In looking over the Nazi treatment of the Jews, many have felt that it all came down to racial hatred. Upon further analysis, the treatment is more a reflection of the German need to be unique and to be perfect. Germans needed to be all German. The Nazi party had to make race an issue to give themselves the foundation they needed to succeed.
The Germans in the nineteenth and early twentieth century needed to have an identity. In that, they are not unlike other human beings on the planet. School children identify with their school colors or group’s image. To be part of something big and perfect is the goal of adults, too, as they take the banner of political, religious, and social groups. Germans wanted to feel special and clearly define what being German was. On the surface, this sounds good, to establish pride in one’s country, but the path taken was to prove world-changing.
The area that Germany occupied was historically an area of political disharmony. It was under Bismarck in the 1800s that unity was finally achieved. To many, including Bismarck, success had been achieved. Though it was very successful in meeting the goal of Bismarck, many within Germany’s borders could only see how much more could be done. They saw how much bigger Germany could be. Many wanted to be successful in “precisely defining Germany.” They wanted areas on the outskirts of the country to be included. A clear definition of what it meant to be German was needed.
In the process of defining Germany geographically, the minds of many within Germany began to wonder if the definition of Germany was much deeper than that. Throughout Europe, races were mixing with a focus more on the unity politically as well as geographically. Some saw nationality as something that could easily be changed as nothing could actually “prevent him leaving one nationality and deciding to become part of another one.” By moving to one country and adopting the culture, religion, and traditions one could easily become French, English, or Spanish. Many within the Nazi party saw nationality as being in the blood.
There was no Israel at this time. The Jews could not claim a motherland. Jews could be found in practically every country of the world. Taking this absence of a home into account made the Jew appear below the German or anyone else who could claim a homeland. To some, this stance was moot if the Jew was willing to adopt core Germanic principles such as the Christian religion and patriotism for the German country. Moving into a country and assimilating was not uncommon. By becoming “German”, there was no debate of race. Yet, many kept bringing up this subject. The idea of the blood became more prominent and was used to incite fear in many.
Schleunes, Karl A. The Twisted Road to Auschwitz: Nazi Policy Toward German Jews 1933-1939. Chicago: University of Illinois, 1990.