History of Anti-Semitism
Jews were victims of devastation long before the Nazis rose to power in 1933. Anti-Jewish policies originated in Rome in the fourth century after Christ. Under Emperor Constantine, Christianity became the state religion and the Catholic Church advocated for Christian policies. Christians believed their religion was supreme and it was their responsibility to convert as many non-believers as possible. Jews were doomed to hell if they refused to join the Christian faith. However, the Jews would not abandon their beliefs and continued to resist conversion. In response, the Catholic Church tried to “protect” Christians from the “harmful” Jewish teachings through the first anti-Jewish policies. Laws banned Jews and Christians from living together, marrying one another, or discussing religious issues together. Christians also burned the Talmud and prohibited Jews from obtaining public office. During the Middle Ages, the few Jews who did convert were judged by the amount of Christian “purity” they possessed. Labels included “half-new Christians,” “quarter-new Christians,” “one-eighth new Christians,” and so on (Hilberg, 6).
As centuries of failed attempts of conversion passed, Christians began viewing the Jews as a unique group that endangered their Christian faith. In 1542, Martin Luther shared his anti-Jewish views that appear very similar to Nazi ideology. He referred to the Jews as a plague of criminals and killers of Christ that live off the sweat and hard work of others (Hilberg, 15). His portrait of a malicious horde that wanted to take over the world lasted four hundred years. Anti-Semitism was all over Europe by the time Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.
Besides conversion, there have been two other anti-Jewish policies since the fourth century after Christ: expulsion and annihilation (Hilberg, 7). Expulsion became an alternative once conversion had failed. Anti-Semites of the nineteenth century hated the Jews and believed they were an unreasonable group that could not be changed or converted. Therefore, they must be expelled and excluded. In 1880, anti-Semites wrote a petition to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck requesting that he restrict the immigration of foreign Jews, exclude Jews from government positions, and ensure that schools only admit Christian teachers (Dawidowicz, 29).
Although the Nazis set a precedent with their efforts for complete annihilation, the Jews faced several violent attacks, known as pogroms, throughout history. In 1096, the Crusaders attacked several Jews in France and Germany that refused to convert. Over 2,000 Jews were likely killed during these disasters (Straten, 367).
The history of anti-Jewish actions and policies reveal what stereotypes the Nazis were able to utilize when justifying their radical ideology. When Hitler spoke to the German people, they understood his critical view of the Jews because they had been present for centuries.
Image: The graves of 800 Jews that were killed by Crusaders during a massacre at Worms in May 1096 (McFall).
As centuries of failed attempts of conversion passed, Christians began viewing the Jews as a unique group that endangered their Christian faith. In 1542, Martin Luther shared his anti-Jewish views that appear very similar to Nazi ideology. He referred to the Jews as a plague of criminals and killers of Christ that live off the sweat and hard work of others (Hilberg, 15). His portrait of a malicious horde that wanted to take over the world lasted four hundred years. Anti-Semitism was all over Europe by the time Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.
Besides conversion, there have been two other anti-Jewish policies since the fourth century after Christ: expulsion and annihilation (Hilberg, 7). Expulsion became an alternative once conversion had failed. Anti-Semites of the nineteenth century hated the Jews and believed they were an unreasonable group that could not be changed or converted. Therefore, they must be expelled and excluded. In 1880, anti-Semites wrote a petition to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck requesting that he restrict the immigration of foreign Jews, exclude Jews from government positions, and ensure that schools only admit Christian teachers (Dawidowicz, 29).
Although the Nazis set a precedent with their efforts for complete annihilation, the Jews faced several violent attacks, known as pogroms, throughout history. In 1096, the Crusaders attacked several Jews in France and Germany that refused to convert. Over 2,000 Jews were likely killed during these disasters (Straten, 367).
The history of anti-Jewish actions and policies reveal what stereotypes the Nazis were able to utilize when justifying their radical ideology. When Hitler spoke to the German people, they understood his critical view of the Jews because they had been present for centuries.
Image: The graves of 800 Jews that were killed by Crusaders during a massacre at Worms in May 1096 (McFall).