In 1881, revolutionaries assassinated Tsar Alexander II. From this action, Jews suffered. They were scapegoats, because they were a vulnerable minority, and were perceived to be associated with demands for reform and socialism. The new views towards Jews at a popular level caused random pogroms, which the state tacitly approved. The state also persecuted the Jews until 1917. The Jews responded to the state’s Anti Semitism by doing different things. There was some political activism; some Jews joined some revolutionary and socialist movements, hoping to achieve emancipation.
Most Jews decided to leave Russia, and immigrate to countries such as USA, Germany and France. The Russians liked this idea, as the Jews were leaving their country to go somewhere else. They saw France and Germany as being not Anti Semitic, and thought that their lives would be better in these countries. This was not the case. In France and in Germany, Jews were assimilated. Jews were not distinguishable from ordinary natives. The Jews that moved into these countries were Orthodox Jews who did not speak the native language. This made the Jews stick out. Anti Semitism increased, as the Jews did not try to fit in. When something went wrong, they stood out and were easy to target as scapegoats. At this time in France and also in Germany, there was a period of serious economic depression. The immigrants fit people’s popular stereotypes, this proved their point, and gradually Anti Semitism was increasing in Europe at this time.
The Anti Semitism throughout Europe was even more increased because of the press. In the economic depression, many Catholic investors lost money. They blamed their loss on their Jewish Bankers. This was publicised and the Jews were seen to be plotting to lose people money. The Dreyfuss incident in France intensified the Anti Semitism in Europe and divided French society. Press confirmed the Anti Semitic views of a Jewish conspiracy. There was more press in France than in Germany, and Anti Semitism increased in France because of the Dreyfuss incident; the way in which it was portrayed swayed people’s opinions.
From 1898 to 1899 there was an outbreak of Anti Semitic riots in Germany and in France. In both countries, laws against Jews were proposed in Parliament suggesting Jews should not be citizens. Because of the First World War, Anti Semitism fell from 1914 to 1918. In France people thought of the Germans as new enemies, so Jews were forgotten, and everywhere, Jews were fighting alongside everyone else, so inhabitants were happy to work with them. In Russia in 1916 600,000 Jews were forced to leave the Pale, as they were “politically unreliable”. In 1917 was the first of the Revolutions in Russia. A provisional Government ruled Russia they emancipated all Jews, and all discriminatory laws were repealed. The Jews were now joyous, as this was what they had been waiting for. The Weimar Republic treated Jews as before the War. They remained full citizens and some still served at highest levels, Hugo Preuss was the Interior Minister and he drafted the Constitution. The Treaty of Versailles increased some Anti Semitism in Germany, and as the Germans had to accept War Guilt, this was passed onto Jews. There was not that much Anti Semitism, it was still only on the fringes of society, but it was still visible. The Treaty of Versailles created Poland; their Government was Anti Semitic. The Atheist state of Poland discouraged all religions. By the end of this period in France, Jews were treated averagely in France; Anti Semitic undercurrents remained, mainly in army and diplomatic areas.
Word Count – 800 words
