Weimar and Nazi Germany (1918-1939): Persecution of the Jews

Persecution of Jews came in many differing forms in Nazi Germany. Whilst there was direct forms of persecution such as the implementation of laws, there is also more discreet and indirect forms of persecution such as indoctrination of the populations.

Through the control of education and media, the Nazis were able to spread their anti-Jewish message and beliefs to the people of Germany. This was an indirect form of persecution towards Jews, and the resulting effect is hard to quantify.

However, the Nazis did take more direct steps to persecute Jews including:

• Banning forms of employment from Jews including being civil servants
• Removing Jews from the Army
• Restrictions on what Jews could inherit

The Nazis also organised a boycott of Jewish businesses during 1933. Nazi Stormtroopers were stood outside businesses to dissuade Germans from using the business and they wrote Jude on the outside of businesses run by Jews.

In 1935, the Nazis passed the Nuremberg Laws.
After the Nuremberg Laws there were further developments in the persecution of Jews. In March 1938, laws required all Jews to register their possessions with the Nazis. This was followed by the issuing of identify cards to all Jews in July.