Persecution of the Jews (1930s)

Question 1

What is meant by anti-Semitism?

Answer 1

To hate Jews (a ‘Semite’ is a Jew)

Question 2

Was anti-Semitism new?

Answer 2

No - Jews had historically been persecuted and anti-Semitism was widespread throughout much of Europe during the 1920s and 1930s

Question 3

What are some historical examples of anti-Semitism?

Answer 3

• About 150 Jews had been killed in York in 1190
• there were pogroms (organised massacre of Jews) in the 19th and early 20th century e.g. in Poland

Question 4

Why did many people hate Jews?

Answer 4

• Religious reasons (Jews had murdered Christ)
• Envy/jealousy - Jews tended to be well-educated and therefore often held well paid jobs

Question 5

What did Hitler blame the Jews for?

Answer 5

Most things:
- losing the First World War
- the Treaty of Versailles
- The Wall Street Crash
- problems in society generally

Question 6

What did Hitler do as soon as he took power in 1933?

Answer 6

He immediately banned Jews from the Civil Service and teaching

Question 7

What did the SA and SS do in 1933 to do with Jews?

Answer 7

Organised a boycott of Jewish shops and businesses by marking them with the Star of David and preventing anyone from entering

Question 8

What did the 1935 Nuremberg Laws state about Jews?

Answer 8

That they could not be married to - or have sex with - non-Jews

Question 9

How did Goebbels fuel anti-Semitism?

Answer 9

He bombarded the German people with anti-Semitic propaganda including:

• posters
• speeches
• children’s textbooks

Question 10

How would anti-Semitism manifest itself on a daily basis?

Answer 10

Jews would often be refused service in shops and rejected from jobs