The Nazi’s early policies on Jews

Page 1: Introduction to Jewish Persecution

Nazi's Early Policies on JewsObjective: Identify key events and laws that persecuted Jews before 1939.Key Concepts:

• Persecution: Treating individuals badly based on ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs, which can include social ostracism, job discrimination, violence, and systemic oppression.

Page 2: Establishment of Nazi Dictatorship (1933-39)

Key Events:

• Reichstag Fire: In February 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire, an event that was utilized by the Nazis to justify a crackdown on political dissent and to enact the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties and allowed for the arrest of political opponents.

• Enabling Act: Passed in March 1933, this act gave Hitler the power to enact laws without Reichstag approval, effectively establishing a legal dictatorship.

• Night of the Long Knives: In June 1934, purges were carried out against the SA (Sturmabteilung) and other political adversaries, solidifying Hitler's control over the party and the military.

• Hitler as Führer: Hitler’s consolidation of power culminated in his self-declaration as Führer (Leader) in 1934 after the death of President Hindenburg, allowing him to centralize authority in his own hands.

Methods of Control:

• Police State: The SA (Stormtroopers) and SS (Schutzstaffel) were instrumental in enforcing Nazi policies through intimidation, violence, and suppression of dissenting voices.

• Censorship: The regime exercised stringent control over media outlets, restricting access to information to eliminate dissent and promote Nazi ideology.

• Propaganda: Joseph Goebbels, as the Minister of Propaganda, utilized various media platforms to shape public opinion, create a cult of personality around Hitler, and justify persecution against Jews and other targeted groups.

Nazi Policies Impact:

• The regime implemented drastic changes across sectors, including education, where curricula were revised to reflect Nazi ideologies.

• Women's rights were curtailed as the regime promoted traditional gender roles focusing on motherhood and domesticity.

• Youth organizations like the Hitler Youth indoctrinated young Germans into Nazi ideology.

• Churches faced ideological battles, with the regime attempting to co-opt religious institutions to align with Nazi goals.

• Economic policies aimed at reducing unemployment included initiatives like the Labour Service, Labour Front, and Strength Through Joy, which tied laborers’ needs to Nazi propaganda and ideology.

Page 3: Recap on Jewish Persecution

Recap Overview:

• Propaganda demonstrated deep-seated hatred towards Jews through posters, films, and propaganda pamphlets portraying them as an alien menace.

• The education system implemented changes that marginalized Jews, depicting them as 'aliens' and inferior races within society.

• Jews faced catastrophic job displacement, forced out of professions and public life, and were systematically classified as 'undesirable,' which led to widespread incarceration in concentration camps.

Page 4: Hitler's Views on Jews

Source B: Depicts Jews as distorted figures, stripped of humanity and symbolizing evil.Source A: Hitler's declaration that upon gaining power, destroying the Jews would become his foremost task, indicating an extreme level of antisemitism embedded in his ideology.

Analysis Question: Evaluate the impressions of Hitler's antisemitic views using provided sources, citing how they reveal his intentions to erase Jewish identity and presence from German society.

Page 5: Boycott of Jewish Shops

Visual Propaganda: A poster illustrating how to identify and boycott Jewish shops; this economic attack aimed to undermine Jewish commerce and livelihoods. Included Multimedia Link: For additional reference on the boycott's impact and associated propaganda.

Page 6: Example of Persecution

Personal Account of Humiliation: A woman faced disgrace for associating with a Jew, illuminating the personal and societal impact of escalating Nazi policies toward Jews.

Page 7: Escalation of Jewish Persecution

Key Events and Policies (1933-1935):

• April 1933: SA organizes a nationwide boycott of Jewish shops, attempting to economically cripple Jewish-owned businesses.

• A year later, local councils impose bans that exclude Jews from public places, limiting their ability to socialize and work.

• Nuremberg Laws (1935): These laws stripped Jews of German citizenship, reinforcing social and legal exclusion from mainstream society and preventing intermarriage.

• Post-Kristallnacht: An escalation of anti-Jewish measures and violence followed, with increased state-sponsored violence and persecution.

Page 8: Kristallnacht Overview

Events of Nov 1938:

• Triggered by the murder of a German official by a Jewish individual in Paris, leading to widespread violence authorized by the Nazi regime.

• Coordinated attacks by SS operatives disguised as civilians were carried out against Jews, their businesses, and places of worship throughout Germany. Consequences:

• Over 800 Jewish shops were destroyed, marking a significant escalation in economic oppression.

• 91 synagogues were vandalized or burned during the violence, showing a blatant disregard for religious sanctity.

• Thousands of Jewish homes were attacked; it resulted in 91 Jews being killed and over 30,000 arrested and sent to concentration camps.

• Propaganda was utilized to portray these attacks as a response to Jewish violence, portraying the regime's brutality as justified and necessary in maintaining order.

• The Jewish community was collectively fined 1 billion Reichsmarks for damages incurred during the pogrom, showcasing the cruelty of the state toward its Jewish populace.

Page 9: Public Reaction to Kristallnacht

Public Misconceptions:

• Prior to Kristallnacht, many believed Nazi oppression was merely minor harassment and thus failed to act in defense of the Jewish community.

• After the events, denial of the regime's brutal tactics became untenable; Kristallnacht marked a significant loss of innocence for many Germans.

• Youth indoctrination mechanisms encouraged young people to dismiss or accept witnessing violence as an essential part of striving for a ‘clean Germany’ devoid of Jews and dissenters.

Page 10: Responsibility for Kristallnacht

Source Analysis:

• An anonymous report from a civil servant indicated that the violence executed during Kristallnacht was an orchestrated operation by the Nazis, rather than spontaneous public uprisings.

• The documented collaboration of the SS with local police and inaction during the attacks evidenced systemic complicity in the orchestrated violence.

Page 11: Jewish Refugees Seeking Escape

Challenges Faced by Jewish Refugees:

• Jewish individuals faced significant difficulty obtaining visas to emigrate to countries like the United States, as stringent immigration laws and quotas were often implemented.

• There was widespread apprehension among American citizens towards accepting Jewish refugees, leading to a rejection of many escapees despite the dire circumstances they faced in Germany.

Page 12: Effects of Kristallnacht

Impact on Jewish Community:

• The immediate damage from Kristallnacht illustrated the vulnerability of Jews in Nazi Germany, with extensive destruction of businesses and properties serving as a physical manifestation of hatred.

• The pogrom served as a justification for intensified acts of persecution, including bans on Jewish businesses, increasing exclusion from public spaces, and a rise in arrests (approximately 20,000 by November 12, 1938).

• Establishment of emigration offices aimed to forcefully relocate Jews, leading to processes of ghettoization where Jews were segregated from the rest of society.

Page 13: Assessment of Nuremberg Laws' Effects

Debate Question: Discuss the assertion regarding the Nuremberg Laws as the principal reason for Jews' struggles in Germany between 1929-1939. Consider the multifaceted nature of the Nazi persecution and societal factors that contributed to the overall plight of Jews during this period.