How Life Changed For Jewish People In Germany In 1933-1939

How life changed for Jewish People in Germany in 1933-1939

Life for the Jews in Germany changed dramatically when Hitler came into power, this happened between 1933 and 1939. It’s due to the rise of the power of the Nazi Party. In Germany, the Jewish people lived peacefully until the fateful day, all life for them has changed. The major effect that Jews faced was Hitler ruling, the Nuremberg laws and Kristallnacht. Also, mentioning what life was like before the Holocaust began.

Before the Holocaust started, all citizens in Germany, lived in peace, including the Jewish. Many jobs that Jews worked for were farmers, tailors, accountant, doctors etc. Not all were wealthy, some were poor, many children ended school early to work for money and support their families. The language that Jewish, speak is Yiddish, they read and watch theatres based

on this language. The Jews were far more assimilated into western culture. They dressed and spoke the same language as their non-Jewish neighbors alongside practising their traditional religion. By 1933, German Jews were middle class, prosperous in business, largely urban and well represented in medicine and law. The aftermath of world war I created a threatening political atmosphere for German Jews, depression, radical nationalism, street violence and dissatisfaction with democracy, it drove many Germans towards fiercely anti semitic attitudes.

Adolf Hitler believed the ancient origin that the Jews were at fault for killing Jesus. Therefore, Hitler began planning on how to get rid of the Jews. Hitler believed that the Aryan people and Germany were destined to rule the world, also he felt that democracy and worker’s right would disrupt society. Hitler thought that the Germans should have enough living space and that only people of Aryan Blood or German should live in Germany. Hitler strongly believed that Jews can’t be German and that communism was a huge threat to Germany and should be destroyed the reason why he thought that communism was a threat is that he thinks it was a jewish invention giving another reason to his hatred to the Jews. While Hitler was in prison, he wrote a book called Mein Kampf, which he wrote down all his political ideas to develop his anti semitic ideas. Hitler stated in his book that the race called ‘Aryans’ were superior to all other races and that one day they will rule the world. In Hitler’s eye, jews weren’t counted as Germans.

Despite that the Jews life was getting harder as the Nazi throw in more laws.

The Nuremberg Law defines a “Jew” to someone with three or four Jewish grandparents. In 1935 at Nuremberg, the Nazi announced new laws which regulates many of the issues and racial theories common in Nazi beliefs. September 15 1935, Nuremberg laws are introduced as the Nazi laws are revoking Reich Citizens for jews, prohibiting Jews from marrying or having any sexual relations with any German or related blood. Another law that was introduced was New Marriage Requirements at October 18 1935, this laws was made for protection of “Hereditary Health of the German People” it requires all prospective marriage partners to obtain authorities or a certificate of fitness to marry. The following months, November 14 1935, the Nazi decided to expand the law to other groups on marriage or sexual relations between people who can produce rare suspect offspring. More and more laws were plated that effectively banished Jews from most areas of public. Antisemitism was followed through into ruthless, legislation expelling Jews from Germany social and political

life.

Kristallnacht or known as Night of the Broken Glass. The name represent the wave of violent towards anti- Jewish Programs which took place on November 9 and 10, 1938 nighttime. This kinds of violent waves took place throughout Germany, Austria and in some part of Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. Shattered glass that lined in German streets, broken windows of synagogues, homes and Jewish owned business plundered and destroyed during the violence that is how Kristallnacht got its name. On that night, 91 Jews were killed and hundreds were severely injured. Men over the age of 14 were taken away to prisons or known as concentration camps. Days, weeks, soon months passed along bringing over 30,000 Jewish mens that were arrested and taken away to concentration camps.

That’s how tough the Jews faced everyday throughout 1933 to 1939. This is how the jewish became potential victims that made their life changed forever.