From 1933 to 1939 Jews were faced with huge discrimination and disdain in Nazi controlled Germany

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Jay Edmonds

Question 1

From 1933 to 1939 Jews were faced with huge discrimination and distain in Nazi controlled Germany. The government actively promoted hatred and violence towards Jews. It was the view of Hitler and the Nazis that there was an ‘Aryan’ race, superior to others. The Jewry, in Hitler’s opinion, were the lowest form of mankind and must ‘removed’.

By using horrific propaganda, masterminded by Goebels, a dim and distorted view of Jews was presented to the German public. The Nazis used many ways to present their propaganda including newspapers, films and posters. On one of the many posters produced was a picture of a tall, fit man clearly following the requirements of the ‘Aryan’ race. Whereas on the other side of the poster there was a grotesque cartoon picture of an obese and ugly looking Jewish man. The text accompanying the poster would describe the Jew as being shifty and untrustworthy. This type of poster would have been seen throughout Germany giving the public a false and distorted view of the Jewish population. The Nazis controlled all of the mass media. Der Sturmer was a fanatically anti-Semitic newspaper. For example, on the front page of one issue the headline read ‘Jewish Murder Plan against Gentile Humanity Revealed’. This headline was next to stereotypical looking Jewish men collecting Christian blood in a tray. Using this type of relentless propaganda helped the general public turn against the Jews.

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On 1st April 1933 the Nazis organised a general boycott of Jewish businesses. Goebels, head of propaganda, arranged for Nazi thugs and stormtroopers to stand outside Jewish shops. Using force and intimidation tactics, customers were not allowed in. Jewish civil servants, lawyers and teachers were also sacked. This was another way of dividing Jews from interacting other Germans. Furthermore, by 1934 all Jewish shops would have the Star of David painted on the shop window, giving the impression of the Jews being abnormal and being treated like mere objects. This altogether painted a clear picture to the German public, which ...

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