Propaganda:
- Hitler's regime used propaganda to spread negative stereotypes and false information about Jews.
- Antisemitic propaganda was disseminated through various media, including newspapers, posters, films, and radio broadcasts.
- This propaganda depicted Jews as a threat to Germany's economy, culture, and security, fostering a sense of fear and resentment among the population.
Discriminatory Legislation:
- The Nazi government enacted a series of laws and regulations that stripped Jews of their rights and citizenship.
- The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 defined who was considered Jewish and prohibited intermarriage and sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews.
- Jews were gradually removed from public life, excluded from professions, expelled from schools and universities, and their businesses were confiscated or Aryanized.
Violence:
- Physical violence against Jews increased significantly under Nazi rule.
- Jewish individuals were targeted by paramilitary groups, such as the SA and the SS, and were subjected to beatings, arrests, and imprisonment in concentration camps.
- The Kristallnacht pogrom of November 1938 marked a turning point, as thousands of Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed in a nationwide wave of violence.
Dehumanization:
- Hitler's regime systematically dehumanized Jews, presenting them as inferior, vermin-like creatures.
- Jews were depicted in propaganda as caricatures with exaggerated physical features, reinforcing the idea that they were not fully human.
- The use of language, such as referring to Jews as "parasites" or "rats," further contributed to their dehumanization.
By using these methods, Hitler created an environment of fear, hatred, and prejudice against Jews within German society. This laid the foundation for the Holocaust, during which millions of Jews and other minorities were systematically exterminated.