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Europe Against the Jews, 1880-1945
From the award-winning historian of the Holocaust, Europe Against the Jews, 1880-1945 is the first book to move beyond Germany’s singular crime to the collaboration of Europe as a whole.
The Holocaust was perpetrated by the Germans, but it would not have been possible without the assistance of thousands of helpers in other state officials, police, and civilians who eagerly supported the genocide. If we are to fully understand how and why the Holocaust happened, Götz Aly argues in this groundbreaking study, we must examine its prehistory throughout Europe. We must look at countries as far-flung as Romania and France, Russia and Greece, where, decades before the Nazis came to power, a deadly combination of envy, competition, nationalism, and social upheaval fueled a surge of anti-Semitism, creating the preconditions for the deportations and murder to come.
In the late nineteenth century, new opportunities for education and social advancement were opening up, and Jewish minorities took particular advantage of them, leading to widespread resentment. At the same time, newly created nation-states, especially in the east, were striving for ethnic homogeneity and national renewal, goals which they saw as inextricably linked. Drawing upon a wide range of previously unpublished sources, Aly traces the sequence of events that made persecution of Jews an increasingly acceptable European practice.
Ultimately, the German architects of genocide found support for the Final Solution in nearly all the countries they occupied or were allied with.
Without diminishing the guilt of German perpetrators, Aly documents the involvement of all of Europe in the destruction of the Jews, once again deepening our understanding of this most tormented history.
The Holocaust was perpetrated by the Germans, but it would not have been possible without the assistance of thousands of helpers in other state officials, police, and civilians who eagerly supported the genocide. If we are to fully understand how and why the Holocaust happened, Götz Aly argues in this groundbreaking study, we must examine its prehistory throughout Europe. We must look at countries as far-flung as Romania and France, Russia and Greece, where, decades before the Nazis came to power, a deadly combination of envy, competition, nationalism, and social upheaval fueled a surge of anti-Semitism, creating the preconditions for the deportations and murder to come.
In the late nineteenth century, new opportunities for education and social advancement were opening up, and Jewish minorities took particular advantage of them, leading to widespread resentment. At the same time, newly created nation-states, especially in the east, were striving for ethnic homogeneity and national renewal, goals which they saw as inextricably linked. Drawing upon a wide range of previously unpublished sources, Aly traces the sequence of events that made persecution of Jews an increasingly acceptable European practice.
Ultimately, the German architects of genocide found support for the Final Solution in nearly all the countries they occupied or were allied with.
Without diminishing the guilt of German perpetrators, Aly documents the involvement of all of Europe in the destruction of the Jews, once again deepening our understanding of this most tormented history.
387 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
221 people are currently reading
942 people want to read
About the author
Götz Aly
26 books70 followersGötz Haydar Aly is a German journalist, historian and social scientist.
After attending the German School of Journalists, Aly studied history and political science in Berlin. As a journalist, he worked for the taz, the Berliner Zeitung and the FAZ. Presently, from 2004 to 2005, he is a visiting professor for interdisciplinary Holocaust research at the Fritz Bauer Institut in Frankfurt am Main.
After attending the German School of Journalists, Aly studied history and political science in Berlin. As a journalist, he worked for the taz, the Berliner Zeitung and the FAZ. Presently, from 2004 to 2005, he is a visiting professor for interdisciplinary Holocaust research at the Fritz Bauer Institut in Frankfurt am Main.
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July 25, 2025
Eddig Götz Alyt a nemzeti érzelmű németeknek volt oka utálni, most tesz róla, hogy a többi európai sovén se kedvelje. Kötetének célja, hogy bemutassa, Hitler nem légüres térbe érkezett a maga Mein Kampfjával, hanem egy nagyon is eleven kontinentális antiszemita tradícióba, ami akkorra már több mint ötven éve alapvetően határozta meg egyes államok politikáját. A kulcsmomentum a modernizáció, valamint az egyre combosabb iparosodás volt, amelyet számos országban a zsidók jogi emancipációjával járt együtt - ám mellesleg létrehozta az antiszemitizmus új formáit. Addig ugyanis az ellenszenv elsősorban vallási jellegű volt, a zsidót mint idegent, furcsát, gyanúsat bélyegezte meg (John Lukacs ezt inkább antijudaizmusnak nevezné, nem antiszemitizmusnak). Ám az urbanizálódással, az ipar fejlődésével létrejött számos új állás, ahol a zsidók helyzeti előnyből indultak: mivel ők jobbára el voltak tiltva a földbirtoklástól, ezért olyan, a földművelésnél nagyobb mobilitást igénylő szakmákban szereztek jártasságot, mint a kereskedelem vagy a kézművesség. Lényegesen nagyobb hangsúlyt feltettek az oktatásra is, magyarán: sokkal jobban alkalmazkodtak a változó világhoz, mint keresztény sorstársaik. Nem csoda, hogy a rugalmasságot igénylő foglalkozásokban (jogász, újságíró, művész vagy a kereskedő) hamarosan nagy számarányban képviseltették magukat. Ez pedig felébresztette a többségi társadalomban az irigység sárga ördögét: úgy vélték, a zsidó ravaszabb, tehetségesebb, gazdagabb*, mint ők. Ez az új antiszemitizmus tehát, sokkal inkább gazdasági jelenség, mint vallási vagy akár pszichológiai, és abból a biztos tudatból fakad, hogy ha tisztességes körülmények között kellene velük versenyezni, akkor nem teremne nekünk babér. Hívjuk tehát az államot segítségül, hasson oda, hogy nekünk lejtsen a pálya.
Persze ez a métely nem ugyanolyan formát öltött Franciaországban, mint mondjuk Oroszországban. Előbbi államban is megjelentek azok a politikai formációk**, amelyek reagáltak a közhangulatra, de a kormányzat többé-kevésbé meg tudta akadályozni, hogy a dolgok eszkalálódjanak. Keleten azonban más volt a helyzet: ott az államérdek szövetségre lépett a népharaggal. Egyfelől megtalálta a zsidógyűlöletben azt a szelepet, amivel le lehetett vezetni a nincstelenek haragját, másfelől pedig úgy vélte, ezzel az eszközzel majd kiebrudalják az érintetteket az országból, természetesen csak azután, hogy előtte jól megkopasztották őket. Oroszhonban tehát divat lett pogromokat végrehajtani, véres, halálos dúlásokat a hatóságok szíves asszisztálása mellett, amelyeknek köszönhetően meg is indult a kivándorlás boldogabb vidékek felé.
De a dolgok igazán a világháború után kezdtek rosszra fordulni. Egyfelől a széteső Orosz Birodalom romjain vívott polgárháborúban a zsidók váltak mindenki lábtörlőjévé - gyakorlatilag az összes harcoló fél sarcolta és pusztította őket, kvázi megelőlegezve a második világháború borzalmait***. Emellett a kelet-közép-európai új nemzetállamok is fejükbe vették, hogy ők márpedig homogének akarnak lenni, mert a homogén az jó. Nyilván ennek nem csak az izraeliták estek áldozatul, hisz a lengyelek vegzálták az ukránokat is, görögök a törököket, a románok a magyarokat, ésatöbbi, ésatöbbi, de a legkönnyebb prédának a zsidók bizonyultak - mert nekik nem volt egy anyaországuk, ami hathatósan fel tudott volna lépni értük, vagy be tudta fogadni őket****. Valamennyi nemzet úgy vélte, saját nemzeti középosztályát úgy tudja megteremteni és megerősíteni, ha a zsidókat szorítja ki az állásokból, és a zsidóvagyonra teszi rá a kezét. Különböző országok különböző intenzitással kívánték ezt elérni, voltak, akik nyílt agresszióval is, mások "csak" numerus clausussal és büntetőadókkal, de a lényeg: mindenki, a lengyelek***** éppúgy, mint a lettek, a románok pedig éppúgy, mint a magyarok szereztek egy kis rutint abban, hogy kell jogfosztó törvénykezéssel a legmélyebb kiszolgáltatottságba taszítani egy népcsoportot, egyesek pedig még a konkrét gyilkolászásban is trenírozhatták magukat.
Szóval a tészta megkelt, Hitlernek már csak be kellett tenni a sütőbe. Mikor a németek bevonultak, már a rendelkezésükre állt egy komplett struktúra: működő szélsőjobboldali formációk, amelyekre támaszkodhattak, zsidózaklatásban rutinos hatóságok, sőt, gyilkosok, akik alig várták, hogy ismét legálisan hódolhassanak kedvenc hobbijuknak. De ami ennél is fontosabb: ott volt nekik a megpuhított társadalom, akik az évtizedes gyűlöletbeszéd és az állami büntetőtörvények után már tulajdonképpen elfogadta, hogy egy népcsoporttal bármit meg lehet tenni. Ezt a társadalmat már elég volt azzal kecsegtetni, hogy részesül a rablott javakból, máris passzívan, sőt támogatóan nézte végig, ahogy a marhavagonok bendőjükben az életekkel kigördülnek a pályaudvarokról. Mert igazából nem is Hitler volt a lényeg. Nem az számít, hogy ő azt mondta, vesszenek a zsidók. Hanem hogy európaiak komplett tömegei erre csak annyit tudtak válaszolni, hogy: hááát... miért is ne... végtére is...
* Szokás elsiklani felette, de mint minden nép esetében, a zsidók között is több volt a szegény, mint a gazdag. A rongyos, nincstelen galíciaiak tömegei, akik keletről érkeztek - például - Magyarországra, az antiszemitizmusnak egy másik, ősibb változatát hívták elő a többségi társadalomból: az "elveszik a proli munkáját és még a nyelvüket se értjük" ismerős érzetét.
** Nem csak a szélsőjobboldali pártokra kell gondolni: a korai szocialisták között is számos antiszemitát találunk, akik a zsidókban a kapitalizmus tipikus képviselőit látták.
*** A mai Ukrajna és Fehéroroszország területén 1919-1922 között 100-150.000 zsidót öltek meg több mint 2000 pogrom során.
**** Ekkoriban még Palesztina természetesen nem volt zsidó állam, ráadásul a britek pont a második világháború előtt állították le a bevándorlás a térségbe, mert attól féltek, felhergelik az arab többséget. Ráadásul a többi ország is ekkoriban érezte, hogy ideje egy létszámstopnak, ezzel teljesen kilátástalan helyzetbe taszították azokat, akiket államaik egzisztenciájukban vagy akár puszta létükben fenyegettek. Érdemes megjegyezni, hogy ezt a nácik tudatosan igyekeztek előidézni, amikor nagy tömbben, minél legatyásodott állapotban toloncolták a határon túlra saját zsidóikat, bízva abban, hogy a kikényszerített migrációval az antiszemitizmust is exportálják a többi országba. Számításuk be is vált.
***** Ironikus, hogy legvadabb zsidófaló lengyel politikusok (mint lengyel nacionalisták) a nácik bevonulása után gyakran ugyanabban a haláltáborban pusztultak el, mint az általuk üldözött kisebbség tagjai.
Persze ez a métely nem ugyanolyan formát öltött Franciaországban, mint mondjuk Oroszországban. Előbbi államban is megjelentek azok a politikai formációk**, amelyek reagáltak a közhangulatra, de a kormányzat többé-kevésbé meg tudta akadályozni, hogy a dolgok eszkalálódjanak. Keleten azonban más volt a helyzet: ott az államérdek szövetségre lépett a népharaggal. Egyfelől megtalálta a zsidógyűlöletben azt a szelepet, amivel le lehetett vezetni a nincstelenek haragját, másfelől pedig úgy vélte, ezzel az eszközzel majd kiebrudalják az érintetteket az országból, természetesen csak azután, hogy előtte jól megkopasztották őket. Oroszhonban tehát divat lett pogromokat végrehajtani, véres, halálos dúlásokat a hatóságok szíves asszisztálása mellett, amelyeknek köszönhetően meg is indult a kivándorlás boldogabb vidékek felé.
De a dolgok igazán a világháború után kezdtek rosszra fordulni. Egyfelől a széteső Orosz Birodalom romjain vívott polgárháborúban a zsidók váltak mindenki lábtörlőjévé - gyakorlatilag az összes harcoló fél sarcolta és pusztította őket, kvázi megelőlegezve a második világháború borzalmait***. Emellett a kelet-közép-európai új nemzetállamok is fejükbe vették, hogy ők márpedig homogének akarnak lenni, mert a homogén az jó. Nyilván ennek nem csak az izraeliták estek áldozatul, hisz a lengyelek vegzálták az ukránokat is, görögök a törököket, a románok a magyarokat, ésatöbbi, ésatöbbi, de a legkönnyebb prédának a zsidók bizonyultak - mert nekik nem volt egy anyaországuk, ami hathatósan fel tudott volna lépni értük, vagy be tudta fogadni őket****. Valamennyi nemzet úgy vélte, saját nemzeti középosztályát úgy tudja megteremteni és megerősíteni, ha a zsidókat szorítja ki az állásokból, és a zsidóvagyonra teszi rá a kezét. Különböző országok különböző intenzitással kívánték ezt elérni, voltak, akik nyílt agresszióval is, mások "csak" numerus clausussal és büntetőadókkal, de a lényeg: mindenki, a lengyelek***** éppúgy, mint a lettek, a románok pedig éppúgy, mint a magyarok szereztek egy kis rutint abban, hogy kell jogfosztó törvénykezéssel a legmélyebb kiszolgáltatottságba taszítani egy népcsoportot, egyesek pedig még a konkrét gyilkolászásban is trenírozhatták magukat.
Szóval a tészta megkelt, Hitlernek már csak be kellett tenni a sütőbe. Mikor a németek bevonultak, már a rendelkezésükre állt egy komplett struktúra: működő szélsőjobboldali formációk, amelyekre támaszkodhattak, zsidózaklatásban rutinos hatóságok, sőt, gyilkosok, akik alig várták, hogy ismét legálisan hódolhassanak kedvenc hobbijuknak. De ami ennél is fontosabb: ott volt nekik a megpuhított társadalom, akik az évtizedes gyűlöletbeszéd és az állami büntetőtörvények után már tulajdonképpen elfogadta, hogy egy népcsoporttal bármit meg lehet tenni. Ezt a társadalmat már elég volt azzal kecsegtetni, hogy részesül a rablott javakból, máris passzívan, sőt támogatóan nézte végig, ahogy a marhavagonok bendőjükben az életekkel kigördülnek a pályaudvarokról. Mert igazából nem is Hitler volt a lényeg. Nem az számít, hogy ő azt mondta, vesszenek a zsidók. Hanem hogy európaiak komplett tömegei erre csak annyit tudtak válaszolni, hogy: hááát... miért is ne... végtére is...
* Szokás elsiklani felette, de mint minden nép esetében, a zsidók között is több volt a szegény, mint a gazdag. A rongyos, nincstelen galíciaiak tömegei, akik keletről érkeztek - például - Magyarországra, az antiszemitizmusnak egy másik, ősibb változatát hívták elő a többségi társadalomból: az "elveszik a proli munkáját és még a nyelvüket se értjük" ismerős érzetét.
** Nem csak a szélsőjobboldali pártokra kell gondolni: a korai szocialisták között is számos antiszemitát találunk, akik a zsidókban a kapitalizmus tipikus képviselőit látták.
*** A mai Ukrajna és Fehéroroszország területén 1919-1922 között 100-150.000 zsidót öltek meg több mint 2000 pogrom során.
**** Ekkoriban még Palesztina természetesen nem volt zsidó állam, ráadásul a britek pont a második világháború előtt állították le a bevándorlás a térségbe, mert attól féltek, felhergelik az arab többséget. Ráadásul a többi ország is ekkoriban érezte, hogy ideje egy létszámstopnak, ezzel teljesen kilátástalan helyzetbe taszították azokat, akiket államaik egzisztenciájukban vagy akár puszta létükben fenyegettek. Érdemes megjegyezni, hogy ezt a nácik tudatosan igyekeztek előidézni, amikor nagy tömbben, minél legatyásodott állapotban toloncolták a határon túlra saját zsidóikat, bízva abban, hogy a kikényszerített migrációval az antiszemitizmust is exportálják a többi országba. Számításuk be is vált.
***** Ironikus, hogy legvadabb zsidófaló lengyel politikusok (mint lengyel nacionalisták) a nácik bevonulása után gyakran ugyanabban a haláltáborban pusztultak el, mint az általuk üldözött kisebbség tagjai.
January 3, 2023
W swojej książce Götz próbuje przedstawić bardzo ciekawy i moim zdaniem trafny zbiór wydarzeń w historii Europy, który najpierw z antyjudaizmu kierowanego religią i rasą, przemienił się w powszechny antysemityzm, którego podstawą stał się nie tyle rasizm, a stosunki ekonomiczne i klasowe. Nie wybielając odpowiedzialności Niemiec za Holocaust pokazuje, jak w mgle obydwu wojen, samostanowienia narodów i kreowania granic na początku XX w. państwa próbowały rozwiązać problem mniejszości żydowskiej na korzyść wąsko rozumianego narodu. W ostatnich rozdziałach pokazuje jak sami Niemcy potrafili wykorzystać istniejące podziały społeczeństw na korzyść swojego terroru IIWŚ i wciągać lokalne administracje w jego przemysł.
Najbardziej przerażającą była dla mnie długą lista ustaw i przedsięwzięć od Francji, przez Bałkany po bolszewicką Rosję w latach 1880-1939 ograniczających prawa i możliwości dla tamtejszych Żydów. Oraz to jak zgodne były w tej kwestii ze sobą wszystkie strony sporu politycznego od lewicy po prawicę z pojedynczymi wyjątkami. Oczywiście duża część książki poświęcona jest Polsce. Jednak czytając już gros innych pozycji w tym temacie nie było to dla mnie, aż tak wstrząsające i otrzeźwiające, jak mogłoby być dla innych.
Jest to bardzo wartościowa książka, obowiązkowa dla każdego interesującego się historią Europy. Czyta się całkiem dobrze, nawet takiemu laikowi jak ja, pomimo rozbicia jej na wiele podrozdziałów odpowiadających różnym państwom, przez co chwilami trudno poukładać zdarzenia na osi czasu, ale i do tego udało się przyzwyczaić. Jest to też książka do której poszczególnych rozdziałów na pewno będę wracał w przyszłości.
Najbardziej przerażającą była dla mnie długą lista ustaw i przedsięwzięć od Francji, przez Bałkany po bolszewicką Rosję w latach 1880-1939 ograniczających prawa i możliwości dla tamtejszych Żydów. Oraz to jak zgodne były w tej kwestii ze sobą wszystkie strony sporu politycznego od lewicy po prawicę z pojedynczymi wyjątkami. Oczywiście duża część książki poświęcona jest Polsce. Jednak czytając już gros innych pozycji w tym temacie nie było to dla mnie, aż tak wstrząsające i otrzeźwiające, jak mogłoby być dla innych.
Jest to bardzo wartościowa książka, obowiązkowa dla każdego interesującego się historią Europy. Czyta się całkiem dobrze, nawet takiemu laikowi jak ja, pomimo rozbicia jej na wiele podrozdziałów odpowiadających różnym państwom, przez co chwilami trudno poukładać zdarzenia na osi czasu, ale i do tego udało się przyzwyczaić. Jest to też książka do której poszczególnych rozdziałów na pewno będę wracał w przyszłości.
December 6, 2025
This book is excellent. It puts EVERYTHING into the proper historical context, with an eye to sorting out the current state of affairs in the headline-grabbing, sensationalized, Western Press accounts of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
My summary is in no way scholarly or even mildly sophisticated. It is overly reductionist, as basic as it gets, but I think it is a fair encapsulation of what a mess we're left with when envy and greed take the wheel of world politics.
Did "the Germans" perpetrate the Holocaust all alone? Nope. Is Hitler only to blame? Nope. Did the Germans -- all alone -- round up and ship Jewish people (in the German-conquered lands) by cattle cars to Auschwitz-Birkenau? Nope.
All of Europe participated with various levels of enthusiasm and gleeful savagery during the Holocaust.
But, that should not have been surprising. All across Europe, BEFORE Hitler came to power, European political leaders, law enforcement officials, and neighborhood thugs and local farmers, carried out murderous, blood bath, free-for-all looting and killing sprees, or "pogroms" (aah, those innocent sounding, often whitewashed things called pogroms). Pogroms were widespread since the 1880s.
When Hitler did conquer territory, his war machine gained the equally enthusiastic and gleeful savagery of the local Christian populations to round up (and then herd) Jewish friends and neighbors into cattle cars or, heck, simply shoot every herded Jew to death in a town square. WHO DID THIS???? The anti-semites all over Europe.
Why? Greed. Envy. Laziness. Stupidity. The local populations were "sluggish," with no motivation, no drive, no head for intellectual studies and pursuits. The local Christians, dislocated during the shift from an agrarian, artisan era to an era of the more industrial, skilled tradesman, could not adapt. They were lazy and stubborn, yet they envied the success of, and the material possessions of, the Jews. So the answer? Kill the Jews and steal their stuff.
How widespread was this complicit scheming with Hitler? Well, France, Hungary, the Catholic Church (everywhere it could get away with it), Poland, Russia (in cooperation with Hitler, and also all by itself with its own brand of Russian anti-Semitism), Romania, Greece, Lithuania, Belgium, Holland, Denmark -- do I really need to keep going?
Oh, and the anti-immigrant paranoia of America, and the blue blood, strictly class conscious, elitism of the British did not help one bit. EVERYONE was complicit.
Further, the re-drawing of borders at the end of WWI, to de-emphasize "Empire" and establish autonomous "nation states" -- in turn lead to the relocation of people with similar ethnic and cultural ties to the newly created "nation states" where they "belonged" (and expulsion of those who did not "belong"). What? Why? This was done to build a sense of Nationalism -- the glue with which policy makers would hold these new nation states together -- entire populations of people were uprooted from one side of a newly created border to the other side, for the sake of building the homogeneous population needed for unity of the new nation state.
Aha! But the Jews had no nation to which they could be uprooted and dumped! Hence the need arose for dumping Jews in Palestine. And . . . Well . . . Zionism . . . And . . . Here we are today. And, ironically, the Palestinians are now on the receiving end of a virulent Zionist genocide, just as the European Jews were the victims of genocide.
CONCLUSION: We need to admit the mistakes of the past. Americans, Brits, French, Scandinavian, Slavic, Greek -- all of us.
We also need to get the terminology correct. We need to "own" the very real difference between anti-semites and anti-Zionists. I am against anti-Semitism, AND I am ALSO against the violent Zionists like Netanyahu. And I am not alone. Google "Jews who are anti-Zionist." You'll see. Not all Jews are Zionists, and violent, zero sum Zionism (Jews win, Palestinians lose) is what Netanyahu personifies, and it is vile. As is he.
WHY won't the Israeli state compromise? Why can't Israel simply be thankful for the homeland they have received, on Palestinian land? Why won't Israel work out a two-state solution? It seems violent, zero sum Zionists are in control.
Will Netanyahu not rest until he wipes every Palestinian off the face of the Earth? WHY is this "ok" when a Zionist does it to a Palestinian, but "not ok" when all of Europe, with a roadmap from Hitler, does it to the Jews? It is exactly the same thing. Today, Gaza looks no different than the decimated Jewish ghettos, scattered all across Europe, in the years preceding 1939, and all throughout WWII.
Enough. Two wrongs do not make a right.
5 Stars -- this book has confirmed what I had suspected, and brought the facts graphically, sickeningly into the light of day. This book has allowed me to reach my own conclusions and confirm my disapproval of violent, zero sum Zionism based on historical facts . . . Two wrongs do not make a right. Read this book. You may conclude otherwise. But you will be informed.
My summary is in no way scholarly or even mildly sophisticated. It is overly reductionist, as basic as it gets, but I think it is a fair encapsulation of what a mess we're left with when envy and greed take the wheel of world politics.
Did "the Germans" perpetrate the Holocaust all alone? Nope. Is Hitler only to blame? Nope. Did the Germans -- all alone -- round up and ship Jewish people (in the German-conquered lands) by cattle cars to Auschwitz-Birkenau? Nope.
All of Europe participated with various levels of enthusiasm and gleeful savagery during the Holocaust.
But, that should not have been surprising. All across Europe, BEFORE Hitler came to power, European political leaders, law enforcement officials, and neighborhood thugs and local farmers, carried out murderous, blood bath, free-for-all looting and killing sprees, or "pogroms" (aah, those innocent sounding, often whitewashed things called pogroms). Pogroms were widespread since the 1880s.
When Hitler did conquer territory, his war machine gained the equally enthusiastic and gleeful savagery of the local Christian populations to round up (and then herd) Jewish friends and neighbors into cattle cars or, heck, simply shoot every herded Jew to death in a town square. WHO DID THIS???? The anti-semites all over Europe.
Why? Greed. Envy. Laziness. Stupidity. The local populations were "sluggish," with no motivation, no drive, no head for intellectual studies and pursuits. The local Christians, dislocated during the shift from an agrarian, artisan era to an era of the more industrial, skilled tradesman, could not adapt. They were lazy and stubborn, yet they envied the success of, and the material possessions of, the Jews. So the answer? Kill the Jews and steal their stuff.
How widespread was this complicit scheming with Hitler? Well, France, Hungary, the Catholic Church (everywhere it could get away with it), Poland, Russia (in cooperation with Hitler, and also all by itself with its own brand of Russian anti-Semitism), Romania, Greece, Lithuania, Belgium, Holland, Denmark -- do I really need to keep going?
Oh, and the anti-immigrant paranoia of America, and the blue blood, strictly class conscious, elitism of the British did not help one bit. EVERYONE was complicit.
Further, the re-drawing of borders at the end of WWI, to de-emphasize "Empire" and establish autonomous "nation states" -- in turn lead to the relocation of people with similar ethnic and cultural ties to the newly created "nation states" where they "belonged" (and expulsion of those who did not "belong"). What? Why? This was done to build a sense of Nationalism -- the glue with which policy makers would hold these new nation states together -- entire populations of people were uprooted from one side of a newly created border to the other side, for the sake of building the homogeneous population needed for unity of the new nation state.
Aha! But the Jews had no nation to which they could be uprooted and dumped! Hence the need arose for dumping Jews in Palestine. And . . . Well . . . Zionism . . . And . . . Here we are today. And, ironically, the Palestinians are now on the receiving end of a virulent Zionist genocide, just as the European Jews were the victims of genocide.
CONCLUSION: We need to admit the mistakes of the past. Americans, Brits, French, Scandinavian, Slavic, Greek -- all of us.
We also need to get the terminology correct. We need to "own" the very real difference between anti-semites and anti-Zionists. I am against anti-Semitism, AND I am ALSO against the violent Zionists like Netanyahu. And I am not alone. Google "Jews who are anti-Zionist." You'll see. Not all Jews are Zionists, and violent, zero sum Zionism (Jews win, Palestinians lose) is what Netanyahu personifies, and it is vile. As is he.
WHY won't the Israeli state compromise? Why can't Israel simply be thankful for the homeland they have received, on Palestinian land? Why won't Israel work out a two-state solution? It seems violent, zero sum Zionists are in control.
Will Netanyahu not rest until he wipes every Palestinian off the face of the Earth? WHY is this "ok" when a Zionist does it to a Palestinian, but "not ok" when all of Europe, with a roadmap from Hitler, does it to the Jews? It is exactly the same thing. Today, Gaza looks no different than the decimated Jewish ghettos, scattered all across Europe, in the years preceding 1939, and all throughout WWII.
Enough. Two wrongs do not make a right.
5 Stars -- this book has confirmed what I had suspected, and brought the facts graphically, sickeningly into the light of day. This book has allowed me to reach my own conclusions and confirm my disapproval of violent, zero sum Zionism based on historical facts . . . Two wrongs do not make a right. Read this book. You may conclude otherwise. But you will be informed.
May 3, 2023
„Widzimy przed sobą Polskę mordującą Żydów, daremnie szukamy lepszej Polski, która brzydziłaby się tymi mordami i przed nimi broniła”
„Europa przeciwko Żydom 1880-1945” to potężny, pieczołowicie przygotowany i udokumentowany akt oskarżenia wobec państw i narodów europejskich. To opowieść o antysemityzmie zarówno tym oddolnym, jak i systemowym. To książka, która pozostawia po sobie cierpki smak w ustach, uczucie wstydu, zażenowania i chyba przede wszystkim rozczarowania kondycją moralną przedwojennych „narodowych demokracji”.
Autor pyta o to, jak w centrum technologicznego i cywilizacyjnego postępu mogło dojść do jednego z najstraszniejszych aktów bestialstwa w historii ludzkości. Przez ponad 400 stron trudnej emocjonalnie lektury Götz Aly obnaża haniebne postępowanie chrześcijańskich Europejczyków wobec żydowskich społeczności. Umiejętnie wyjaśnia skomplikowane zależności społeczno-historycznie, jasno wskazuje winnych, ale podkreśla wielokrotnie złożoność tych procesów i przestrzega przed upraszczaniem i sprowadzaniem problematyki antysemityzmu oraz Holocaustu do kategorii dobra i zła.
Dla polskiego czytelnika najbardziej interesujące będzie pewnie to, że Aly brutalnie rozprawia się z mitem Polaków jako wielkich przyjaciół Żydów. Duża część książki poświęcona jest analizie przedwojennej Polski jako państwa prowadzącego ksenofobiczną wręcz politykę wobec narodowych mniejszości. Przytoczone są obrzydliwie antysemickie wypowiedzi wielu prominentnych polityków i duchownych, dziś cieszących się dużym autorytetem, czy wręcz w niektórych przypadkach, kultem. Czytanie o organizowanych przez Polaków pogromach czy współudziale biernym i czynnym Polaków w „ostatecznym rozwiązaniu” z pewnością nie należy do rzeczy najłatwiejszych, ale uważam, że jest konieczne, by raz na zawsze dojść do ładu z faktem, że Polacy, jako naród, również mają wiele za uszami. Książka niemieckiego historyka to jedna z cegiełek, które, mam naiwną nadzieję, pomogą kiedyś uzdrowić polskie społeczeństwo z romantycznego, ahistorycznego spojrzenia na dzieje swojego narodu.
"Tylko" 4 gwiazdki, ponieważ polskiemu wydaniu przydałaby się ponowna korekta. Odnotowałem całkiem sporo literówek, niekiedy kuriozalnych, jak pomylenie roku 1890 z 1990. Tutaj lekki zawód, bo książka na takim poziomie zasługuje na równie profesjonalne i jakościowe wydanie.
„Europa przeciwko Żydom 1880-1945” to potężny, pieczołowicie przygotowany i udokumentowany akt oskarżenia wobec państw i narodów europejskich. To opowieść o antysemityzmie zarówno tym oddolnym, jak i systemowym. To książka, która pozostawia po sobie cierpki smak w ustach, uczucie wstydu, zażenowania i chyba przede wszystkim rozczarowania kondycją moralną przedwojennych „narodowych demokracji”.
Autor pyta o to, jak w centrum technologicznego i cywilizacyjnego postępu mogło dojść do jednego z najstraszniejszych aktów bestialstwa w historii ludzkości. Przez ponad 400 stron trudnej emocjonalnie lektury Götz Aly obnaża haniebne postępowanie chrześcijańskich Europejczyków wobec żydowskich społeczności. Umiejętnie wyjaśnia skomplikowane zależności społeczno-historycznie, jasno wskazuje winnych, ale podkreśla wielokrotnie złożoność tych procesów i przestrzega przed upraszczaniem i sprowadzaniem problematyki antysemityzmu oraz Holocaustu do kategorii dobra i zła.
Dla polskiego czytelnika najbardziej interesujące będzie pewnie to, że Aly brutalnie rozprawia się z mitem Polaków jako wielkich przyjaciół Żydów. Duża część książki poświęcona jest analizie przedwojennej Polski jako państwa prowadzącego ksenofobiczną wręcz politykę wobec narodowych mniejszości. Przytoczone są obrzydliwie antysemickie wypowiedzi wielu prominentnych polityków i duchownych, dziś cieszących się dużym autorytetem, czy wręcz w niektórych przypadkach, kultem. Czytanie o organizowanych przez Polaków pogromach czy współudziale biernym i czynnym Polaków w „ostatecznym rozwiązaniu” z pewnością nie należy do rzeczy najłatwiejszych, ale uważam, że jest konieczne, by raz na zawsze dojść do ładu z faktem, że Polacy, jako naród, również mają wiele za uszami. Książka niemieckiego historyka to jedna z cegiełek, które, mam naiwną nadzieję, pomogą kiedyś uzdrowić polskie społeczeństwo z romantycznego, ahistorycznego spojrzenia na dzieje swojego narodu.
"Tylko" 4 gwiazdki, ponieważ polskiemu wydaniu przydałaby się ponowna korekta. Odnotowałem całkiem sporo literówek, niekiedy kuriozalnych, jak pomylenie roku 1890 z 1990. Tutaj lekki zawód, bo książka na takim poziomie zasługuje na równie profesjonalne i jakościowe wydanie.
January 2, 2022
When I was in elementary school, we lived in one of the first neighborhoods to be "unrestricted" for Jews, meaning the tacit rules observed by realtors were relaxed. Consequently, many of my friends at school and in the neighborhood were Jewish. This has been the case all my life and I have never understood the prejudice against Jews. When I came across this book in the library, I knew I must read it.
It was a difficult read. The author documents the systematic attempts of governments and people to wipe out the Jewish race in Europe and in Eastern Europe from 1880 to 1945. Before the Nazis inflicted their horrors on the continent, there existed in countries including Romania, Russia, Poland, Greece, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and even France a widespread resentment against Jews which often resulted in pograms which burned out Jewish businesses, destroyed Jewish homes and property and killed Jewish people. The social and economic upheaval caused by World War I only made the situation worse, as pent up greed, jealousy, and envy of Jewish successes created the conditions which led to the holocaust. The author has documented such unspeakable horror that sometimes I had to stop reading after only ten pages. Governments passed laws limiting the number of Jews who could work in the civil service, or obtain professional degrees, or enter trade schools, or get business licenses. Sometimes "open season" was declared on Jewish homes - police would do nothing as crowds of thugs broke into homes, killed the occupants and looted anything they could carry. The atrocities were unbelievable, and all this was before the Nazis came into power but created the conditions for their brutality. This is an extraordinary book full of new research and documentation providing valuable insight into why the Final Solution became so easily acceptable for so many, and why we must strive to protect our civilization which is so fragile.
It was a difficult read. The author documents the systematic attempts of governments and people to wipe out the Jewish race in Europe and in Eastern Europe from 1880 to 1945. Before the Nazis inflicted their horrors on the continent, there existed in countries including Romania, Russia, Poland, Greece, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and even France a widespread resentment against Jews which often resulted in pograms which burned out Jewish businesses, destroyed Jewish homes and property and killed Jewish people. The social and economic upheaval caused by World War I only made the situation worse, as pent up greed, jealousy, and envy of Jewish successes created the conditions which led to the holocaust. The author has documented such unspeakable horror that sometimes I had to stop reading after only ten pages. Governments passed laws limiting the number of Jews who could work in the civil service, or obtain professional degrees, or enter trade schools, or get business licenses. Sometimes "open season" was declared on Jewish homes - police would do nothing as crowds of thugs broke into homes, killed the occupants and looted anything they could carry. The atrocities were unbelievable, and all this was before the Nazis came into power but created the conditions for their brutality. This is an extraordinary book full of new research and documentation providing valuable insight into why the Final Solution became so easily acceptable for so many, and why we must strive to protect our civilization which is so fragile.
December 23, 2023
A fairly standard account, neither terribly original nor deeply analytical. Are useful introduction for those new to the topic, but somewhat lacking for the rest
May 26, 2025
This was an great book! A very well-rounded expose of how much the Jewish people have wrongfully suffered through the recent centuries. Chiefly among the reasons for the spread of modern anti-semitism is the jealousy and greed people have had against Jews for their level of success and accomplishment. God truly has gifted the Jewish people with great ingenuity which has led other people of many nations to willingly assisted in their destruction.
In the 20th century there was also a very large increase of nationalism among most of the countries of Europe which led to a growth of racism against the minorities of those countries. This brought about the dispersions of many different groups of people based on their nationality and if they were not the purist blood of that particular country. And therefore, in every country, the Jewish people were the greatest among those who were despised.
Al-in-all, this book did an EXCELLENT job breaking down each chapter of history in the 1900s that ultimately led to the atrocities of WWII and even the continued anti-semitism that was still embedded in the heart of most of Europe following the Hollocaust. The final chapter of this book did a good job at summarizing the details that are mentioned in the entirety of the book.
A must-read for those who want to know more about why anti-semitism is so popular and how it has spread in our modern times.
In the 20th century there was also a very large increase of nationalism among most of the countries of Europe which led to a growth of racism against the minorities of those countries. This brought about the dispersions of many different groups of people based on their nationality and if they were not the purist blood of that particular country. And therefore, in every country, the Jewish people were the greatest among those who were despised.
Al-in-all, this book did an EXCELLENT job breaking down each chapter of history in the 1900s that ultimately led to the atrocities of WWII and even the continued anti-semitism that was still embedded in the heart of most of Europe following the Hollocaust. The final chapter of this book did a good job at summarizing the details that are mentioned in the entirety of the book.
A must-read for those who want to know more about why anti-semitism is so popular and how it has spread in our modern times.
Read
May 13, 2020***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***
The Jews have a long history of facing discrimination and abuse in the lands in which they find themselves living in. This came to a head in the 20th century with the Holocaust but still continues to this day. People question how could such a tragedy happen in modern-day Europe and in this book, Europe Against the Jews, 1880-1945, Gotz Aly seeks to explain why. Starting in 1880 and focusing on different areas in Europe, Aly examines just how widespread the antisemitic views were in Europe and how nationalism help fuel it. From Western Europe to Eastern Europe to the Baltic, the reader is shown that some of the laws and attitudes many today would ascribe to the Nazis were in place before their rise and that the Nazis may simply followed their example. This book shows how sinister antisemitic beliefs are and how normal everyday people from all political and social walks of life actively participated and actively benefitted from them. Aly provides a good analysis of the times, why people believed the way they did complete with firsthand accounts from the period. I would recommend this to anyone looking at 20th century Europe and the evolution of antisemitism up until WW2 and its aftermath.
Rating: 4/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend.
The Jews have a long history of facing discrimination and abuse in the lands in which they find themselves living in. This came to a head in the 20th century with the Holocaust but still continues to this day. People question how could such a tragedy happen in modern-day Europe and in this book, Europe Against the Jews, 1880-1945, Gotz Aly seeks to explain why. Starting in 1880 and focusing on different areas in Europe, Aly examines just how widespread the antisemitic views were in Europe and how nationalism help fuel it. From Western Europe to Eastern Europe to the Baltic, the reader is shown that some of the laws and attitudes many today would ascribe to the Nazis were in place before their rise and that the Nazis may simply followed their example. This book shows how sinister antisemitic beliefs are and how normal everyday people from all political and social walks of life actively participated and actively benefitted from them. Aly provides a good analysis of the times, why people believed the way they did complete with firsthand accounts from the period. I would recommend this to anyone looking at 20th century Europe and the evolution of antisemitism up until WW2 and its aftermath.
Rating: 4/5 stars. Would recommend to a friend.
October 5, 2024
Mam nieco zastrzeżeń do tej książki już na poziomie podstawowym (Aly serwuje raczej linię apologii syjonizmu), ale dwie gwiazdki trzeba było ściąć za jakość polskiego wydania. Czy raczej jej brak. Już od samego początku widać, że zespół tłumaczeniowo-redakcyjno-konsultacyjny przyłożył się do roboty wcale, pojawiają się bezsensowne zdania i sytuacje, na radzieckiej Litwie działa policja, Rumunia okazuje się byłą częścią imperium rosyjskiego, polski rząd ogłasza manifest w styczniu 1918... no, dramatycznie jest. Dużo nazwisk pojawia się w niemieckiej transkrypcji, bo i czemu nie, imiona i nazwy miejscowości czasem się nie odmieniają, za to wprowadzony zostaje przymiotnik "jugosławiański" (kilka razy, to nie przypadkowa literówka). Cytowane są niemieckie wydania publikacji ŻIH, zamiast polskich oryginałów (ogólny chaos w przypisach i indeksach naprawdę przeraża). Generalnie bubel, niestety.
May 21, 2020
Conclusion really shines and I wish it was longer, especially when so many parts of the book could be more concise. In my opinion, too many passages are overloaded with statistics, where fewer numbers would convey the same message. Peppering so many numbers also leads to a few discrepancies, though none seems inserted on purpose.
I think a more ruthless editing job would have made this a 5-star read.
I think a more ruthless editing job would have made this a 5-star read.
April 4, 2025
Heavy book!! Some harrowing parts as well
June 9, 2020
This is a compulsively readable book that has been finely researched and presented for a general audience of readers. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, for many reasons.
Firstly, when the description of this book says that the author does not try to diminish the role Germany played in the Holocaust and the actions and pograms before it, they mean it. I was afraid upon beginning this book that I might experience some form of historical revisionism within its pages, but that was not the case. Although the author is very straightforward about the roles of other countries in the actions against the Jews during this period, he also does not try to decrease the guilt of the Nazis and other Germans.
I believe when dealing with historical tragedy, it is very important to not become biased by only viewing things from one perspective. This book was very eye-opening and allows the reader to see that there is always more than one side to every story. Between the meticulous research and the interesting writing, this is one of the best books I have read this year. I encourage you to check it out for yourself.
This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Firstly, when the description of this book says that the author does not try to diminish the role Germany played in the Holocaust and the actions and pograms before it, they mean it. I was afraid upon beginning this book that I might experience some form of historical revisionism within its pages, but that was not the case. Although the author is very straightforward about the roles of other countries in the actions against the Jews during this period, he also does not try to decrease the guilt of the Nazis and other Germans.
I believe when dealing with historical tragedy, it is very important to not become biased by only viewing things from one perspective. This book was very eye-opening and allows the reader to see that there is always more than one side to every story. Between the meticulous research and the interesting writing, this is one of the best books I have read this year. I encourage you to check it out for yourself.
This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
March 17, 2025
A penetrating analysis of the forces that contributed to the Holocaust. In no certain order, these include the effect of the Great Depression, rising nationalism (and concurrent focus on native, Gentile citizens), xenophobia and hardening of national borders. In sum, anti-Semitism was pervasive throughout Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The key change was in its focus on economic and social factors as opposed to religious ones, particularly the "envy" and "greed" of the national masses against Jews' ability to negotiate and to climb the social ladder, dominating, in some cases, professional and mercantile careers. Throughout this period, there was a growing acceptance of resettlement/expulsion of various minorities, but especially the Jews. Ultimately, the Nazi political-military machine was able to coalesce all of these factors in attacking the Jewish Question and used the inherent prejudices of other countires to assist in the Final Solution.
April 14, 2022
'Od zakończenia I wojny światowej antysemityzm stał się w większości krajów Europy czynnikiem politycznym. Przede wszystkim tworzył kolektywną, ponadklasową wspólnotę, naznaczoną niechęcią i lękiem narodowej większości przed porażką. Jako efekt uboczny braku wiary w siebie powstały pełne przechwałek, napuszone, chuligańskie brednie o ~ prawdziwych ~ Rosjanach, Rumunach i Węgrach, o wyższej rasie, odwiecznych wartościach, heroicznych czynach, historycznej przewadze określonych tzw. narodów państwowych'.
March 3, 2024
An eye-opening read that illustrates Nazi Germany was merely a continuation of what had been happening all over Europe for the past 50 years and how the continental reconfiguration after First World War really heightened tensions. Also, an insanely well edited and constructed book; the conclusion chapter is probably the best I've ever read. The author is masterful.
Read
May 19, 2025**Europe Against the Jews, 1880–1945** by Götz Aly examines the deep-rooted social, political, and economic conditions that led to the Holocaust. The book argues that anti-Semitism in Europe was not simply a product of Nazi ideology but was widespread, normalized, and supported by ordinary citizens well before the rise of Hitler. Aly emphasizes the role of envy, opportunism, and state policies in shaping a continental consensus that enabled genocide.
Key insights and actionable ideas:
* Understand the continuity of antisemitism across Europe
* Antisemitic attitudes were prevalent in many European countries long before the Nazis came to power.
* Political leaders, bureaucrats, and citizens often viewed Jews as scapegoats for economic and social problems.
* The groundwork for the Holocaust was laid through decades of exclusion, discrimination, and propaganda.
* Recognize economic envy as a major driver
* Jewish success in professions, commerce, and academia provoked resentment among non-Jewish populations.
* Antisemitism was often rationalized through economic arguments: portraying Jews as competitors, hoarders, or exploiters.
* Efforts to dispossess Jews of wealth and property were widely supported and seen as socially beneficial.
* Note the complicity of ordinary people and institutions
* Mass violence and expropriation were not solely directed by top Nazi leaders but relied on cooperation at all levels of society.
* Bureaucrats, police, local officials, and neighbors often facilitated or benefited from persecution.
* Many citizens welcomed the exclusion and deportation of Jews because it improved their own economic standing.
* Examine the pan-European dimension of antisemitism
* Anti-Jewish policies were not limited to Germany; collaborationist governments and local populations across Eastern and Western Europe also participated.
* Antisemitism was embedded in both right-wing and left-wing politics, secular and religious ideologies.
* A common European framework of suspicion and hostility toward Jews made coordinated persecution possible.
* Analyze the state's role in legitimizing exclusion
* Governments used legal, administrative, and educational systems to restrict Jewish life.
* Policies gradually dehumanized Jews and normalized their marginalization before violence escalated.
* Welfare and redistribution were often pursued through antisemitic measures—framing Jewish exclusion as social justice.
* Avoid simplifying the causes of the Holocaust
* The genocide was not solely a product of Hitler’s personal hatred or Nazi extremism.
* It was made possible by decades of systemic and cultural antisemitism, reinforced by social pressures and economic motives.
* Widespread compliance and passivity were as crucial as active aggression.
* Take responsibility for memory and historical awareness
* Acknowledge the depth and breadth of European involvement in antisemitic practices.
* Challenge national myths that frame the Holocaust as an external or isolated event.
* Promote education that highlights the warning signs of dehumanization and mass violence.
* Connect historical patterns to present-day vigilance
* Monitor how prejudice can be masked as economic or political necessity.
* Resist ideologies that scapegoat minorities in the name of national or social interests.
* Recognize how ordinary people can become complicit in systemic injustice through silence or self-interest.
Aly’s work reframes the Holocaust not as a rupture from Europe’s past but as a horrific culmination of long-standing societal forces. It serves as a warning against complacency and the normalization of prejudice under the guise of rational or patriotic motives.
Key insights and actionable ideas:
* Understand the continuity of antisemitism across Europe
* Antisemitic attitudes were prevalent in many European countries long before the Nazis came to power.
* Political leaders, bureaucrats, and citizens often viewed Jews as scapegoats for economic and social problems.
* The groundwork for the Holocaust was laid through decades of exclusion, discrimination, and propaganda.
* Recognize economic envy as a major driver
* Jewish success in professions, commerce, and academia provoked resentment among non-Jewish populations.
* Antisemitism was often rationalized through economic arguments: portraying Jews as competitors, hoarders, or exploiters.
* Efforts to dispossess Jews of wealth and property were widely supported and seen as socially beneficial.
* Note the complicity of ordinary people and institutions
* Mass violence and expropriation were not solely directed by top Nazi leaders but relied on cooperation at all levels of society.
* Bureaucrats, police, local officials, and neighbors often facilitated or benefited from persecution.
* Many citizens welcomed the exclusion and deportation of Jews because it improved their own economic standing.
* Examine the pan-European dimension of antisemitism
* Anti-Jewish policies were not limited to Germany; collaborationist governments and local populations across Eastern and Western Europe also participated.
* Antisemitism was embedded in both right-wing and left-wing politics, secular and religious ideologies.
* A common European framework of suspicion and hostility toward Jews made coordinated persecution possible.
* Analyze the state's role in legitimizing exclusion
* Governments used legal, administrative, and educational systems to restrict Jewish life.
* Policies gradually dehumanized Jews and normalized their marginalization before violence escalated.
* Welfare and redistribution were often pursued through antisemitic measures—framing Jewish exclusion as social justice.
* Avoid simplifying the causes of the Holocaust
* The genocide was not solely a product of Hitler’s personal hatred or Nazi extremism.
* It was made possible by decades of systemic and cultural antisemitism, reinforced by social pressures and economic motives.
* Widespread compliance and passivity were as crucial as active aggression.
* Take responsibility for memory and historical awareness
* Acknowledge the depth and breadth of European involvement in antisemitic practices.
* Challenge national myths that frame the Holocaust as an external or isolated event.
* Promote education that highlights the warning signs of dehumanization and mass violence.
* Connect historical patterns to present-day vigilance
* Monitor how prejudice can be masked as economic or political necessity.
* Resist ideologies that scapegoat minorities in the name of national or social interests.
* Recognize how ordinary people can become complicit in systemic injustice through silence or self-interest.
Aly’s work reframes the Holocaust not as a rupture from Europe’s past but as a horrific culmination of long-standing societal forces. It serves as a warning against complacency and the normalization of prejudice under the guise of rational or patriotic motives.
January 24, 2025
A solid 4.5 stars, and I vacillated over 4 or 5.
An depressing but interesting, and very important, history of antisemitism in Europe from the end of the 19th century until just after the Holocaust and World War II. Importantly, the focus of the book is almost entirely on outside of Germany. Germany plays an important role in the history for obvious reasons, but the author is clearly trying to avoid covering well worn territory and explore the less discussed regions of antisemitism, such as Greece, France, Hungary, and Poland.
Indeed, as far as there is a thesis to the book, it is that German antisemitism was a symptom of a broader racism across Europe, manifest in a tide of nationalism and desire for advancement. The rest of Europe was, essentially, just as racist and antisemitic, but Germany merely embodied it most fully in the government. It is this that the author essentially makes the case that Jews were unwelcome in Europe well before World War II, as well as afterwards. (One of the most depressing parts of the book are the post-World Ward II pogroms where thousands of concentration camp survivors were massacred on their return home.)
And this, perhaps, is my only real issue with the book, is that the thesis is ever present, but it is not tied throughout the book as much as it should have been, in my opinion. The book is well written, but is often done as an ongoing description of pogroms, with an occacssional break to tie it all together. I wish this thesis had been tied a bit more closely to the specific chapters.
An depressing but interesting, and very important, history of antisemitism in Europe from the end of the 19th century until just after the Holocaust and World War II. Importantly, the focus of the book is almost entirely on outside of Germany. Germany plays an important role in the history for obvious reasons, but the author is clearly trying to avoid covering well worn territory and explore the less discussed regions of antisemitism, such as Greece, France, Hungary, and Poland.
Indeed, as far as there is a thesis to the book, it is that German antisemitism was a symptom of a broader racism across Europe, manifest in a tide of nationalism and desire for advancement. The rest of Europe was, essentially, just as racist and antisemitic, but Germany merely embodied it most fully in the government. It is this that the author essentially makes the case that Jews were unwelcome in Europe well before World War II, as well as afterwards. (One of the most depressing parts of the book are the post-World Ward II pogroms where thousands of concentration camp survivors were massacred on their return home.)
And this, perhaps, is my only real issue with the book, is that the thesis is ever present, but it is not tied throughout the book as much as it should have been, in my opinion. The book is well written, but is often done as an ongoing description of pogroms, with an occacssional break to tie it all together. I wish this thesis had been tied a bit more closely to the specific chapters.
November 16, 2025
Absolutely superb. A deep presentation and analysis of the history of antisemitism in the modern world. Many educated people today don't know even the outlines of the story, often, in my opinion, getting things not just wrong, but reversed.
This book covers all aspects of this issue in modern Europe, but for me, the most revealing and disturbing thread in this broad story is of antisemitism in the universities and in the broader intellectual world.
Here in the United States, we have always tended to think of antisemitism as something promoted by the Nazis and far-right to take advantage of ancient hatreds among the working and agricultural people. The author shows in detail the florid antisemitism in the universities that had flourished for generations before Hitler came along and prepared the ground for it to reemerge as public policy. Anyone who want's to understand the place of Israel or the resurgence of antisemitism in Europe and the US today should read this important book.
This book covers all aspects of this issue in modern Europe, but for me, the most revealing and disturbing thread in this broad story is of antisemitism in the universities and in the broader intellectual world.
Here in the United States, we have always tended to think of antisemitism as something promoted by the Nazis and far-right to take advantage of ancient hatreds among the working and agricultural people. The author shows in detail the florid antisemitism in the universities that had flourished for generations before Hitler came along and prepared the ground for it to reemerge as public policy. Anyone who want's to understand the place of Israel or the resurgence of antisemitism in Europe and the US today should read this important book.
January 2, 2022
Co sprawiło, że w XX wiecznej Europie Holokaust był możliwy i stał się faktem? Co było siłą, która napędzała antysemityzm i skąd wzięła się powszechna obojętność wobec okrucieństwa II Wojny Światowej?
„Europa przeciw Żydom 1880—1945” Götza Alyego odpowiada na te pytania. Przy tym nie jest to książka łatwa i przyjemna. Przeraża skala dyskryminacji i zbrodni, które były obecne w europejskich państwach demokratycznych na długo przed 1939 rokiem. Momentami ilość liczb i faktów są przytłaczające. Mimo to polecam książkę wszystkim zainteresowanym historią społeczeństw europejskich. Chcę wierzyć, że opowiada ona o zamierzchłych czasach...
„Europa przeciw Żydom 1880—1945” Götza Alyego odpowiada na te pytania. Przy tym nie jest to książka łatwa i przyjemna. Przeraża skala dyskryminacji i zbrodni, które były obecne w europejskich państwach demokratycznych na długo przed 1939 rokiem. Momentami ilość liczb i faktów są przytłaczające. Mimo to polecam książkę wszystkim zainteresowanym historią społeczeństw europejskich. Chcę wierzyć, że opowiada ona o zamierzchłych czasach...
May 11, 2023
So rife with quotes and stats that it's hard to follow the broader narrative. But what really irked me was Aly seeming to use Jewish intellectual superiority as a root explanation. I'm not denying representational differences between identity groups, but those differences demand systemic explanations, not appeals to racist tropes.
"The crucial element was the superior zeal for learning among all Jewish students, which to some extent originated in Jews' pariah status and was anchored in their bright minds and intellectual training"
"motivated by the same obsessive anxiety: the fear of [...] the real intellectual and economic agility of a small, precisely delineable 'foreign' group"
"The crucial element was the superior zeal for learning among all Jewish students, which to some extent originated in Jews' pariah status and was anchored in their bright minds and intellectual training"
"motivated by the same obsessive anxiety: the fear of [...] the real intellectual and economic agility of a small, precisely delineable 'foreign' group"
April 4, 2022
Götz Aly, Europa przeciwko Żydom, czyli odpowiedź na pytanie „Jak to możliwe, że tyle narodów współpracowało z III Rzeszą w eksterminacji Żydów”.
Poznawczo uderzająca, warsztatowo pozostawia wiele do życzenia (krytyka źródłowa trochę kuleje). Polecam szczególnie laikom, a dla znawców będzie pewnym uporządkowaniem wiedzy. Dobre ukazanie przejścia z antysemityzmu religijnego do ekonomicznego pod koniec XIX w. (przejaw modernizacji). Trochę przypomina „Lustro Zachodu”, bo pokazuje, że elementy nazizmu były obecne od lat.
Poznawczo uderzająca, warsztatowo pozostawia wiele do życzenia (krytyka źródłowa trochę kuleje). Polecam szczególnie laikom, a dla znawców będzie pewnym uporządkowaniem wiedzy. Dobre ukazanie przejścia z antysemityzmu religijnego do ekonomicznego pod koniec XIX w. (przejaw modernizacji). Trochę przypomina „Lustro Zachodu”, bo pokazuje, że elementy nazizmu były obecne od lat.
August 15, 2023
Świetna książka, która w szczegółowy sposób opisuje jak budowano politykę niechęci do ludności żydowskiej na terenie Europy długo przed wybuchem obu wojen światowych. Wbrew pozorom pogromy Żydów i generalnie całe zjawisko Holokaustu nie pojawiło się znikąd i nie działo się z dnia na dzień. Warto przeczytać, do czego prowadzi nienawiść, zazdrość, zaściankowość i ogólna awersja do postępu, który jest nieunikniony. Wiele z tych sytuacji przypomina to, co obecnie głoszą politycy prawej strony na całym świecie szukający kolejnych kozłów ofiarnych.
December 14, 2020
One of the better books I have read on antisemitism. Chock full of ugly anecdotes from almost every European nation on how they treated their Jewish citizens. The words envy and jealously are used often to describe the main reasons for the hatred of the Jewish people and I have to agree.....There is so much here in this book......if this is a subject that interests you, then this book is a must read.
April 30, 2020
An examination of European anti-Semitism from the late 19th century until the outbreak of World War II. Aly puts German anti-Semitism during this period into perspective by showing how the wave of hatred rose across the continent, which he attributes to rising nationalism and the economic dislocations of industrialization and urbanization. A useful contribution.
November 18, 2024
good lord this book is dry. hard to read. very informative though, mentions why and how it came to be the jews that were targeted by europe, and pushes the point that historically antisemitism was almost never about hating the jews directly, its about hating x, y, and z, and the jews were always doing x y and z
December 20, 2022
Had to stop reading. The fact is to gruesome to take in. The book undoubtedly has made a change in how I view the world. I am lucky I have a jelly like core of optimism as this book could easily harden the reader to the grime truth of humanity.
September 25, 2024
One of the most depressing and most important books I've ever read. It was a little hard to follow in places because the timeline wasn't particularly linear. But, again, this was truly important information that more people need to know about.
December 25, 2024
A must read for anyone who wants to understand what happened in the century leading up to the Holocaust. And why Zionism was a necessary quest for existential survival of the Jewish people and anything but a colonial project.
July 2, 2020
Nagyon jó, elgondolkodtató könyv, sok--sok (számomra) új eseménytörténeti részlettel, de széles látókörű gondolati ívre felfűzve, nem litániaszerűen.
February 24, 2025
A history book everybody should read. Eye opening.
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