Jews in Nazi GermanyPre-WWII

Theories of the Holocaust

INTENIONALIST

The final extermination of the Jews was the plan from the beginning, as outlined and formed in Mein Kampf

FUNCTIONALIST

Final extermination was an evolved strategy, rather than a blue-print

Who is a Jew?

ACCORDING TO NUREMBERG LAWS 1935

Jew had 3 or 4 Jewish

grandparentsMischling

was a half-Jew who had two Jewish grandparents, practiced Judaism, and/or was a child of a ¾ Jew

Mischling 1st degreehad two Jewish grandparents, but did not practice Judaism and was not married to a Jew

Mischling 2nd degreehad one Jewish grandparent

Nuremberg Laws 1935

Stripped Jews of citizenship

Prohibited marriage and sexual relations with non-Jews Jews would be put to

death No Aryan woman

under 45 could be employed in a Jewish house

Nuremberg Laws 1935

Not allowed to go to parks, zoos, etc.

Not allowed to sit on benches, ride public transport

Banned from public school

No radios, furs Smaller rations

(when given) to Jewish families

Zionism

A movement in reaction to growing anti-Semitism

Believed only a Jewish homeland would solve the “Jewish question”

Some Jews thought Zionism was counter-productive WHY?

Basic Premise1. Anti-Semitism will not go away2. Jews are like any other nation, but without a homeland3. Palestine should be their homeland

To Leave? Or Not to Leave?

Since 1933, Jews leaving Germany

Rich and famous—no problem, any country was open

Middle class to poor, very difficult

If you couldn’t support yourself w/o a job, didn’t want you US Consulate told to

issue visas sparingly

Judenraus (Jews Get Out)

25% tax on assets to leave

Foreign Jews expelled 1938 increased

persecution Males and females had

to add Israel and Sara to their names

Had to carry identification cards (Kennkarte) at all times

Judenraus

By 1938, only 1/3 of German Jews had left Nowhere to go

Forced sale of Jewish businesses and property to Aryans Money not given to sellers,

but distributed by a bank In case of emigration, all

money was confiscated Jewish households had to

itemize their possessions

Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)

Oct. 1938, Polish Jews living in Germany were rounded up, left in no-man’s land between Poland and Germany 7,000 people

Herschel Grynzpan, living in France, heard about his families plight , shot a German diplomat