Roots of Anti-Semitism in Germany Flashcards
“Synagogue of Satan”
Term Germans used to refer to synagogues (Jewish buildings of worship) where they thought Jews committed all sorts of unholy or un-Christian acts, including using the ashes of dead babies as a part of initiation rituals, ritually killed Christian boys, etc.
Jewish blood rituals
These rumors were typically used as a way to plant suspicion and bias toward a minority group. Supposedly involved Jews killing Christian youth as a part of their circumcision ritual.
Trial of Endingen 1470
Setting: trial of 3 Jewish brothers accused for ritual murder of Christian vagabond family– found guilty and burned at stake. In reality, it was a religious trial, not a murder trial. The goal was not to convict the brothers, but to accuse them of something that would convict the entire Jewish community. (thus the use of christian blood in circumcision)
habsburgs vs German cantons
The Habsburgs wanted to maintain their control over Jewish populations to continue extracting wealth from them through offerings of “protection” or special “loans,” but German and Swiss townships began taking control over their own Jewish population or persecuting them, competing with the Habsburg empire for symbolic control of these subjugated populations. Jews were essentially the pawns in a fight over Habsburg control and German “nationalism.”
Emperor Frederick III
“Emperor Frederick III’s (Habsburg) letter of rebuke to Karl of Baden
- “You should not have imprisoned, tortured, executed Jews without my approval; I warn you to not to undertake in any more violence against Jews”
Just another symbolic rebuke = mild slaps on the wrists
- Habsburg – more concerned about political relations
”
Karl of Baden
Provincial ruler of the area Endingen was located. Presided over the trials.
Fabrication of a Conspiracy
Mercklin’s confession
One of the brother in the trial of Endingen subjected to torture until his confessions were “satisfactory”; wanted to show that Jewish crimes involved the entire culture, not just an individual. He made up several motives until the torturers were satisfied - would up saying that the reason he and his brother killed the children was because their blood would be used in a circumcision ritual.
Strappada
Likely use of torture. The victim’s arms were tied behind their back, and then they were hung by their arms while still tied. Sometimes the weight of the body would rip it from the arms.
“Juden frei”
“to be Jew-free” - the purpose of convicting these 3 Jewish brothers was to fuel hatred toward Jews so that it would lead to their expulsion —> Germany would then be “Juden Frei”
“Story becoming History”
Bascially the idea that the legal precedent set by the trial at Endingen became the standard upon which many other stories of Jewish persecution in Germany would be based.
