1.2.19

Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

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Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

Antisemitism built up over time in Nazi Germany.

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The Nuermberg Laws

  • The hatred of Jews was legal in Nazi Germany.
  • The 1935 Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of their German citizenship and most of their civil rights.
    • These laws made marriage between Jews and Germans illegal.
    • Jews were forbidden to enter certain professions.
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Kristallnacht

  • Kristallnacht, or the "Night of Broken Glass", occurred on 9th November 1938.
  • Nazis attacked Jewish communities throughout Germany and Austria.
    • They destroyed Jewish businesses, hospitals, schools, cemeteries, and more than 1000 synagogues.
    • In the aftermath 96 Jews were murdered and 30,000 were arrested.
  • In November 1938 Germany made it illegal for Jews to carry firearms or other weapons.
  • Initially people did not grasp that the treatment of Jews would keep getting worse and worse.

Antisemitism in Nazi Germany (cont.)

Antisemitism built up over time in Nazi Germany.

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The Nazis view of Jews

  • The Nazis viewed Jews as vermin and the cause of all the problems in the world.
  • Whilst there were other antisemitic political parties, only the Nazi Party succeeded in gaining a mass following.
  • The Nazis saw Jews as an “alien race” that fed off the host nation, poisoned its culture, stole its money, and enslaved its workers and farmers.
  • The Nazis claimed that “race-mixing” through marriage weakened Germany.
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Nazi control of the press

  • As the Nazi regime tightened control over the press in 1933, antisemitic views were promoted to many different groups across Germany.
  • Public displays of antisemitism in Nazi Germany took a variety of forms, from posters and newspapers to films and radio addresses.
  • Respected German citizens gave lectures at universities and priests spoke in church against the Jews.
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A nation turning on Jews

  • The entire nation turned against people who were their friends and colleagues.
  • German Jews had even won medals for bravery during WW1.
  • All of this was forgotten and the plan to kill the Jews was carried out.
  • A small number of good people supported the Jews, often risking their lives to defend the Jews.

Jump to other topics

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.4Buddhism

2Year 8

3Year 9

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