Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression D. After the acquisition of power the Nazi conspirators
initiated a state policy of persecution of the Jews.
(1) The first organized act was the boycott of Jewish
enterprises on 1 April 1933. The boycott action was approved
by all the defendants who were members of the
Reichsregierung (Reich Cabinet), and Streicher was charged
with its execution. Presented as an alleged act of "self
defense", the boycott action was intended to frighten Jewish
public opinion abroad and force it, by the threat of
collective responsibility to all Jews in Germany, to desist
from warning against the Nazi danger. (2409-PS; 2410-PS)
The boycott was devised as a demonstration of the extent to
which the Nazi Party controlled its members and the German
masses; consequently, spontaneous action and physical
violence were discouraged. Goebbels stated:
"The national-socialist leadership had declared: 'The
boycott is legal', and the government demands that the
people permit that the boycott be carried out legally.
We expect iron discipline. This must be for the whole
world a wonderful
[Page 300]
show of unity and manly training. To those abroad who
believe that we could not manage it, we want to show
that we have the people in our hand." (2431-PS)
(2) Laws eliminating Jews from various offices and
functions. The Nazi conspirators legislative program was
gradual and, in the beginning, relatively "moderate." In the
first period, which dates from 7 April 1933 until September
1935, the laws eliminated Jews from public office and
limited their participation in schools, certain professions,
and cultural establishments. The following are the major
laws issued in this period:
Document Number Date Reichsgesetzblatt
Page Title and
Gist of Law
------------------------------------------------------
1397-PS 7.4.33 I.175 Gesetz zur
Wiederherstellunl des
Berufsbeamtenturn (Law
for the reestablishment
of the professional civil
service), removing Jews
from Civil Service.
[Signed by] Hitler, Frick,
Schwerin, V. Krosigk.
7.4.33 I.188 Gesetz uber die Zulassun
zur Rechtsanwaltschaft
(Law relating to admission
to the Bar) removing Jews
from the Bar. [Signed by]
Guertner.
2868-PS 22.4.33 I.217 Gesetz betreff die Zulassun
zur Patentanwaltschaft (Law
relating to the admission to
the profession of patent
agent and lawyer) excluding
Jews from acting as patent
attorneys. [Signed by]
Hitler, Guertner.
2869-PS 6.5.33 I.257 Gesetz uber die Zulasun von
Steuereratern. (Law relating
to the admission of Tax
Advisors) eliminating
"nonAryans" from
the profession of tax
consultants. [Signed by]
Hitler, Schwerin, V. Krosigk.
2084-PS 22.4.33 I.215 Gesetz uber die uberfullun
deutscher Schullen (Law
against the over-crowding of
German schools and higher
institutions) limiting
drastically the number of
Jewish students. [Signed
by] Hitler, Frick.
[Page 301]
2870-PS 26.7.33 I.538 Verordnung zur Durchfuehrung
des Gesetzes uber den
Widerruf von Einbuergerungen
(Executing decree for the law
about the Repeal of
Naturalizations and the
adjudication of German
citizenship) defining Jews
from Eastern Europe as
"undesirable" and
subject to denationalization.
[Signed by] Pfundtner (Asst.
to Frick).
2083-PS 4.10.33 I.713 Schriftleitergesetz (Editorial
Law) barring "non-
Aryans" and persons
married to "non-
Aryans" from the
newspaper profession. [Signed
by] Hitler, Goebbels.
2984-PS 21.5.35 I.608 Wehrgesetz (Law concerning
Armed Forces) barring
"non-Aryans" from
military service. [Signed
by: v. Blomberg]
On 10 September 1935, Minister of Education Rust issued a
circular ordering the complete elimination of Jewish pupils
from Aryan" schools (2894-PS). This legislative activity, in
addition to being the first step towards the elimination of
the Jews, served an "educational" purpose and was a further
test of the extent of control exerted by the Nazi Party and
regime over the German masses.
Dr. Achim Gercke, racial expert of the Ministry of the
Interior, stated:
"The laws are mainly educational and give direction.
The aspect of the laws should not be underestimated.
The entire nation is enlightened on the Jewish problem;
it learns to understand that the national community is
a blood community; it understands for the first time
the racial idea, and is diverted from a too theoretical
treatment of the Jewish problem and faced with the
actual solution." (2904-PS)
It was clear, however, that the Nazi conspirators had a far
more ambitious program in the Jewish problem and put off its
realization for reasons of expediency. In the words of Dr.
Gercke:
"Nevertheless the laws published thus far cannot bring
a final solution of the Jewish problem, because the
time has not yet come for it, although the decrees give
the general
[Page 302]
direction and leave open the possibility of further developments.
"It would be in every respect premature now to work out
and publicly discuss plans to achieve more than can be
achieved for the time being. However, one must point
out a few basic principles so that the ideas which one
desires and must have ripened will contain no mistakes. ***
"All suggestions aiming at a permanent situation, at a
stabilization of the status of the Jews in Germany do
not solve the Jewish problem, because they do not
detach the Jews from Germany. ***
"Plans and programs must contain an aim pointing to the
future and not merely consisting of the regulation of a
momentarily uncomfortable situation." (2904-PS)
(3) Deprivation of Jews of their rights as citizens. After a
propaganda barrage, in which the speeches and writings of
Streicher were most prominent, the Nazi conspirators
initiated the second period of anti-Jewish legislation (1
September 1935 to September 1938). In this period
the Jews were deprived of their full rights as citizens
(First Nurnberg Law and forbidden to marry "Aryans" (Second
Nurnberg Law). Further steps were taken to eliminate Jews
from certain professions, and the groundwork was laid for
the subsequent expropriation of Jewish property. These laws
were hailed as the fulfillment of the Nazi Party program.
The original plaintext version of
part
one or
part
two of this file is available via
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Volume
I Chapter VII
Means Used by the Nazi Conspiractors in Gaining Control of the German State
(Part 40 of 55)