Association of German National Jews
Encyclopedia
The Association of German National Jews was a Jewish organisation during the Weimar Republic
and the early years of Nazi Germany
that eventually came out in support Hitler.
It was founded in 1921 by Max Naumann
who was chairman until 1926 and again from 1933 to 1935 when the association was dissolved. Politically, the association was close to the national conservative
and monarchist
German National People's Party
which, however, refused affiliation with the association.
The goal of the Association was the total assimilation of Jews into the German Volksgemenschaft, self eradication of Jewish identity, and the expulsion from Germany of the Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.
Max Nauman was especially opposed to Zionists and Eastern European Jews, the former he considered a threat to Jewish integration and to be carriers of a "racist" ideology serving British imperial purposes, while he saw the later as racially and spiritually inferior.
The association's official organ was the monthly Der nationaldeutsche Jude edited by Max Neumann. The magazine had a circulation of 6000 in 1927.
Among the activities of this group was the fight against the Jewish boycott of German goods
. They also issued a manifesto that stated that the Jews were being fairly treated.
In 1934 the group made the following statement. "we have always held the well-being of the German people and the fatherland, to which we feel inextricably linked, above our own well-being. Thus we greeted the results of January, 1933, even though it has brought hardship for us personally".
A possible reason why some German Jews supported Hitler may have been that they thought that his antisemitism only was for the purpose of "stirring up the masses".
A similar contemporary Jewish group in Germany included the German Vanguard, the German-Jewish followers of Hitler led by Hans Joachim Schoeps, also referred to as "Nazi Jews", who advocated loyalty to the Nazi programme, and allegedly ended their meetings by giving the Nazi salute
and shouting, "Down With Us!".
Despite their extreme patriotism, the German government did not accept their goal of assimilation, the Association of German National Jews was declared illegal and dissolved on 18 November 1935. Its chairman Max Naumann was arrested by the Gestapo
the same day and imprisoned at Columbia concentration camp
. He was released after a few weeks, and died of cancer in May 1939.
The policy of the German government was to promote Jewish emigration from Germany, and as a consequence it promoted and encouraged the activities of Zionist organisations while at the same time repressing anti-Zionist organisations such as the German National Jews, especially as they were among those who advocated Jewish assimilation in Germany. The Zionists were commended in the SS newspaper by Heydrich by for their strict racial position, and the assimilationists were chastised for denying their race.
Weimar Republic
The Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
and the early years of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
that eventually came out in support Hitler.
It was founded in 1921 by Max Naumann
Max Naumann
Max Naumann was the founder of Verband nationaldeutscher Juden , which called for the elimination of Jewish ethnic identity through Jewish assimilation...
who was chairman until 1926 and again from 1933 to 1935 when the association was dissolved. Politically, the association was close to the national conservative
National conservatism
National conservatism is a political term used primarily in Europe to describe a variant of conservatism which concentrates more on national interests than standard conservatism as well as upholding cultural and ethnic identity, while not being outspokenly nationalist or supporting a far-right...
and monarchist
Monarchism
Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy as a form of government in a nation. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government out of principle, independent from the person, the Monarch.In this system, the Monarch may be the...
German National People's Party
German National People's Party
The German National People's Party was a national conservative party in Germany during the time of the Weimar Republic. Before the rise of the NSDAP it was the main nationalist party in Weimar Germany composed of nationalists, reactionary monarchists, völkisch, and antisemitic elements, and...
which, however, refused affiliation with the association.
The goal of the Association was the total assimilation of Jews into the German Volksgemenschaft, self eradication of Jewish identity, and the expulsion from Germany of the Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.
Max Nauman was especially opposed to Zionists and Eastern European Jews, the former he considered a threat to Jewish integration and to be carriers of a "racist" ideology serving British imperial purposes, while he saw the later as racially and spiritually inferior.
The association's official organ was the monthly Der nationaldeutsche Jude edited by Max Neumann. The magazine had a circulation of 6000 in 1927.
Among the activities of this group was the fight against the Jewish boycott of German goods
Jewish boycott of German goods
The Jewish boycott of German goods refers to one of the international Jewish initiatives against Nazi Germany.The boycott started in March 1933 in both Europe and the US. According to Berel Lang it was uncoordinated and soon ended...
. They also issued a manifesto that stated that the Jews were being fairly treated.
In 1934 the group made the following statement. "we have always held the well-being of the German people and the fatherland, to which we feel inextricably linked, above our own well-being. Thus we greeted the results of January, 1933, even though it has brought hardship for us personally".
A possible reason why some German Jews supported Hitler may have been that they thought that his antisemitism only was for the purpose of "stirring up the masses".
A similar contemporary Jewish group in Germany included the German Vanguard, the German-Jewish followers of Hitler led by Hans Joachim Schoeps, also referred to as "Nazi Jews", who advocated loyalty to the Nazi programme, and allegedly ended their meetings by giving the Nazi salute
Nazi salute
The Nazi salute, or Hitler salute , was a gesture of greeting in Nazi Germany usually accompanied by saying, Heil Hitler! ["Hail Hitler!"], Heil, mein Führer ["Hail, my leader!"], or Sieg Heil! ["Hail victory!"]...
and shouting, "Down With Us!".
Despite their extreme patriotism, the German government did not accept their goal of assimilation, the Association of German National Jews was declared illegal and dissolved on 18 November 1935. Its chairman Max Naumann was arrested by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
the same day and imprisoned at Columbia concentration camp
Columbia concentration camp
Columbia concentration camp was a Nazi concentration camp situated in the Tempelhof area of Berlin. It was one of the first such institutions established by the regime.-Development:...
. He was released after a few weeks, and died of cancer in May 1939.
The policy of the German government was to promote Jewish emigration from Germany, and as a consequence it promoted and encouraged the activities of Zionist organisations while at the same time repressing anti-Zionist organisations such as the German National Jews, especially as they were among those who advocated Jewish assimilation in Germany. The Zionists were commended in the SS newspaper by Heydrich by for their strict racial position, and the assimilationists were chastised for denying their race.