A History of Antisemitism in Europe Leading up to World War II From the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Encyclopedia

Jewish Stereotypes developed Guilds increasingly denied membership to Jewish handicraftsmen (unless they converted). Stereotypes formed: Jews did not work hard or produce goods with their hands Jews chose to work with money because of their greed and their desire to manipulate and cheat Christians Jews were cowards in a fair fight and avoided military service Jews preferred meaningless study and frivolous entertainment to hard physical work Jews were insincere and potentially disloyal in that they converted to Christianity to obtain material benefits

Nineteenth century: rapid social changes Equality for all meant emancipation from previous restrictions on Jews Some worried that Jews were “displacing” non-Jews in higher education and stable, high-paying jobs previously held exclusively by Christians Antisemitic political parties developed

Modified stereotypes: Jews were secretly disloyal to their country New stereotypes for new times: Nationalism replaced religion as concern Modified stereotypes: Jews were secretly disloyal to their country Jews had assumed the leadership of the Social Democratic, and later, Communist movements in order to destroy middle class values of nation, religion and private property.

Post-Versailles Treaty myths Jews had started the war to ruin Europe financially and politically so they could be in control. Jews were war profiteers. With their inherited cowardice and instinctive disloyalty predisposing them against defending the nation, Jews were responsible for the depression of the troops and betrayed the army, causing the military defeat.

Post-Versailles Treaty myths At the peace negotiations, foreign Jews were responsible for dividing Germany from Hungary (Breaking up the Austro-Hungary Empire), while domestic Jews misled the nation to “surrender.” The Jews controlled the complex finances of the reparations system for their own profit. Jews used constitutional democracy to gain influence and to destroy the basis of superior Aryan blood by promoting intermarriage, sexual freedom, and miscegenation.

Reality During WWI for Jews 100,000 Jews served in German army during WWI 12,000 died in action In 1933, for example, a Protestant minister in Germany wrote “In the last fifteen years in Germany, the influence of Judaism has strengthened extraordinarily. The number of Jewish judges, Jewish politicians, Jewish civil servants in influential positions has grown noticeably. The voice of the people is turning against this.” [from Victoria Barnett, For the Soul of the People (Oxford University Press, 1992), 24.] In 1933, Jews made up < 1% of the population. Of the 250 Germans who held prominent government posts between 1919 and 1933, four were Jews.