Racism: the Driving Force of Hate

Hatred can define a person, a group of people, and even a society. It can overpower kindness, generosity, and basic human decency. It can be a blinding force, making people capable of things that one could only imagine. Throughout the nineteenth century, antisemitism brought hatred into the hearts of the German people. Through early developed and deeply rooted blame, anti-Jewish activism and pogroms, and increasing detachment and restrictions put forth upon the Jewish people, one can see how the influential, continued implementation of antisemitic practices allowed the Nazi party and their beliefs to gain and maintain popularity.

For many years before the Holocaust, Jews were looked at as inferior, threatening and dangerous. This mentality can date back to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Jewish people were looked at as “Christ-killers” and were blamed for the results. Although the records used to depict that event in history were written by Christian men, the bias and desire to remain distant from the controversy seemed to rarely be taken into account. The depiction attributed the heinous act to the Jews, and for generations afterward that mentality was accepted. With this came ease to distance Christians from Jews. The way the accounts were written, or, “the version of events that had Jewish mobs demanding Jesus’s death . . . allowed later Christians to emphasize their difference from Judaism” (Bergen 15). Likewise, many other horrific and violent events were blamed on Jews and increased the polarity between them and the rest of the population. The Black Death for example was explained by the poisoning of wells by those of the Jewish faith. A group of people seeking an explanation picked an easy and already stigmatized target. They were even accused of blood libel, ritual murder, and even host desecration (Ault, Lecture 2, 9 January 2020). This furthered the fear and disgust afforded to the Jews by a majority of the remaining population.

The concentration of job types within the Jewish community only provided further distinctions. Stereotypes emerged from the hostility and made the image of the Jews even worse in the public eye. They were seen as dangerous, greedy, and a threat to the rest of the people’s well-being. Conversely, they were also seen as inferior and lesser in value. As was pointed out by Bergen, the contradictory nature of the stereotypes placed upon Jews became commonplace. In fact, “they made antisemitism endlessly adaptable, able to fit the needs and anxieties of an enormous variety of people” (Bergen 18). Whatever the case, the easy target the Jewish population made for was utilized to its full extent.

Throughout the 1800s and toward the beginning of the 1900s, antisemitic activism and pogroms can be seen taking full effect. As with centuries before, the hatred and disgust placed against the Jews left lasting impacts on the lives of the people. From the First Massacre in 1096, where 800 Jews were killed in Worms, Germany, to various pogroms executed surrounding the Black Death in 1348, the violence against Jews grasped at an explanation for various uncontrollable catastrophes (Ault, Lecture 2, 9 January 2020). Jews were expelled from various countries in Central and Western Europe; exploited and oppressed by those who felt superior. In the late 1800s the ideas of Social Darwinism and eugenics began to captivate the minds of many. These ideas sparked the transition of religion-based antisemitism toward race-based antisemitism. These ideas proposed that being Jewish denoted a racial identity rather than a religious affirmation. And furthermore, that they could not be saved by conversion and that the Jewish community must be dissolved in order to create a more perfect society.

The inferior nature that was believed to be a Jewish trait was supported by many influential leaders and esteemed individuals in the community. Heinrich von Treitschke, a German historian, made his feelings clear about Jews. He believed that they should identify simply as Germans, that they were arrogant and dishonest, and that, “the Jews are our misfortune” (Hochstadt 27). He claimed this view in 1879, still years before the antisemitic rule of the Nazi party, and utilized his esteem and prestige to make the stereotype acceptable among the intellectual and academic crowd.

Further detachment arose with discussion of the racial accusatory basis of Jewish heritage. As mentioned before, the antisemitism of the nineteenth century developed from a religion-based practice to a race-based attack. Germany’s loss in World War I did not help in countering claims of antisemitism. In fact, Jews were once again blamed out of context for a devastating catastrophe. Many claimed that they were responsible for the loss. This scapegoating aided the race-based distinctions and discrimination of Jews. As the years progressed after the war, and Hitler began to gain popularity among the German community, different restrictions and prohibitions came to be. At first, there was not any official policies put in place against Jews. Many were local initiatives to distance those of differing views (Ault, Lecture 8, 30 January 2020). In 1933, just a few months after Hitler became Germany’s chancellor, he attempted to organize a boycott of Jewish businesses. The idea of avoiding such establishments was not successful initially, as it was an inconvenience to many, and some did not see the need to separate themselves from Jewish businessmen and women. The majority of people did not openly oppose such rules, although there was significant backlash. The boycott ended the day after it had begun as Hitler wanted to keep the favor he had with the people of Germany at the time. Shortly after, though, he chose to continue the restrictions and polarization of the Jews. There was the installation of quotas in universities and schools so that only a small percentage of inductees were of Jewish decent. Many Jews were fired from positions in the army and Jewish actors and actresses were forbidden from performing. They were also banned from schools, movie theaters, and even restaurants (Ault, Lecture 8, 30 January 2020).

Initially these small acts may have been seen as insignificant to the whole. As each new restriction or suggested rule developed and changed the day-to-day lives of Jewish people, the majority stood back and watched it happen. They were quiet. The silence of the bystanders is a major contributor to the continuation of like practices. A story is recounted in Chapter Three of Doris Bergen’s book about the lack of action bystanders exhibited on behalf of a Jewish World War I veteran who was enduring the taunting of Nazi functionaries. Bergen suggests that the silence encouraged the functionaries to view their behavior as acceptable. The lack of a responsibility to act and defend contributed to a powerful statement about the people. The impact of others’ silence all throughout Germany, “sent a message back up to Hitler: it was safe to keep pushing” (Bergen 88). It was safe to continue on with the mindset of Social Darwinism; the practice of eugenics to achieve a more perfect population and society; the hatred of the Jewish religion and culture; and the tactics of a radical political party to strive toward overall domination.

The Nazis not only utilized the various forms of antisemitism present during their time, they also employed them in incredibly effective ways. As Adolf Hitler attempted to gain notoriety, he used history as a model for his tactics. As in previous centuries, scapegoating seemed to be an effective way to suggest an explanation for something unexplainable and to also empower a people. The already stigmatized and prejudiced Jewish community seemed to be the perfect target. As mentioned, he started small: with suggesting blame for the war and encouraging avoidance of Jews. When the German public began to accept the smaller pieces of prejudice and exhibited inactivity in opposition of the practices, he further developed his tactics. The Nazi party utilized various forms of propaganda to raise awareness of the undesirable groups. The Nuremberg Laws were instituted to decrease confusion and to constitute what exactly defines a “Jew.” More and more restrictions led to clear social and economic differences in the desirable and undesirable groups. Ghettos were formed, concentration camps were built, and ultimately millions of innocent people were killed. Hitler did not solidify his influence immediately; he did so gradually. He built upon prejudice, fear, and hatred. He strived to “purify” the country and brought about policies that aided that perspective in hopes that Jews were seen by all as undeserving of trust, kindness, and even acknowledgement of basic human decency. Sadly, it seems for the majority, his tactics succeeded.

Hatred is a powerful drive. It separates people, families, and communities. It can tear apart relationships and eliminate respect. With its blinding nature, hatred can drive one to do something they never thought they were capable of. Throughout the nineteenth century, antisemitism continued to develop and spread throughout many countries. The Nazi Party chose to utilize this anti-Jewish mentality to alienate entire populations and gain popularity. Through scapegoating or an engrained belief in blame, pogroms and anti-Jewish activism, and a growing desire for separation and restrictions against Jews, one can see how the deliberate operation of antisemitic practices allowed for Hitler and the Nazi party to gain a following and influence society as a whole. 

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