Post on 26-Apr-2020
86
In the fall of 1935, the Nazi’s met to pass a series of citizenship laws in Nuremburg,
Germany. They argued that it was important for the country to clearly define who was and who
was not a German citizen. These laws would become the basis for all future action against the
Jewish people, who had previously been considered to be full German citizens.
Reich Citizenship Law of September 15, 1935
(Translated from Reichsgesetzblatt I, 1935, p. 1146.)
The Reichstag has unanimously enacted the following law, which is
promulgated herewith:
Article 1 1. A subject of the state is a person who enjoys the protection of the
German Reich and who in consequence has specific obligations
toward it.
2. The status of subject of the state is acquired in accordance with
the provisions of the Reich and the Reich Citizenship Law.
Article 2 1. A Reich citizen is a subject of the state who is of German or
related blood, and proves by his conduct that he is willing and fit to
faithfully serve the German people and Reich.
2. Reich citizenship is acquired through the granting of a Reich
citizenship certificate.
3. The Reich citizen is the sole bearer of full political rights in
accordance with the law.
Article 3 The Reich Minister of the Interior, in coordination with the
Deputy of the Führer, will issue the legal and administrative
orders required to implement and complete this law.
Nuremberg, September 15, 1935
At the Reich Party Congress of Freedom
The Führer and Reich Chancellor
[signed] Adolf Hitler
The Reich Minister of the Interior
[signed] Frick
Passports issued to a German Jewish couple, with “J” for “Jude” stamped on the cards.
December 29th, 1938
When he took over Germany, Hitler started to call himself “Fuhrer,” which means “Leader”
87
1. What do subjects get from the German government, according to
Article 1.1?____________________________________________
2. What two conditions are necessary for a German subject to be
considered a German citizen? (Article 2.1)
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
3. Who gets full political rights? (Article 2.3)_____________________
a. Give examples of what political rights might be?_______
______________________________________________
4. Who is given the power to make sure the law is followed? (Article 3)
______________________________________________________.
5. What is the difference between a Reich “subject” (Article 1) and a
Reich “citizen” (Article 2?) _________________________________
________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
6. What does Article 2 allow Hitler to do with all people who oppose his
goals for Germany?________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
7. Why do you think that most people living in Germany would not be
afraid of a law like this in 1935?______________________________
________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
Only German citizens were allowed to fly Nazi flags in Germany during the 1930’s.
Jewish businesses were clearly marked and boycotted.
88
Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honor of September 15, 1935
(Translated from Reichsgesetzblatt I, 1935, pp. 1146-7.)
Moved by the understanding that purity of German blood is the essential condition for the
continued existence of the German people, and inspired by the inflexible determination to ensure
the existence of the German nation for all time, the Reichstag has unanimously adopted the
following law, which is promulgated herewith:
Article 1 1. Marriages between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood are forbidden. Marriages
nevertheless concluded are invalid, even if concluded abroad to circumvent this law.
2. Annulment proceedings can be initiated only by the state prosecutor.
Article 2 Extramarital relations between Jews and subjects of the state of German or related blood are forbidden.
Article 3 Jews may not employ in their households female subjects of the state of German or related blood who are under 45
years old.
Article 4 1. Jews are forbidden to fly the Reich or national flag or display Reich colors.
2. They are, on the other hand, permitted to display the Jewish colors. The exercise of this right is protected by the
state.
Article 5 1. Any person who violates the prohibition under Article 1 will be punished with a prison sentence.
2. A male who violates the prohibition under Article 2 will be punished with a jail term or a prison sentence.
3. Any person violating the provisions under Articles 3 or 4 will be punished with a jail term of up to one year and a
fine, or with one or the other of these penalties.
Article 6 The Reich Minister of the Interior, in coordination with the Deputy of the Führer and the Reich Minister of Justice,
will issue the legal and administrative regulations required to implement and complete this law.
Article 7 The law takes effect on the day following promulgation, except for Article 3, which goes into force on January 1,
1936.
Nuremberg, September 15, 1935
At the Reich Party Congress of Freedom
The Führer and Reich Chancellor
[signed] Adolf Hitler
The Reich Minster of the Interior
[signed] Frick
The Reich Minister of Justice
[signed] Dr. Gürtner
The Deputy of the Führer
[signed] R. Hess
89
1. Summarize the preamble (beginning) of the Law for the Protection of
German Blood in your own words.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
2. What is the ultimate goal of Articles 1 and 2?________________
________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________.
a. Why would the Nazi’s be ok with a 55 year old Jewish
woman working as a housekeeper, but not a 35 year old
woman?__________________________________________
_________________________________________________
___________________________________.
3. What is the result of Article 4?_____________________________
_____________________________________________________.
a. Why would the Nazis be ok with Jews flying their own flags
if they were so against Jewish people?______________
_________________________________________________
________________________________________________.
4. Who has ultimate authority to enforce these laws? (Article 6)____
________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________.
All Jews had to wear a star that identified them as a Jew. Most would be in the form of a patch, that would be sewn onto a jacket or shirt and
had to be visible at all times.
90
91
92
Julia Julia decided not to be an active
member of the Jewish community, and has attended
only a handful of religious services over the last few years.
Her parents were married in 1878, and she was born in 1880.
Ruth Ruth is like her sister, Julia, and
does not attend regular services. She was born in 1880.
She and her husband attend Christian church services
weekly. Her husband was a German army commander in
WW1.
Jeanette Jeanette is Julia’s daughter. Jeanette is married to a very
prominent Nazi official and has received a special exemption
from the Fuhrer, declaring that she is full Aryan.
Paul Paul is Jeanette’s younger
brother. Paul was very close to his grandmother, who was a
devoted Jew, and Paul regularly attends religious services at his
local synagogue.
Hans Hans has recently connected with Paul and has begun to
attend services at Paul’s synagogue.
David David’s parents were married in
1936. David has two Jewish grandparents, both on his
father’s side. David is 7 years old.
Elizabeth Elizabeth is not actively involved in the Jewish Community. She
was born in 1909. She is married to a German
businessman.
Abigail Abigail does not like her family’s
faith, but her father, Hans, makes her attend religious
services. She is Roger’s younger sister, and is currently 13 years
old.
Roger Roger is not an active member of his Jewish community. His wife who he married in 1937,
also is not an active member of the community, but she has 3
Jewish grandparents.
93
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
-Martin Niemoller
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Both of the quotes above were written by German pastors. Niemoller had supported Hitler at first. When the German church had called several meetings to decide what to do about the Nazis and Hitler, Niemoller had been a very powerful voice supporting Hitler. Once he saw how far the Nazi’s were willing to go to achieve their goal, Niemoller renounced his support and spent all of WW2 in a concentration camp. In regret for his opportunity to have stopped Hitler before he became too powerful, he wrote the poem you see above.
Bonhoeffer was against the Nazis from the very beginning. He was an outspoken critic of Nazi ideology, but also of the German Christian Church, which he felt was abandoning their true faith by allowing the Nazis to take over Germany. He worked tirelessly to rally support against Hitler. Bonhoeffer’s work eventually went as far as a becoming a spy for the Allied forces and being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer was arrested in 1943 and executed in April of 1945 just weeks before the Nazis surrendered.
Writing Prompt: How can you use the information you have learned about how
Hitler and the Nazis came to power in Germany in the 1930’s today? Explain how you believe
the quotes given above relate to our responsibilities as American citizens today.
Niemoller Bonhoeffer