In terms of anti-Semitic measures, 1934 was a serene year in Germany. However, as time went on, the Nazi’s began to become more extreme with their measures towards the Jews. For example in September 1935 the party issued the Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour and the Reich Citizenship Law. These two laws, which enshrined racial prejudice towards Jews within the legal system, are commonly known as Nuremberg Laws. Marriage between Jews and Aryan Germans was outlawed, although this caused confusion in cases where people had one or more Jewish grandparents, and who was really Jewish. This law was put into place as Hitler was trying to purge Jews from the Volksgemienschaft as Hitler saw them as ‘undesirables’. Although this action displays anti-Semitic feelings, no physical action is taken towards the Jews is taken. Also in 1935, work restrictions became as restricted as ever for the Jews.
The year of 1936 in Germany is known for they’re being a lull in anti-Semitic violence, largely due to the Olympic games in Berlin. The violence was reduced because Hitler saw the games as an opportunity to emphasis Germany’s physical superiority. It was also a good chance to enhance Germany’s international status, after the Treaty of Versailles had crushed it back in 1919. During the Olympics, Hitler wanted the foreign visitors aware of their strength, not weaknesses, which he considered to be the Jews. This could be why Hitler needed to be strongly persuaded to host the Olympics.
After the Olympics, and when less attention was on Germany, in 1937 the Buchenwald concentration camp was assembled. This demonstrates that more action was being taken to the Jews; as yet another camp was needed to ‘re-shape’ the opposition. Also in 1937 came the Aryanisation programme in commerce and the cut down on Jewish professions was intensified. Therefore it is fair to say that over time, action taken towards the Jews was increased and became more extreme.
In terms of anti-Semitic violence, 1938 was a fundamental year for Germany, during this year more action was taken than in previous years. Around 8,000 Jews were taken to concentration camps, the Munich and Nuremberg synagogues were destroyed and more Jewish workers were dismissed. This affected the social lives of Jewish people by destroying their places of worship and depriving them of earning a living. However, the most significant event to take place in 1938 was the ‘Kristallnacht’, meaning the ‘Night of the Broken Glass’. On the 9th of November additional Jewish shops, homes and synagogues were destroyed, 91 Jews were killed and at least 20,000 sent to concentration camps. This was overall a nationwide program and the first example of systematic violence in relation to the Jews. This also demonstrated how determined the Nazis were to eliminate Jews from German life. After Kristallnacht, a regime was devised introducing new measure towards the Jews; Jews were excluded from German Economic life, 15th November, Jewish pupils expelled from schools, 15th November and Jewish owned businesses were closed on December 3rd 1938.
What is also significant about the Kristallnacht is that Hitler kept quite about the ‘progrom’, meaning ‘organised killing of the Jews’. It is believed he did this so he could carry out further; extreme plans for Jews in the future. The term ‘progrom’ comes from Russia, who also practised anti-Semitic polices in their country. In fact, throughout History Jews had been targeted as an inferior group of people as well as Spain and Italy. The Nazis were not unique in their hate towards the Jews, but were however in the extremes they took this to. The centuries it took to build the path to genocide can be summed up in three steps: ‘You have no right to live among us as Jews, You have no right to live among us, You have no right to live’. This portrays how procedures to eliminate Jews became more acute, firstly to segregate them as a result of their faith, and then without reason and finally do decide they have no right to live, and therefore should be killed.
As it can be seen, Nazi policies towards the Jews became more extreme as time passed. Nevertheless, the Jews were not the only minority group to get besieged; other victims were homosexuals and Gypsies. Gypsies had long been discriminated against as they were considered to be racial outsiders and because settled people looked upon their travelling lifestyle with suspicion. In stipulation to Germany, the Gypsies also did not fit in with Hitler’s vision of the Master Race. They did not play such a major role in the economy in comparison to the Jews, but were accused of crime, laziness and a lack of hygiene. Between 1935-39, special Gypsy concentration camp style units were set up which regimented and restricted their lives.
As well as judgment against the Gypsies, the homosexuals in Germany were seen by the Nazis to be a severe deviation from the Aryan ideal. Their behaviour went against all Nazi family values and they would not be able to join in the efforts of increasing birth rates. Police persecution of homosexuals was stepped up in 1933 when Hitler came to power and between 1933-45, it’s estimated that roughly 15,000 homosexuals were sent to concentration camps. In general, concentration camps were increasingly confined with social ‘outsiders’ such as Jews, Gypsies and homosexuals. By the end of October 1938, the camp in Buchenwald, held around 4,000 ‘asocial’, people like the Jews and Gypsies. The aim of the Nazis was to exclude Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals and asocials from the German society. There was a gradual acceleration of measures taken against these groups.
As it can be seen, even before Hitler came to power, some of his feelings towards people like the Jews had already been displayed in his book ‘Mien Kampf’. When he came to power, he introduced policies and propaganda to produce an Aryan Race. This resulted in the elimination of groups such as the Jews. Over the years the policies set against them became more intense. Although, due to the Olympic games being held in Berlin there was a lull on anti-Semitism in 1936. After this though, more extreme measures were put into action, and previous laws on job restrictions were reinforced. As time passed the Jews, as well as other ‘asocials’ suffered more but the elimination of the Jews in society was the most excessive case. The Nazis made their physical and policy attacks harsher and more people were sent to camps for ‘re-shaping’. As a result of this progression, in 1942 came the Final Solution, where genocide against the Jews was discovered. This concludes the evidence that argues that over time, policies towards the Jewish minority in Germany became more intense.
