Lessons In History

From the time Hitler came to power in 1933 to Germany’s attack on Poland in 1939, the German public both accepted and rejected the escalating Nazi persecutions of the Jews. Various historical, political, and tactical factors account for the German public’s response to the persecutions during this time.

Historically, the Jews were persecuted throughout Europe for religious differences. For example, the Christian Crusades for thousands of years provoked violence, burned synagogues, forced conversion, and as a result, massacred thousands of Jews. In 1538, when the Jews refused to accept Lutheran Protestantism, Martin Luther began writing anti-Jewish publications. Luther proposed that "their homes should be destroyed…they should be put under one roof…and driven out of the country for all time." Also, beginning in 1500s, Jews were confined, isolated, and forced to reside in ghettos and gated communities. In these gated communities, Jews were only permitted to go out for business affairs.

The 18th century Enlightenment was a period of change in political thought. This movement sought to break away from the past by stressing reason, intellect, humanity before religion, and progress. Thoughts about the Jews changed as well; many Jews were given the opportunity to live and succeed outside their communities and many restrictions were removed. However, Voltaire, who led this movement, simultaneously paved the way for secular antisemitism, claiming that Jews were "most detestable" and yet stating, "we ought not burn them." Although there was more tolerance, antisemitism prevailed in the most influential writings, popularly embedding it in the minds of common people.

After WWI, Nazi propaganda scapegoated the Jews for their economic Depression. The German public was forced to view the Jews as war profiteers and the main cause of Germany’s loss in the war. The Jews "appeared to be the only ones prospering in evil times. Also, Jews already bore a reputation for sneakiness in money matters and many individuals were threatened by their plan of conquest." Due to these beliefs, the Germans blamed the Jews for the outcome of the war and the Treaty of Versailles.

It was easy for the German public to accept persecution of the Jews because of the historical prevalence of antisemitism. However, antisemitism alone was not the factor. Rather, the Nazis fabricated much of the antisemitic sentiment prevalent in Germany. Their propaganda was the most powerful tactic in the German public’s embrace of the Nazi persecutions. Nazi propaganda permeated all parts of German life. In order to train children at a young age, the Nazis controlled the schools. Film and art had to reinforce Nazi messages; signs also had to bear Nazi slogans. When Hitler and the Nazi party came into power in 1933, "antisemitism itself was not the main focus, though it was never absent from Nazi pamphlets or speeches." Also, when the Germans "voted for the Nazi party in 1932, they were voting for economic revival, and not for the extremist positions of the party." However, Hitler provided rationales for his acts against the Jews and spoke of a united Germany. Although more and more measures would be gradually implemented, nobody knew what was to come. However, the strategic methods employed by the Nazis to gradually accomplish their goals helped them gain public acceptance.

With Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, a racial definition was formed to dehumanize the Jews. With confidence, the Nazis created the Nuremberg Laws, which took away basic rights from the Jews. The Nazis cautiously monitored the public’s response every time they created a radical law. The Nuremberg Laws were not blindly admitted. It was estimated that "certain parts of the Catholic population show little consideration for the race laws…It is indeed desirable to stop antisemitic excesses which are condemned by the greater part of the population." Thus, the Nazis realized they had to act gradually for the public’s acceptance.

In 1938, as the German economy needed new sources of capital, the government encouraged expropriation. Nazi propaganda immediately claimed that expropriation was rightful, for the Jews had already been making profit at the expense of ordinary German citizens. Similarly, Jewish labor camps were seen as necessary and tactically vital for the German economy to grow. Propaganda prohibited the German public from seeing outside this realm. For minimal objections, the Nazis not only used extensive propaganda, but also "pursue their policy cautiously through the legislature, gradually withdrawing Jewish civil rights." Thus, more reasons for ordinary Germans to accept, though not actively, Nazi persecution of the Jews.

A stark example of the uncertainty of the German public response to Nazi persecution of the Jews during the time was Kristallnach, propelled by propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels. Antisemitic attitudes were engrained in society, but the public was not willing to act on it by illegal means. "The actions against Jewry in November have been received very badly...The destruction of the synagogues was declared an irresponsible act." Once again, it was important for the Nazis to be cautious while trying to achieve their ultimate goal. The public was unaware of the mass destruction that was to follow. Ordinary Germans watched, but did not approve of it. Instead, for the sake of the good of Germany, it was vital for orderly opposition to be achieved through legal means. If the Nazis did not move cautiously, they would meet rejection. Once again, a good deal of propaganda had to be used. Also, the leaders had to wait for the right moment to accomplish their ultimate goal.

The German public response to Nazi persecutions of the Jews from 1933-1939 was very much in the hands of the Nazi leaders, who controlled the public’s overall response. Although many times, they met with indifference, as much of the German public continued to reside with the Jews while laws and changes were being carried out, propaganda would eventually create more hostility than there actually was. It was a matter of strategy, the right place and time, under the correct political conditions, with years of antisemitism by their side. Under sharp manipulations, the public would eventually relent.

-STUPOR