Answers to Quora Questions by Yair Davidiy (6 February, 21 Shevet, 5778)
Why were the Jews really targeted by Nazi Germany? (no.2)
https://www.quora.com/Why-were-the-Jews-really-targeted-by-Nazi-Germany/answers/71590968
The picture is an idealized depiction of a program in Frankfort am Main, in Hesse, central west Germany, 1819.
Previous replies to this query, as to why the Nazis wished to kill all Jews, have more or less covered the different factors that were involved.
Here is a list, from Quora, of the answers given:
- Isaiah Tanenbaum spoke of the myth that Germany had been stabbed in the back by German Jews in World War-1.
- Jake Pontillo said that killing and robbing the Jews would enrich the Nazis and also obtain support from others who also coveted Jewish possessions.
- David Melinkoff: The Jews were available as a potentially vulnerable victim upon whom all blame could be placed.
- Christopher Persaud: Jews were perceived as natural opponents of Nazi aims and attitudes.
- Anonymous: The Nazis projected their own bloodlust on the Jews.
"Many of them literally believed that the Jews kidnapped German children and murdered them or engaged in cannibalism. They wanted to kill the Jews because they believed that the Jews deserved it." - Laine Frajberg: Nazis believed in "a world wide Jewish conspiracy directed against Germany. And in order for Germany to survive and flourish,the Jews had to die."
- Adam Molnar: Germans looked for a scapegoat to explain their troubles and the Jews were available.
- P.t. Broiles: Hilter had a complex due to his own probably mixed ancestry.
All of these answers may have something to them. We ourselves have used some of them elsewhere. The reason given by Laine Frajberg possibly came closest. There is no conspiracy neither for nor against anyone. There is however an historical pattern and inherited destiny. The Germans felt they were not getting the good they thought they deserved. The Jews were to blame since they had something the Germans did not. Blaming the Jews would be acceptable for all of the reasons given in the list above and more.
According to tradition Esau (also known as Edom) gave rise to a portion of the German people. Esau and Jacob (later known as Israel) were twin brothers. They were sons of Isaac who was the son of Abraham. Jacob,instead of Esau, took the blessing of Isaac their father. This was resented by Esau who plotted to kill Jacob.
Genesis 27:
41 So Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him; and Esau said to himself, ‘The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.’
Thanks to Rafael Wugalter for his editorial suggestions that we accepted.