Following the invasion of Poland, the Nazis had lots more Jews under their control (the Jewish population in Poland was 3,115,000)
The Nazis wanted to push all the Jews into the area controlled by the General Government.
- Conditions in this area were terrible, most Jews lived in ghettos.
The General Government could not cope with the thousands of Jews being sent to them. This would lead them to pressure the Nazis to kill Jews.

Madagascar

The idea of resettling all Jews to Madagascar came from France.
The Nazis hoped that four million Jews could be sent to Madagascar.
It was hoped the Jews would be out of the way and would eventually die off.
Eichmann (who had been in charge of the mass emigration schemes to Palestine) tried to formulate a plan.
However, it soon become apparent it would not be feasible, especially because the British navy could block the route.

Siberia

Following the failure of the Madagascar initiative, Siberia was proposed as an alternative destination.
This option depended on Germany conquering the USSR.

Evaluation of these policies

It is clear the Nazi policy towards the Jews was strongly determined by war conditions.
The plan evolved over time.
This shows that the 'Final Solution' was not inevitable in the early years of World War Two.

Historical assessment

Ulrich Herbert (1999): '... elements of particular situations and gradual processes of radicalization are joined, in a multiplicity of ways, with equally varied goals and basic ideological convictions. Nationalist Socialist extermination policies thus proved not to have been a secret event but part of the policy of conquest and occupation throughout Europe.'

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

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