The Life of the Jews in Germany After the Nazi Rise to Power | Yad Vashem

Summary

The rise of Nazi power in Germany led to the systematic persecution of Jews, starting with anti-Semitic propaganda and laws that stripped Jews of civil rights. The boycott of Jewish businesses in 1933, the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, and the violent Kristallnacht in 1938 marked key milestones in their growing exclusion from society. Despite some early hopes for limited coexistence, the Nazis escalated their anti-Jewish policies, pushing Jews towards emigration. After the annexation of Austria, Jews faced even greater violence and property confiscation, and by the late 1930s, Nazi policies aimed to force Jews into fleeing the country, transforming them into refugees.

Takeaways

• 😀 In January 1933, around 500,000 Jews lived in Germany, constituting less than 1% of the population, many of whom viewed themselves as part of the German nation.
• 😀 After Hitler's rise to power in January 1933, anti-Jewish policies were implemented, affecting all areas of Jewish life, including exclusion from the public sphere and revocation of civil rights.
• 😀 The first major anti-Jewish action was a financial boycott of Jewish businesses on April 1, 1933, which faced international backlash and was largely ineffective.
• 😀 Anti-Jewish legislation escalated over time, including the 1933 Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, which dismissed Jews from public positions.
• 😀 The Nuremberg Laws of September 1935 led to the revocation of citizenship for German Jews, marking the peak of anti-Jewish legislation.
• 😀 With growing anti-Semitic sentiment, many Jews turned to organizations like the Jewish Youth Aliyah for support, offering social welfare, medical assistance, and education.
• 😀 Emigration from Germany increased, with 37,000 Jews leaving in the first year of Nazi rule, although most Jewish organizations did not believe the Nazis intended to expel Jews from Germany entirely.
• 😀 The 1936 Summer Olympics temporarily reduced visible anti-Jewish actions, but this was more of a public relations effort rather than a true shift in Nazi policy.
• 😀 After the Anschluss in March 1938, anti-Jewish violence surged in Austria, further accelerating the exodus of Jews from both Austria and Germany.
• 😀 The Evian Conference in July 1938 failed to offer a meaningful solution for the resettlement of Jewish refugees, as no country agreed to significantly increase immigration quotas.
• 😀 Kristallnacht (November 9-10, 1938) marked the height of anti-Jewish violence, with widespread destruction of Jewish properties, murders, and tens of thousands of Jews sent to concentration camps, leading to a final break in Jewish life in Germany.

Q & A

What percentage of the German population were Jews in January 1933?

In January 1933, Jews comprised less than 1% of the total population of Germany, around 500,000 individuals.

How did German Jews view their identity before Hitler's rise to power?

Before Hitler's rise to power, most German Jews identified as part of the German nation and viewed their Jewishness primarily as a religion or shared origin.

What was the first major anti-Jewish action taken by the Nazi regime in 1933?

The first major anti-Jewish action was a financial boycott of Jewish businesses, which began on April 1, 1933, organized by the Nazi Party.

Why did the international community react to the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses?

The international community reacted with backlash due to the discriminatory nature of the boycott, leading to interventions by foreign governmental agencies and businessmen.

What was the purpose of the Nuremberg Laws of 1935?

The Nuremberg Laws, enacted in September 1935, aimed to revoke the citizenship of German Jews and further segregate and marginalize them within German society.

What was the social and economic impact of the anti-Jewish laws in Nazi Germany?

The anti-Jewish laws led to widespread exclusion of Jews from public life, revocation of civil rights, dismissal from professional roles, and economic hardship.

How did some Jewish organizations respond to the growing persecution in Nazi Germany?

In response to increasing persecution, some Jewish organizations, such as the Right Representation of German Jews and Youth Aliyah, established social welfare systems, financial assistance programs, and educational initiatives to support Jewish communities.

What role did emigration play for German Jews during the 1930s?

Emigration became a key survival strategy for German Jews, with many fleeing the country to escape growing persecution, though not all Jewish organizations initially supported this move.

What happened during Kristallnacht in November 1938?

Kristallnacht, or the 'Night of Broken Glass,' occurred on November 9–10, 1938, when Jewish businesses, synagogues, and homes were destroyed, over 100 Jews were killed, and tens of thousands were sent to concentration camps.

What was the international response to the refugee crisis at the Evian Conference of 1938?

The Evian Conference, held in July 1938, was intended to address the refugee crisis, but no participating country agreed to significantly increase their quotas for Jewish refugees, leaving many without options for escape.

How did Nazi policies towards Jews change from 1933 to the outbreak of World War II?

Nazi policies towards Jews gradually became more oppressive, moving from social exclusion and economic discrimination to outright violence and forced emigration, culminating in the horrors of Kristallnacht and increasing deportations of Jews from Germany and Austria.