The Jews in Weimar Germany

This comprehensive history explores the German Jews just before Hitler's rise to power, highlighting their internal divisions and interactions with broader German society. Contrary to the notion of unity, German Jewry was fragmented along religious, political, and ideological lines. The liberal majority, comprising patriotic and assimilationist Jews, faced challenges from Zionist advocates who questioned their "Germanness." This conflict permeated families, synagogues, and community institutions. While the Jewish influence in Germany's economy and culture was often exaggerated, they were indeed significant, leading to accusations of privilege. The book delves into the nuances of German anti-Semitism, distinguishing between traditional and radical forms, and challenges the assumption that Germans were predisposed to support Hitler. It also evaluates Jewish responses to racism, detailing the Central Association of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith's self-defense campaigns, which included counter-propaganda and legal actions against anti-Semitic rhetoric. Although these efforts could only temporarily mitigate the rise of Nazism post-1930, they illustrate that German Jewry was not passive. Their faith in liberalism, often seen as delusional, was rooted in a pragmatic understanding of their interests and the dangers they faced, yet it ultimately left them isolated as many Germans gravitated toward political radicalism. This detai