Book Description

From 1933 to the end of 1938, a series of events assisted in the successful elimination of Jews from the German economy. The Jewish boycott of 1933, the Nuremberg Laws, and Kristallnacht, all served as examples of the treatment Jews could expect in the years to come. In addition, these events provided the Nazi government a glimpse of reactions from the German public and the Western world, providing essential feedback required in developing Jewish policy. In this process, the press played a pivotal role. During this period of initial persecution, a great many German Jews were removed from their jobs, banned from business associations, had their shops boycotted to discourage sales, and ultimately excluded from their professions. In addition, with the implementation of the Nuremberg Laws, Jews would be eliminated as citizens of the Reich, resulting above all in the legal elimination of Jews from positions in civil service. By the end of 1936 Jews experienced the process of forced emigration and "voluntary" Aryanizations. As a result, their property was being systematically removed through a series of decrees and regulations. By the end of 1938, in post Kristallnacht Germany, successful emigration rendered Jews penniless - their wealth tied to blocked bank accounts, "penalties," and decrees. The so-called "voluntary" Aryanizations turned "forced," and any hope of economic survival for German Jews in Germany became non-existent. These, and other, events occurred in plain view of the German public and the international press. They were both privileged to speeches delineating the goals of the Nazis towards the Jews, to the sight of S.A troops blocking the entrances of Jewish businesses, and were even aware of the emergence of "Aryan" businesses from the remains of once prominent Jewish businesses. They both experienced first hand the violence and the financial destitution inflicted on the Jews. Where they differed, however, was in their ability to play a passive role as witnesses; the responsibility to accurately, and truthfully, describe the events in a clear and concise manner abroad fell upon the press. They held the power to inform. Their words could have meant the difference between life and death of German, and ultimately European, Jews. What was reported about the Jewish persecution reached millions of individuals in America and other Western nations daily. The New York Times carried this burden above all others, as arguably the most prominent and trusted newspaper of the United States. The questions remain: With their reputation following them, and with first hand knowledge of the unfolding events, how did The New York Times represent the ongoing economic persecution of the Jews in Germany? Was the developing persecution reported accurately, as presented by current historical facts?