1 - National Socialism and the Jews

The study of National Socialism and its relationship with the Jewish population often focuses on the debate between two historical schools of thought:
Intentionalist perspective: Focuses on Hitler's long-term intentions and central role in the Holocaust.
Structuralist/Functionalist perspective: Focuses on the internal dynamics of the Nazi state and the gradual radicalization of policies.
A significant contribution to this field is the expansion of the Daniel Goldhagen thesis regarding "eliminationist" anti-Semitism.
This thesis was detailed in his $1996$ book, Hitler’s Willing Executioners.

Scholars examine whether anti-Semitism was uniquely German and what specific forms it assumed over time.
Traditional (Christian) Anti-Semitism: Rooted in historical religious conflicts and theological differences.
Modern (‘Racialized’) Anti-Semitism: Shifted focus toward pseudoscientific biological and racial classifications.
The role of Martin Luther ( $1483$ - $1546$ )
Luther was the father of Protestantism.
He authored the text On the Jews and their Lies.
This work was frequently cited and used by the Nazis to justify their anti-Semitic framework.

Hitler’s earlier writings and public statements provided a blueprint for his intentions:
Mein Kampf ( $1925$ ): Hitler explicitly called for the elimination of the Jewish people.
Das Schwarze Korps: In November $1938$ , this publication called for the ‘real and final end of German Jewry…’ and the ‘final extinction’ of what it termed a ‘parasitic race…’
Hermann Goering: In November $1938$ , he stated that ‘all accounts’ must be settled with the Jews specifically in the event of war.
Hitler’s Reichstag Speech: Delivered on $30$ January, $1939$ , this speech further articulated his threats against the Jewish population.

$1933$

Following the Nazi rise to power, the state began officially sanctioned persecution through legal channels:
Boycott of Jewish Stores: Organized by Julius Streicher in April $1933$ .
Julius Streicher ( $1885$ - $1946$ ): The editor of the anti-Semitic newspaper Der Stürmer.
Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service: Enacted on $7$ April $1933$ , this law aimed to remove non-Aryans (primarily Jews) from public service positions.
Ritual Slaughter Ban: A law was passed on $21$ April $1933$ , forbidding the ritual slaughter of animals, targeting Jewish religious practices.

$1935$

In September $1935$ , the Nuremberg Race Laws were passed to define and isolate the Jewish population from German society:
Reich Citizenship Law: Stripped Jews of their German citizenship.
Law for the Protection of Blood and German Honor: Criminalized marriage and sexual relations between Jews and non-Jewish Germans.
Definitions of Jewishness under these laws:
Anyone with $3$ or $4$ Jewish grandparents was classified as a Jew.
Anyone with $2$ Jewish grandparents who was either married to a Jew or still practiced the Jewish faith was classified as a Jew.
1st Degree Mischlinge: Others with $2$ Jewish grandparents who did not fit the above criteria.
2nd Degree Mischlinge: Individuals with $1$ Jewish grandparent.
These specific standards were intended for Germany and did not necessarily apply in German-occupied territories.

$1936$

By $1936$ , there was a strategic impasse over ‘Jewish Policy’ within the Nazi leadership:
Julius Streicher advocated for renewed and aggressive attacks on Jewish commerce.
Hjalmar Schacht ( $1877$ - $1970$ ), the President of the Reichsbank ( $1923$ - $1930$ ) and Reich Minister of Economics ( $1934$ - $1937$ ), complained to Hitler that further attacks would hurt the German economy.
Moderation prevailed momentarily as international opinion was a significant factor, particularly during the $1936$ Berlin Olympics.
Despite this, Schacht faced numerous enemies within the regime who favored more radical domestic policies.

$1937$

Different factions within the Nazi state promoted varying methods of dealing with the Jewish population in $1937$ :
Hjalmar Schacht (Economics): Continued to advocate for moderation to protect economic stability.
Radical Wing (Streicher, Goebbels, and the NSDAP): Pushed for heightened radical measures.
Hermann Goering (Luftwaffe and Office of the $4$ -Year Plan): Advocated for the ‘Aryanization’ (seizure) of Jewish property.
Heinrich Himmler ( $1900$ - $1945$ ), the Reichsföhrer SS ( $1929$ - $1945$ ): Viewed Jews as raw material for an SS empire within the state and as primary targets for an SS police empire.

The regime implemented policies to strip Jews of their assets and force them out of the country:
Aryanization: Divided into ‘voluntary’ and ‘compulsory’ phases of seizing Jewish businesses and goods.
Emigration: Both voluntary and forced departures.
Haavara (Transfer) Agreement ( $1933$ - $1939$ ): A deal intended to facilitate the emigration of German Jews to Palestine.
Population Statistics and Emigration Totals:
There were approximately $550,000$ German Jews in $1933$ .
Approximately $130,000$ Jews left Germany voluntarily between $1933$ and $1938$ .
Following the Anschluss, $50,000$ Jews were forced out of Austria within only $6$ months.
Perhaps another $120,000$ individuals left Greater Germany during the period of $1938$ - $1939$ .
Kristallnacht and Mob Violence:
SA mobs regularly rampaged and terrorized German Jews.
A violent, nation-wide pogrom occurred on $9$ November, $1938$ , known as Kristallnacht.
On $9$ - $10$ November $1938$ , approximately $200$ synagogues were burnt or destroyed across Germany, including the synagogue in the border town of Kleve.