German Jewish History

 

Historically, Jews have lived in Germany since at least the early 4th century. They have been engaged in industry, trade, and agriculture, and remained economically oppressed through the Reformation period. They were unable to marry legally, and often had to work in unrespectable jobs. Despite the fact that the Reformation ushered in an era of Jewish emancipation, Jews continued to encounter continued resistance to their full participation in public life. They were also disproportionately taxed.

The medieval period saw an abundance of episodes of Jewish expulsion. Most of these episodes were tied to episodes of violence against Jews. In many cases, the evictions were facilitated by the emperor or a lesser sovereign. The emperor or the sovereign may have acted on the advice of the bishops. However, the emperor's actions often resulted in the destruction of Jewish property.

During the Reformation period, German Jews encountered continued resistance to full emancipation. In addition, they were disproportionately taxed, and their professions often became unpopular with their neighbors. They also had to pay for damages to their property, and were forced to repair it at their own expense.

The emancipation process depended on the individual's desire to assimilate, and on political expediency. This was not always the case. Some Jews were expelled, but others remained in German-speaking lands. As a result, the Jewish population remained fundamentally Jewish through the modern period.

Jewish communities formed in cities such as Cologne, Berlin, and Munich in the 13th century. These communities were characterized by the presence of religious leaders and a willingness to accept Reform judaism culture. During the Reformation, the German rulers provided some protection for Jews by issuing charters that granted certain rights to Jews. These included the right to perform international trade. They were also granted permission to serve as moneylenders. However, they were not allowed to lend money at interest.

The Reformation period also saw the rise of political antisemitism. It was not uncommon for Jews to be slain during the Hep-Hep riots. Many Jews were also forced to flee to Poland, Lithuania, and Romania. Some Jews who did not escape the repression fled to Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine.

While the persecution of Jews was not as severe as during the first Crusade, Jews were still displaced from German-speaking lands. Many Jews also suffered double indignity, having to deal with antisemitism on the outside and inside of their community.

The end of the Reformation and the rise of nationalism led to increasing repression of Jewish life in Germany. In the late 19th century, a virulent strain of antisemitism began to appear, and by the end of the century, it had become a serious problem. Antisemitic vocabulary became commonplace in German. The Great Depression was also a cause of a surge in antisemitism, and the Nazis promoted a virulent strain of antisemitism.

In the twentieth century, the Nazis' rise to power helped accelerate the growth of political antisemitism, and the Jews found themselves in a new situation. The Nazis promoted a virulent strain based on the allegation of betrayal, and the Jews were increasingly targeted by paramilitary Freikorps.