GERMAN HISTORY 1871-1945. Anti-semitism Anti-semitism (and any kind of ethnic/religious hate) always runs below the surface like a water main. In.

GERMAN HISTORY 1871-1945

Anti-semitismAnti-semitism (and any kind of ethnic/religious hate) always

runs below the surface like a water main. In times of crisis, the taps are turned on and the hate

manifests in a variety of ways.Most often, we simply ‘turn off the tap’ rather than ‘shutting

down the water main.’

Look at the timeline of anti-semitism and Categorise the incidents by type; Categorise the incidents by location.

Pre – World War 11871 – Germany becomes a nation

-The 1800’s were a time for strong nationalist feelings throughout Europe with the formation of a German state, the people of Germany became intensely nationalistic

There was an overwhelming sentiment that Germany (and the people of Germany) was the best at everything.

With the beginning of World War I in 1914 there was the belief by the German people that Germany would easily win because they were the best. Throughout the war the truth was kept from the people for ‘morale’ reasons, and they were lead to believe that they were in fact, winning the war.

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN GERMANY LOST WORLD WAR I ?

A) DISBELIEFA sense of “how could this possibly happen?” was felt by most Germans.

B) ANGER & BITTERNESS

i) At the leaders of Germany when they surrendered to the Allies

Ii) At the terms of the peace treaty (Treaty of Versailles) because the treaty held Germany responsible for the whole war, and financially accountable for the damages that occurred during the war.

C) DISGRUNTLED SOLDIERSMany soldiers, feeling that the leadership of the country had let

them down, turned to politics & joined political groups to bring about change.

A young soldier named Adolph Hitler was one of these young soldiers who joined and eventually lead a group called the National Socialists (Nazi)

D) SEVERE DEPRESSION

As a result of the peace treaty: Prime farmland (Alsace & Lorraine) were taken away from Germany resulting in a

loss of revenue & food

Enormous war debt to pay

Government overprinted money in attempts to get people to spend, instead it resulted in incredible inflation & the German currency became useless

General population went broke

E) SCAPEGOATING

Germans started looking for, & demanding answers from their leaders

Many of new political parties tried to cater to the public’s demands for answers by supplying them with ‘scapegoats’.

A scapegoat is a person or group that we place blame upon

Usually scapegoats are from the ‘they’ group, outsiders, foreigners, immigrants. Germans wanted scapegoats for the terrible difficulties they were enduring.

FACT: when economic times get tough, instances of racism & hate crimes increase.

NAZI’S ATTACK JEWS: 1933

Boycott of Jewish businessesForced retirement of Jewish judgesPublic burning of books written by Jew authorsAll Jewish businesses had to carry signs on them showing they belonged to Jews

NAZI’S ATTACK JEWS: 1935Nuremberg Laws:

Legal definition of Jew as anyone who has even one Jewish grandparent

Jews are declared non-citizensThe forbidding of marriage or relations between Jews &

Germans

NAZI’S ATTACK JEWS: 1938

Government back the destruction of Jewish property & assaults upon Jews. This was called Kristallnacht or Night of the shattered glass. Nov. 8, 1938

Census forces all Jews to state they are Jews – they are designated with the names Sarah or Judah

Major synagogues destroyed all over Germany Jews are forced to sell their businesses & deposit their money into German

banks. They are not allowed to withdraw it. Jews are forced to wear the Yellow Star of David Jewish children no longer allowed in school

NAZI’S ATTACK JEWS: 1939 Jews are forced to live in ghettos

NAZI’S ATTACK JEWS: 1941 “FINAL SOLUTION OF THE JEWISH QUESTION”

All borders are closed to Jews & mass executions begin Deportation of Jews in ghettos to concentration camps to be exterminated

CAUSES OF THE HOLOCAUSTPre-Existing Prejudice

Anti-Semitism

Economic Competition “We don’t like it when minorities are winning at this”

Scapegoating Blaming a group for the economic hardships of a nation

Technology and Ethics Ability to do something is not the same as a reason to do it.

Propaganda

ANTI-JEWISH PROPAGANDA IN NAZI GERMANY

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS:What is the difference between obedience & blind obedience?

What encourages obedience? Is it fear of those in power? A desire to please authority? A belief in authority? Peer pressure? A need to conform? Other reasons?

Why is it difficult to harm someone whom we are in contact with personally? Why is it somewhat easier to inflict pain (mental or physical) upon a person we only at a distance.