There was also a one-day national boycott of Jewish commercial activity in 1933. The Nazis branded the Star of David on Jewish shops and discouraged Germans from shopping in Jewish establishments. Even with this most direct action against the Jews though, Jews still felt that the persecution could not last. So they did nothing and simply accepted it.
Due to Nazis pressure, the Lutheran church demanded the retirement of non-Aryan priests. This was yet another small step towards a Judenfree state.
The final act passed in 1933 was the agreement between the Ministry of Interior and the Zionist organisation that they would facilitate the emigration of German Jews. This process of emigration was not easy however as bureaucracy took so long and many Jews failed in their attempts to leave Germany. This act was a very real message to the Jews that Germany did not want them!
In 1935 further steps were taken to create a Judenfree state. These included the banning of Jewish newspaper publications. This was to eliminate opposition to Nazi propaganda. There were also widespread anti-Jewish disturbances in Munich. This was as a result of two years of Nazi rule and propaganda. Crowds were incensed by the Jews and were indoctrinated by the Nazi ideologies.
The law for the protection of German blood and German honour was passed in 1935 also. This came under the Nuremberg laws and was intended to protect the Aryan race from impure Jews impregnating fair German maidens. There was triumph for the Nazis still further in 1935 when the Reich chamber was cleansed and declared free of Jews. This would have been one of Hitler’s aims as he blamed the Jews for the loss of World war one and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. It marked a very poignant day for German politics. No Jews in politics meant that they had no voice in the governing of the country (Volk).
Further steps were also taken in 1935 to create a Judenfree state with the Law for the protection of the Hereditary Health of the German people. This demanded the registration of Alien races. It also forbid their intermarriage with Aryans. This was complimented by the definition of sexual intercourse formed the Nuremberg laws. It stripped the Jews of their nationality and helped ensure a purer Aryan race.
1936 saw the assassination of Gustloff, a German representative in Switzerland by David Frankfurter a Jewish student. This led to a law being passed in the Reich that for every Jewish misdemeanour every Jew shall be punished. However the Jews still felt that the persecution would stop once Hitler felt confident enough in power. 1936 also saw high-ranking civil servants begin to plan the enforced expulsion of all Jews from Germany. This was not the Final Solution however; it was merely the start of the process and the formulation of ideas to exclude all Jews from Germany.
1938 sees the annexation of Austria with widespread anti-Jewish violence. There was a Central office for Jewish emigration set up under Adolf Eichmann. This however made it difficult for Jews to emigrate and merely served as a warning to the Jews that they were not wanted by Germany.
From 1933 there was a continued drive for Aryanisation of Jewish businesses. This was stepped up in 1938 and further alienated Jews from German life and left them with no income. They were encouraged to emigrate but the process was bureaucratic and unsuccessful on most occasions.
1938 also saw the Permission by Hitler of mercy killing to a handicapped child. Hitler saw the child as a weakness, which could not be allowed to reproduce for fear of impurifying the Aryan race.
Further cleansing of Jews from society was apparent in 1938 with the Medical profession declaring that it was cleansed of Jews. Once a previously successful occupation for the Jews was now off limits.
Yet another step towards a Judenfree Germany was taken in 1938 with Kristalnaught. The Nazis claim it was triggered by the assassination of Vom Rath, a German diplomat in Paris by a Polish Jew (Herschel Grynszpan). Kristalnaught (Night of Broken glass) was a nation-wide anti-Jewish riot. The Nazis stirred up the crowds who systematically beat up the Jews. (Every Jew shall suffer for one Jews outburst)
Kristalnaught was followed by Jews being forbidden attending German schools. Jews were also required to surrender property over a certain value. Welfare benefits were withdrawn from Jews and most public facilities were banned for Jews also.
In conclusion Jews were systematically withdrawn from society from 1933-39. The laws passed by the Nazis excluded and stopped Jews from being educated and also removed them from their skilled jobs. It can be said that Anti-Semitism is deep-rooted in Nazi philosophy through Nietsche and Houston Stewart Chamberlain. I would therefore say that the events from 1933-39 were very much linked to philosophy not only through Anti-Semitism but also through the creation of a superior race and Volksgameinshaft.
Another question which is very poignant with this period of history is why the Jews did not leave? As I have mentioned previously in this piece, the Jews felt that the persecution would stop once Hitler felt secure in power. With the death of Hindenburg in 1935 and the subsequent support of the army Hitler had this security. This however did not stop the Jewish persecution and little did they know that ten years from now six million of them would be slaughtered in concentration camps.
Anti- Semitism was at the core of Nazi ideologies and beliefs. It was without doubt the most systematic and sustained policy of Nazi rule from 1933-1945.
Nazi policy had it been allowed to continue past 1945 would undoubtedly have eliminated the whole of the Jewish community in Europe. However, it can also be said that it led to the defeat in World War one for Germany, as resources were pooled to eliminate the Jewish population and not to fighting the war.