Anti-Semitic publications have existed in Germany for centuries. A book I had, written by Dr. Martin Luther, was, for instance, confiscated. Dr. Martin Luther would very probably sit in my place in the defendants' dock today, if this book had been taken into consideration by the Prosecution. In this book The Jews and Their Lies, Dr. Martin Luther writes that the Jews are a serpent's brood and one should burn down their synagogues and destroy them...
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Streicher cites Martin Luther’s anti‑Jewish writings to argue that anti‑Semitic sentiment has a long German tradition.
- In plain terms
- He points to Luther’s anti‑Jewish book to claim a historic German anti‑Semitism.
- What can you take from it?
- Historical figures are used to legitimize contemporary prejudice.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why is it problematic to use selective history to justify hate?
- How can societies confront historical anti‑Jewish narratives?
Another view
Citing Luther ignores his broader theological context and misrepresents history.
More from Julius Streicher
Only the Jews had remained victorious after the dreadful days of World War I. These were the people of whom Christ said, 'Its father is the devil.'
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Permalink to quote #18 Germans must fight Jews, that organized body of world criminals against whom Christ, the greatest anti-Semite of all time, had fought.
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