The Nuremberg Laws - Social Studies

Today on Social Studies, we studied the Nuremberg Laws and how they affected the Jews. The Nuremberg Laws were antisemitic and racist laws formed in Nazi Germany on the 15th of September, 1935. Moving forward, we were then given a task; in which we were required to answer five different questions that relate to the topic. 

THE NUREMBERG LAWS

At their annual party rally held in Nuremberg in September 1935, the Nazi leaders announced new laws based on many of the racial theories common in Nazi beliefs. These German Jews from Reich citizenship and prohibited them from marrying or having sexual relations with persons of "German or German-related blood." Additional regulations to these laws deprived them of most political rights. Jews were disenfranchised (that is, they had no right to vote) and could not hold public office. 

The Nuremberg Laws did not identify a "Jew" as someone with particular religious beliefs. Instead, the first amendment to the Nuremberg Laws defined anyone who had three or four Jewish grandparents as a Jew, regardless of whether that individual recognized himself or herself as a Jew or belonged to the Jewish religious community. Many Germans who had not practised Judaism (the Jewish religion) or who had not done so for years found themselves caught in the grip of Nazi terror. Even people with Jewish grandparents who had converted to Christianity could be defined as Jews. 

The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 were the start of a new wave of anti-Semitic laws that brought about immediate segregation: Jewish patients were no longer admitted to municipal hospitals in Düsseldorf, German court judges could not refer to legal commentaries or opinions written by Jewish authors, Jewish officers were expelled from the army, and Jewish university students were not allowed to sit for doctoral exams. 

Other regulations reinforced the message that Jews were outsiders in Germany; for example, in December 1935, the Reich Propaganda Ministry issued a decree forbidding Jewish soldiers to be named among the dead in World War I memorials. 

Adapted from http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005681 

1. Provide two examples of ways in which the Nuremberg laws affected the rights of German Jews.  Several examples can be seen in which the Nuremberg law affected the rights of German Jews. Such examples are the "Nuremberg Laws", which excluded German Jews from Reich citizenship and prohibited them from marrying or having sexual relations with persons of "German or German-related blood." Another example is Germans who had not practised Judaism (the Jewish religion) or who had not done so for years found themselves caught in the grip of Nazi terror. Even people with Jewish grandparents who had converted to Christianity could be defined as Jews. 

2. What other actions were taken that discriminated against Jews in Germany? (Remembering) Other examples of actions that discriminated against Jews are how they are prohibited from voting and could not hold public office. Furthermore, Jewish officers were expelled from the army, and Jewish university students were prevented sit for doctoral exams. 

3. Why do you think that the Nazis passed these laws? (Understanding) I believe that the Nazis passed these laws to show their dominance and put their ideas about race into law. The Nazis believed in the false assumption that the world is divided into distinct races that are not equally strong and valuable. However, they produced laws that would be unfair to Jews to portray their anti-semitism. 

4. If a New Zealand government passed a law that provided for different treatment of a named racial group in New Zealand, what do you think the reaction of most New Zealand people would be? Why do you think this might be the case? (Applying) If a New Zealand government passed a law that provided different treatment of a named racial group in New Zealand, I believe that most New Zealanders would be astounded. We now live in a world where equal rights are held in great importance, and it is something we can't ignore. However, when disregarded, it can cause problems leading to demonstrations and predominantly havoc among New Zealand. 

5. Do you think these Nuremberg laws were racist? Explain your point of view. (Evaluating) I believe that these Nuremberg laws are discriminatory. As the law disrupted human rights and mainly targeted Jews. Such laws they had to follow were unfair, biased and overall antisemitic.