Travellers in the Third Reich: The Rise of Fascism Through the Eyes of Everyday People

by Julia Boyd

After the terms of the Versailles treaty became public in May 1919, Franck noticed even more vitriolic posters. He kept one bearing a typical message: END OF MILITARISM BEGINNING OF JEW RULE! Fifty months have we stood at the Front honourably and undefeated. Now we have returned home, ignominiously betrayed by deserters and mutineers! We hoped to find a free Germany, with a government of the people. What is offered us? A GOVERNMENT OF JEWS! The participation of the Jews in the fights at the Front was almost nil. Their participation in the new government has already reached 80 percent! Yet the percentage of Jewish population in Germany is only 1½ percent! OPEN YOUR EYES! COMRADES, YOU KNOW THE BLOODSUCKERS! COMRADES, WHO WENT TO THE FRONT AS VOLUNTEERS? WHO SAT OUT THERE MOSTLY IN THE MUD? WE! WHO CROWDED INTO THE WAR SERVICES AT HOME? THE JEWS! WHO SAT COMFORTABLY AND SAFELY IN CANTEENS AND OFFICES? WHICH PHYSICIANS PROTECTED THEIR FELLOW-RACE FROM THE TRENCHES? WHO ALWAYS REPORTED US ‘FIT FOR DUTY’ THOUGH WE WERE ALL SHOT TO PIECES? Comrades, we wish as a free people to decide for ourselves and be ruled by men of OUR race! The National Assembly must bring into the government only men of OUR blood and OUR opinions! Our motto must be GERMANY FOR GERMANS! DOWN WITH JEWRY!