Medieval Anti-Semitism and Its Influence on the Nazis
In what ways did medieval anti-Semitism influence Nazi ideology and set the wheels in motion for an eventual attempt at the state-sponsored extermination of the Jews? How have more modern attempts at reformation and unification through rationalism, including the alleged “emancipation” of European Jewish peoples, contributed to further hatred of the Jews? From the time of the New Testament to the 20th century, there have been countless examples of anti-Semitic thought, writing, policies, and other actions taken against the Jews which would set the stage for the acceptance of a nationally-led hatred. These events contributed historically to this acceptance in several ways, including providing written texts on which future thought could be based, as well as rendering impossible any hopes of Jewish assimilation into everyday society. Probably most importantly, they turned the Jew from the fellow man into a sub-human, cyst-like figure. The commonness of anti-Semitism throughout history made it not only easier for the Nazis to hold their beliefs, but for them to be implemented into national policy.
As Christianity rose to the forefront as the religion of Rome, it became increasingly important for Christians to not only separate themselves from the Jews, but to identify themselves as having the better religion. Spurred on by verses in the New Testament, anti-Semitism in the first centuries of the Common Era was greatly increased. The Christian God was seen as having opposed the original covenant of Israel for some time, wanting instead for something new and better. The Jewish laws which had in the past curbed human sinfulness were no longer seen as necessary with the coming of Jesus. Rather than simply labeling the Jews as heathens, Christendom ascribed to them the role as a lesson in what not to do. Jesus became the messiah that the Jews should have accepted but didn’t. This was heightened further by New Testament text claiming that an evil Jewish cabal, headed by Caiaphas, demanded the execution of Jesus (even this storyline was still officially accepted by the church until 1965 with the declaration of Nostra Aetate). As a result, anti-Semitism was seen as appropriate in the first several centuries CE. Jewish social suffering, it was argued, was punishment from God for the death of Jesus and for their refusal to accept him as the messiah. Thus, it was believed, Jews should continue to suffer.
Writings by preachers and teachers, and legislation restricting Jewish freedoms would add to their social suffering over the last two millennia. The early anti-Semitic texts and policies of the dark ages would influence writers and legislators during the centuries of the middle ages, further developing the basis for Nazi ideology and its national acceptance. The indirect forcing of Jews into financial positions deemed distasteful by Christians, but still seen as necessary for economic stability and growth, would lead to one of the longest lasting stereotypes. This would aid in preventing the assimilation of Jews into society, and further the effort to dehumanize them, as would mass murders and destruction of Jewish texts and property during the Crusades and Inquisition. As the need for Jews in the role of money lenders diminished, they were repeatedly cast aside, making way for the ghettos of the modern era.
One of the final pieces in the puzzle leading to the acceptance of Nazi ideology came after repeated failures to convert Jews to Christianity, with the onset of the Enlightenment in modern times. Rationalism led to the reformation and unification of society, an attempt at removing religion from politics. At first this seemed like a positive sign for the Jewish people, as would the support for their so-called “emancipation”. The removal of religion, however meant that anti-Semitism would shift from a hatred of Jews for not accepting Jesus into a hatred of the Jews as a race, finally turning them into biological inferiors. As society was reformed, financial positions were no longer seen as distasteful, and Jews became unnecessary to the economy. This, combined with the Jews refusal to cast aside their religious beliefs as part of their “emancipation”, made it possible for a whole people to be segregated from society.
All of these events throughout the past two millenia played a role in permitting and promoting anti-Semitism, allowing one era’s politics and writings to influence the next, in a process that continued to the 20th century. The Nazi ideology, in keeping with the sense of unification during the Enlightenment, placed great importance on nationalism and the military’s part in society. As a result, any pitfalls were blamed on those who had chosen (or were forced) to remain separate from the state, such as the Jews and communists. The sociopolitically-accepted practice of anti-Semitism throughout history, and the anti-Judaic writings of the middle ages combined with this blame and segregation to provide the basis for many of the principles of the National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party.
