When I was in 11th grade, I took a PSEO History of the Holocaust course and it caused me to consider various aspects of the Holocaust that I'd never thought about previously. I'd wondered how the German soldiers could sink to such a depraved level as to engage in and support the atrocious treatment aimed at the Jewish people...during my research for this class, I realized that the origins of anti-semitism dates all the way back to Bible times. I don't know how I hadn't made this connection before, as I've read the Biblical narratives of Jewish persecution a decent number of times over the years. Somehow I didn't tie together anti-semitism then and anti-semitism in the 1940's, but it's an integral aspect of understanding the Holocaust. Hatred of Jews wasn't a new concept the Germans introduced...instead they, along with much of the world, had been steeping in anti-semitism for generation upon generation. It was, tragically, part of the non-Jewish world's heritage to varying extents. The research paper below was one of the assignments I wrote attempting to put into words this realization I had made. It doesn't excuse the Nazi's barbaric actions, it simply explores the various historical factors that influenced their view of the Jewish population leading up to the Holocaust.
I'd love to hear any thoughts/views you may have on this issue, so feel free to drop a note in the comment box below:)
How on Earth Could the Holocaust Have Occurred?
The Holocaust is an event every child briefly learns about in school without delving too deeply into the full extent of the atrocities inflicted on those deemed as “undesirable.” Even less attention is given to the history of anti-Semitism and how that enabled Hitler to incite his followers to mistreat those they considered unworthy of life. Let us now focus more closely on that particular aspect.
The origins of anti-Semitism can be traced back to ancient times when the polytheistic Romans harbored suspicion toward the monotheistic Jews. They worried that their refusal to worship Rome's pantheon would provoke the gods, leading to problems for the Romans. The Jews have since been on the receiving end of significant hatred and discrimination through the centuries. In his book, Anti-Semitism Through the Ages, Niewyk, identifies the five primary sources of anti-Semitism: Christian, commercial, liberalism and progressivism, anthropology, and ethnic nationalism.[1] Niewyk dives deeper into these origins in his book, but here’s a brief overview of what each of these five sources meant.
Christian anti-Semitism: prior to the Holocaust, Christians held the belief that Jews were responsible for the death of Christ and accordingly subjected them to persecution, even executing them during crusades in the Middle Ages. Commercial anti-Semitism: Jews were commonly perceived as deceitful and manipulative, resulting in restrictions on what forms of commerce they could participate in. This stereotype even shows up in classic literature such as The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, in the character of Shylock the Jew.[2] Liberalism and progressivism: These ideologies rightfully aimed to grant Jews the rights of free citizens, protecting them from religious persecution and discriminatory limitations. However, this sparked increased outbursts of anti-Semitic sentiments among those who viewed Jews as economic rivals. Anthropology: Jews were deemed an inferior race long before the rise of the Nazis, due to alleged genetic deficiencies. Ethnic-Nationalism: Without control of a nation to call their own, Jews were ‘rootless’ and consequently vulnerable. They faced disdain for residing in foreign lands and contaminating pure bloodlines. [1]
Hitler leveraged this historical mistreatment to further his own agenda. He himself, in one of his speeches, mentioned several of the origins explored above. “I’ve always said the Jews are the most stupid devils that exist. They don’t have a true musician, thinker, no art, nothing, absolutely nothing. They are liars, forgers deceivers… If the Jew were not washed by the Aryan, he wouldn’t be able to see out of his eyes for filth. We can live without the Jews. But they can’t live without us.”[4]
Throughout the ages, Jews have been unfairly blamed for events such as the Black Death of 1348 and were consequently completely evicted from certain nations such as England and Spain at various times. Also during the Middle Ages, Jews were frequently targeted in violent mob attacks, known as pogroms. Jewish communities were plundered and destroyed, the women raped, and large numbers of people killed. They were restricted to living in certain areas, required to wear identifying badges, and were subject to strict regulations on their movements and occupations.[5] “Hostility to Jews was sometimes restrained, sometimes violent, sometimes epidemic, always endemic.”[6] Even before the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime in Germany, the persecution of Jews was a recurring theme. The difference lay in Hitler's shift from religious persecution to racial discrimination. Hitler and his accomplices could justify their evil treatment of the Jews simply by utilizing and building on their historical mistreatment. ’
The Holocaust is attributed to Adolph Hitler and his regime, but in reality, it represents the culmination of centuries worth of hatred and discrimination against the Jewish people. He was able to simply capitalize on what was already in existence and further it to his advantage. This would also explain why most Nazi soldiers who carried out the dirty work complied with the atrocities instead of recognizing the immorality of their actions. They had, over a prolonged period, been brainwashed to believe that mistreating Jews was acceptable due to the long-standing demonization and dehumanization of the Jewish population. The Nazis were naturally operating under the belief that Jews were not deserving of being treated as human beings with respect. They were simply following the beliefs they'd been indoctrinated with for generations.
All these factors converged to create the perfect opportunity for a charismatic leader to take control and thereby, in the end, bear the blame. That leader happened to be Adolf Hitler, a name that elicits strong negative emotions in most who hear it. However, historical analysis reveals that he was just a small component of the catastrophic tragedy we know today as the Holocaust.
Works Cited
[1] Niewyk, Donald L., and John Weiss. “Anti-Semitism Through the Ages.” In The Holocaust: Problems and Perspectives of Interpretation, 4th ed., 12–18. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
[2] Ambrosino, Brandon. “Four Hundred Years Later, Scholars Still Debate Whether Shakespeare's ‘Merchant of Venice’ Is Anti-Semitic.” Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution , April 21, 2016. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-scholars-still-debate-whether-or-not-shakespeares-merchant-venice-anti-semitic-180958867/.
[4] Niewyk, Donald L., and Ian Kershaw. “Hitler’s Decisive Role.” In The Holocaust: Problems and Perspectives of Interpretation, 4th ed., 31. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997.
[5] Bergen, Doris L. “Chapter One: Dry Timber.” In War & Genocide: A Concise History of the Holocaust, 3rd ed., 15–16. Vancouver, B.C.: University of British Columbia Crane Library, 2017.
[6] Lewis, Bernard. “Chapter One: Anti-Semites.” In The Holocaust: A Reader, edited by Simone Gigliotti and Berel Lang, 1. Malden: Blackwell, 2008.
Really nice job with this, both recently and back in 11th grade. I remember writing a paper for English class. We had to choose whether words can change the world or they cannot, then support it citing evidence. I was determined to say they did not, but as I was writing about Germany starting WWII, I found my argument to be that words are in fact the only thing that has changed the world. Now being on this end of it, I have no idea how you get anyone to read those words. 😮 Doc Dave