Let me tell you quite frankly: in one way or another we will have to finish with the Jews. The fuhrer once expressed it as follows: should Jewry once again succeed in inciting a world war, the bloodletting could not be limited to the peoples they drove to war but the Jews themselves would be done for in Europe. If the Jewish tribe survives the war in Europe while we sacrifice our blood for the preservation of Europe, this war will be but a partial success. Basically, I must presume, therefore, that the Jews will disappear. To that end I have started negotiations to expel them to the east. In any case, there will be a great Jewish migration. But what is to become of the Jews? Do you think that they will be settled in villages in the conquered eastern territories? In Berlin we have been told not to complicate matters: since neither these territories, nor our own, have any use for them, we should liquidate them ourselves! Gentlemen, I must ask you to remain unmoved by pleas for pity. We must annihilate the Jews wherever we encounter them and wherever possible, in order to maintain the overall mastery of the Reich here... For us the Jews are also exceptionally damaging because they are being such gluttons. There are an estimated 2.5 million Jews in the General Government, perhaps. 3.5 million. These 3.5 million Jews, we cannot shoot them, nor can we poison them. Even so, we can take steps which in some way or other will pave the way for their destruction, notably in connection with the grand measures to be discussed in the Reich. The General Government must become just as judenfrei (free of Jews) as the Reich!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Frank discusses the inevitable disappearance of Jews, citing Hitler's threat that Jews would be destroyed if they caused a world war.
- In plain terms
- He believes Jews will vanish from Europe and discusses expelling them east without clear plans.
- What can you take from it?
- Predict ethnic destruction while claiming uncertainty about final outcomes.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does language soften the reality of mass murder?
- What happens when survival is framed as a zero-sum game?
Another view
The speaker treats mass murder as a logical necessity rather than a moral choice.
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