German Attitudes Toward the Jews and the Final Solution

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German Attitudes Toward the Jews and the Final Solution There are those that claim that Hitler’s conscious personal hatred of the Jews, his unique and central role in the rise of Nazi Germany were fundamental in the development of the anti-Jewish policies that emerged leading to the final solution. However, there is strong evidence to suggest that the anti- Jewish feeling in Germany reflected a much stronger, widespread support amongst its people and this essay will examine the role and attitudes of the German people towards the Final Solution. On the 1st of April, 1933, the boycott of Jewish businesses reflected evidence of widespread anti Jewish feelings amongst the lower bureaucracy of the SA. Prior to that there was very little evidence of a grand plan against the Jews, Hitler had only talked about legal discrimination and deprivation of human rights for the Jewish people. Yet Hitler claimed that he directly called for the shop boycott, which he felt would serve to strengthen anti-Semitic feelings although evidence suggests this might have failed. Many ordinary Germans were either apathetic or even sympathetic to the plights of the Jews and the international response predictably condemned this action. The boycott was called off after just one day and was never repeated although a more insidious and violent response would follow. The period between 1933 and the start of 1935 was relatively quiet but there were examples of serious anti Jewish feeling. On the 8th June in 1934 in Gunsenhausen in Bavaria, Kurt Baar, the son of a local SA leader, was evicted from a Jewish hostelry. Baar returned with a lynch mob and beat up t... ... middle of paper ... ...sm. But there is strong evidence to show that the early stages of anti Jewish policy were forced by the lower party elements of the SA and then by the SD, Gestapo and SS. Many German people would have been horrified by the anti-Semitic violence and the racial policies leading towards the Final Solution. Many would have feared for their lives and there is evidence to show that many did indeed suffer for voicing their concerns. But there is also evidence of a strong anti Jewish sentiment in Germany, a feeling that was sufficiently strong enough to be exploited by the SA thugs and those that later followed, that allowed the policies of racial exclusion to develop to the point of genocide. Perhaps the German people were conditioned to accept the point of anti-Semitism? Either way, the blame cannot be borne by Hitler alone.

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