What Hitler seems to be most concerned about in Jews, is the fact that they are not Germans. His anti-Semitic beliefs appear to be based on race. He comments that Jews have ‘moral stains’, suggesting that Jews cannot be cleaned because the ‘stains’ they have are innate through their race. Therefore, Source A cannot be said to be supportive of the claim that anti-Semitism is a result of the ‘rise of the Jews’. Hitler is alarmed more by the biological status of the Jewish race and its infestation of the German nation rather than the features outlined in Source F.
The figures shown in Source B show a massive over representation of Jews in trade and communication occupations where as the percentage of Jews in agricultural and forestry work is significantly low. These figures emulate the Jews success and suitability to modern urban living rather than that of rural, agricultural life. They therefore back up the belief of Lindemann that anti-Semitism was caused by the “rise of the Jews” - in this case their overwhelming presence and visibility in key areas of modern life.
In Source C Henry Ford observes the ‘emergence’ of Jews in the modern world as ‘spectacular’. The “rise of the Jews” in this case is due to the increasing power and influence they have in the ‘financial, political and social spheres’. He claims that Jews only make up three percent of the population but it is not the number of Jews that he is concerned about.
Henry Ford’s anti-Semitic beliefs are the result of the disproportionate power of the Jews. Ford believes this power of the Jews to be evident in Europe, where he claims them to be influential in, and the source of, the revolutions in Russia and Germany. Source C goes some way to supporting the belief of Lindemann in that the anti-Semitism expressed by Ford is a result of his belief in the emerging power and influence of Jews.
The government of Moderna’s decision to prohibit Jews from owning property outside the ghetto is considered to be ‘for the public good of all citizens’. This does not directly support Lindemann’s view but illustrates it, as the government is fearful of the attitude of non-Jews towards Jews if they were to own property outside the ghetto. The government believes that there would be a rise in anti-Semitic troubles among its people if the Jews were permitted this particular rise in social freedom and power. Source D and Source F compliment each other in this way as they both deem anti-Semitism to be the result of the ‘rise of the Jews’.
Source E implies that the Jews were powerful enough to control the fate of countries. It claims that the Jews were responsible for the revolution in Russia and the civil war in Spain and that next it will lead ‘death to her harvest in Poland’. The anti-Semitism expressed through Source E can be directly related to the belief that Jews were influential enough to commit such acts of disorder.
In the caption the Jew is portrayed as a dirty, scheming businessman. This shows anti-Semites were aggravated by the Jewish rise in modern professions and of the influence that was derived from them. This is supportive of Lindemann’s view as the rise of the Jews, in terms of power and money, can be seen to have led to the anti-Semitic beliefs shown in Source E.
Most of the sources show that the transition into the modern era caused or brought along with it, a significant ‘rise’ in Jewish prosperity. The impact of modernity on developing nations increased tensions between Jews and non-Jews who saw Jewish growth in this period as a threat to their own society and culture. Sources A-E generally support the view that anti-Semitism, whether it be driven by fear or jealousy, was as a direct result of the increased power, status, influence and wealth of the Jewish population throughout this the period.
