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 "Nuremberg Laws" excluded 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 practiced 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 was 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.
Provide two examples of ways in which the Nuremburg laws affected the rights of German Jews. They were prohibited from marrying and having sexual relations with Germans therefore affecting friendships. They weren’t allowed to vote which meant they had no say in how Germany was run.
What other actions were taken that discriminated against Jews in Germany? (Remembering)
Teachers were fired if they had Jewish blood.
Why do you think that the Nazis passed these laws? (Understanding)
They wanted power so they used the Jews and tried to get rid of them.
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)
I think New Zealanders would instantly start protests to shut it down because New Zealanders are very against racism.
Do you think these Nuremburg laws were racist? Explain your point of view. (Evaluating) Yes these laws were very racist simply because they were going against a certain race of HUMANS.
