Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939): Anti-Semitism

Anti-Semitism is the term used to describe hostility towards Jews. The Nazis did not invent Anti-Semitism, and Anti-Semitism has been present throughout history for a variety of reasons. During the 1930s, Anti-Semitic feelings were running high in Germany.

Anti-Semitism was strong in Germany for several reasons. Many Germans blamed the Jews for the loss of the First World War and the imposition of the Treaty of Versailles. Linked to this Jews were also blamed for the economic crash from 1929 to 1933 in which many Germans and Jews lost out. Many of these views were peddled by nationalist politicians, with Hitler being one of them.

The Anti-Semitic feeling was strengthened throughout Germany through the use of propaganda which portrayed Jews as evil and that it was patriotic to defeat the Jews.