DOCSLIB.ORG

Nazi Anti-Semitism Remembered: Jewish Memorials in the SBZ and GDR Between the Years 1945–1987

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Nazi Anti-Semitism Remembered: Jewish Memorials in the SBZ and GDR Between the Years 1945–1987 Charles University in Prague Faculty of Social Sciences Institute of International Studies Sean T. McQuiggan Nazi Anti-Semitism Remembered: Jewish Memorials in the SBZ and GDR between the Years 1945–1987 Master Thesis Prague 2016 Author: Sean McQuiggan Supervisor: PhDr. David Emler, Ph.D. Academic Year: 2015/2016 Bibliographic Note McQuiggan, Sean T. Nazi Anti-Semitism Remembered: Jewish Memorials in the SBZ and GDR between the Years 1945–1987. Prague 2016. 101 p. Master Thesis. Charles University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of International Studies. Supervisor PhDr. David Emler, Ph.D. Abstract The thesis is an exploration into the Jewish memorial sites erected in the Soviet Zone of Occupation (SBZ) and German Democratic Republic (GDR) between the years 1945 and 1987. The primary aim of the thesis is to provide a collection of Jewish memorial sites in East Germany during the aforementioned time frame. It uses the theories of French historian Pierre Nora as well a number of other authors to legitimize the importance of these memorial sites. In addition, a typology was created by the author to ensure the proper collection of the memorial sites in order to reflect the research question: how was Nazi anti-Semitism remembered in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) through memorial sites between the years 1945-1987? The thesis is, however, more than just a collection of data. It also provides observations about trends and patterns in Jewish memorialization as well uses a method introduced by Ahenk Yilmaz to examine the individual characteristics of the sites. The thesis concludes that Jewish memorialization in the GDR was primarily a bottom-up approach, a fact that has been overlooked by many researchers in the field. Key Words Memorials, East Germany, SED, Memory, Jewish Range of Thesis: 201,020 symbols. 101 pages. Abstrakt Tato diplomová práce zkoumá židovské památníky postavené v zóně vlivu Sovětského svazu a v Německé demokratické republice (NDR) mezi lety 1945 až 1987. Hlavním cílem práce je poskytnout soubor židovských památníků ve východním Německu ve výše uvedeném časovém období. Práce vychází z teorií francouzského historika Pierra Nory stejně jako mnoha dalších autorů, a vysvětluje tak důležitost těchto pamětních míst. Autor zde nabízí typologii, jež prostřednictvím souboru památníků reflektuje odpověď na výzkumnou otázku: Jak bylo v Německé demokratické republice (NDR) vzpomínáno na nacistický antisemitismus skrze památníky postavené v letech 1945 až 1987? Tato práce je však více než jen souborem dat. Zabývá se rovněž zkoumáním trendů a vzorů ve stavbě židovských památníků, přičemž užívá metody představené Ahenkem Yilmazem pro zkoumání individuálních charakteristik takovýchto míst. Autor v práci dochází k závěru, že připomínka židovské památky vycházela v NDR především zdola – což je fakt, který mnozí výzkumníci v tomto oboru přehlížejí. Klíčová slova Památníky, východní Německo, SED, památka, židovství Declaration of Authorship 1. The author hereby declares that he compiled this thesis independently, using only the listed resources and literature. 2. The author herby declares that all the sources and literature used have been properly cited. 3. The author hereby declares that the thesis has not been used to obtain a different or the same degree. Prague Sean McQuiggan Acknowledgments I would like to express my gratitude to all of those who have supported me throughout the research and writing process. Specifically, I would like to thank my thesis supervisor Dr. David Emler, my program coordinator Dr. Tomaš Nigrin, and the leader of my thesis seminar Dr. Jiři Vykoukal. Additionally, thank you to my family and friends back home who took time to proofread and edit my paper. Finally, this thesis would not be possible without the support of my colleagues in the Great Weekly Writing Challenge (GWWC) Anička, Jord, Conrad, Patrick, and Haylee. I thank them for the extra motivation, the Czech and German translations, help with Microsoft Word and Excel, pranks in the library, and most importantly the victory beers at the end of every week. Master Thesis Proposal Charles University Faculty of Social Sciences International Area Studies: Central European Comparative Studies Author: Sean T. McQuiggan Supervisor: PhDr. David Emler. Ph.D. Topic: Jewish memorial sites in the SBZ and GDR between 1945 and 1987 Research Question: How was Nazi anti-Semitism remembered in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) through memorial sites between the years 1945-1987? Hypothesis: Jewish memorialization in the GDR was the result of a bottom-up or grassroots approach rather than controlled by the SED regime as many authors have assumed. Outline: 1. Introduction 2. Theoretical Framework 3. Methodology 4. Historical Background 5. Analysis. Literature Review: Jeffrey Herf Divided Memory. Michael Meng “East Germany’s Jewish Question: The Return and Preservation of Jewish Sites in East Berlin and Potsdam, 1945–1989.”, Angelika Timm Jewish Claims against East Germany: Moral Obligations and Pragmatic Policy, Thomas C. Fox Stated Memory: East Germany and the Holocaust, Stefanie Endlich, Nora Goldenbogen, Beatrix Herlemann, Monika Kahl, and Regina Scheer Gedenkstätten für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus: Eine Dukumentation Band II, Anna Dora Miethe Gedenkstätten: Arbeiterbewegung, Antifschistischer Widerstand, Aufbau des Sozialismus, Erica Bergauer, Zwischen Erinnerung und Verdrängung: Juden in Deutschland nach 1945, Claudia Koonz “Buchenwald: Eine Gedenkstätte im Interessenkonflikt”. 1 Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................. 1 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 3 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 4 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................................... 8 3. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .................................................................................................... 14 3.1 THE IMPORTANCE OF SITES OF MEMORY ........................................................................................... 15 3.2 COLLECTIVE MEMORY IN SMALL COMMUNITIES ............................................................................. 16 3.3 DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................................................... 17 3.4 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................... 19 4. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 20 4.1 TYPOLOGY AND METHOD ................................................................................................................ 20 4.2 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................... 25 5. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................... 26 5.1 THE JEWISH QUESTION IN THE SBZ ................................................................................................. 27 5.2 ANTI-FASCIST MASTER NARRATIVE ................................................................................................ 30 5.3 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................................................... 32 6. ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................................... 34 6.1 SITES BASED ON EAST GERMAN STATES ......................................................................................... 36 6.1.1 Observations ............................................................................................................................ 37 6.1.2 Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ........................................................................................... 38 6.1.3 Saxony ..................................................................................................................................... 41 6.1.4 Thuringia ................................................................................................................................. 42 6.1.5 Saxony-Anhalt ......................................................................................................................... 44 6.1.6 Brandenburg ............................................................................................................................ 47 6.1.7 East Berlin ............................................................................................................................... 48 6.1.8 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 50 6.2 LOCUS OF SITES ............................................................................................................................... 51 6.2.1 Observations ............................................................................................................................ 52 6.2.2 Jewish Cemeteries
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe West Germany FOREIGN POLICY AND STATUS OF BERLIN OUBJECTS discussed during British Premier Harold Wilson's offi- cial visit to Bonn from March 7 to 9 included the maintenance of the British Rhine Army in Germany, the continuation of German currency aid for the United Kingdom, and a new approach to German reunification. When East German authorities tried to interfere with the meeting of the Bundestag in Berlin on April 7 by disrupting traffic to and from the former capital, the Western Allies protested sharply. In his opening speech Eugen Gerstenmaier, president of the Bundestag, emphasized the right of the Fed- eral parliament to meet in West Berlin and denied that the session was an act of provocation. During the Easter holidays 300,000 West Berliners were permitted to visit relatives in the Eastern zone of the divided city. About a million Berliners crossed the Berlin Wall and spent Christmas with their relatives, after the renewal of an agreement in November. Queen Elizabeth II of England and her consort the Duke of Edinburgh made an official visit to West Germany and West Berlin in May, and were cheered by the population. Attempts by Foreign Minister Gerhard Schroder to bring about an improvement in relations with the United Kingdom during this visit were viewed skeptically by Franz-Josef Strauss, chairman of the Christian Social Union (CSU), representing the pro-French wing of the coalition. French President Charles de Gaulle's talks with Chancellor Ludwig Erhard in Bonn in June were described as "positive," but did not lead to an agree- ment on a conference to discuss the reorganization of the Common Market and other matters pertaining to the European community.
    [Show full text]
  • Jüdische Identität Und Kommunistischer Glaube Lea Grundigs Weg Von Dresden Über Palästina Zurück Nach Dresden, Bezirkshauptstadt Der DDR 1922-1977
    Jüdische Identität und kommunistischer Glaube Lea Grundigs Weg von Dresden über Palästina zurück nach Dresden, Bezirkshauptstadt der DDR 1922-1977 Für Maria Heiner und Esther Zimmering Karoline Müller, die als erste westdeutsche Galeristin mitten im Kalten Krieg 1964 und 1969 Lea Grundig in ihrer Westberliner „Ladengalerie“ ausgestellt hat, schreibt in ihren „Erinnerungen an Lea Grundig“: „Lea Grundig, die von wenigen sehr geliebt wurde, wird auch über ihren Tod hinaus gehasst. Sie war sehr skeptisch, wenn ein Andersdenkender zu ihr freundlich war. Bei einem Lob aus dem anderen Gesellschaftssystem müsse sie ihr Werk überdenken: ‚Was ich mache, ist Gebrauchskunst. Ob es Kunst im akademischen Sinne ist, interessiert mich nicht. Ich bin eine Agitatorin.“1 In der Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung wurde sie 1969 in einer Kritik ihrer Ausstellung in der Ladengalerie „Chef-Propagandistin“ der DDR tituliert.2 Unter den Funktionären der SED galt sie als herrisch, kompliziert und empfindlich als eine, die sich störrisch gegen die geschmeidige Anpassung der Parteilinie an die Routine des „realen Sozialismus“ in den Farben der DDR gewehrt hat. Reformer und Dissidenten in der DDR hielten sie für eine Stalinistin. Beide Seiten sahen in ihr eine gläubige Kommunistin, die im Grunde unpolitisch und naiv gewesen sei. Nach dem überraschenden Wechsel von Walter Ulbricht zu dem angeblichen Reformer Erich Honecker beklagte sie, dass plötzlich alle Porträts des Staatsratsvorsitzenden aus der Öffentlichkeit verschwunden seien und Ulbricht, trotz seiner Verdienste um die DDR von heute auf morgen der „damnatio memoriae“ verfallen sei.3 In der Frankfurter Rundschau erklärte sie 1973 wenige Jahre vor ihrem Tod 1977 anlässlich der Ausstellung aller Radierungen und des Werkverzeichnisses in der Ladengalerie: „Ich sage ja zur Gesamtentwicklung, zum Grundprinzip absolut und mit meiner ganzen Kraft ja.“4 Selbst den westdeutschen Feministinnen war sie zu dogmatisch und politisch.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe Federal Republic of Germany Demography JANUARY 1, 1982 the 66 local Jewish communities in the Federal Republic and West Berlin had 28,374 members. In 1981, 842 immigrants and 301 emigrants were recorded, together with 105 births and 487 deaths; there were 45 conversions to Judaism. On January 1, 1983 a total of 28,202 Jewish community members were registered—14,450 males and 13,752 females. In 1982 there were 620 immigrants, 340 emigrants, 95 births, 410 deaths, and 20 conversions to Judaism. The largest Jewish communities as of January 1, 1983 were West Berlin with 6,548 members (about 40 per cent of whom were recent arrivals from the Soviet Union), Frankfurt with 4,872, Munich with 3,920, Diisseldorf with 1,704, Hamburg with 1,391, and Cologne with 1,279. An additional 25,000 unregistered Jews were thought to be living in the Federal Republic and West Berlin. Communal Activities A survey of Jewish life in the Federal Republic was contained in the Rosh Hashanah message prepared by the Zentralrat der Juden in Deutschland (Central Council of Jews in Germany), the representative political organization of the Jewish community, in September 1981. The message noted that Jewish existence in Ger- many was burdened both by the experience of persecution in the past and a degree of undisguised prejudice in the present. While the Central Council maintained cordial relations with various governmental bodies and parliamentary parties, the average Jew experienced a degree of unease in everyday affairs. German public awareness of the Jewish community appeared to be less than friendly, the message maintained.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe Federal Republic of Germany Domestic Affairs AN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC terms, 1984 was relatively stable, al- though not without its share of troubling events. On the economic front, the gross national output rose by 2.6 percent, while the cost-of-living increase—2.4 percent —was the lowest since 1969. Unemployment, however, stood at 9 percent. The slight upward trend of the West German economy was slowed by lengthy strikes during the second quarter of the year. A scandal involving high government officials plagued the government of Chan- cellor Helmut Kohl throughout much of the year, producing considerable public unrest. Investigations by a parliamentary committee and the public prosecutor led to allegations of bribery, influence peddling, and tax evasion involving the huge Flick industrial concern and major political figures. West German economics minis- ter Otto Graf Lambsdorff resigned in June, just before being indicted for accepting bribes from Flick to arrange tax waivers. (He was succeeded by his Free Democratic party colleague Martin Bangemann.) Bundestag president Rainer Barzel resigned in October, in the wake of similar accusations. (Philipp Jenninger, also a Christian Democratic leader, was elected his successor in November.) Court proceedings were initiated against other leading personalities, in business as well as politics. In connection with public criticism of Flick's substantial political payoffs, spokes- men for Nazi victims and anti-Nazi groups recalled that the Flick concern had made large donations to the Nazi party and had refused to pay indemnity to World War II slave laborers. In May former mayor of West Berlin and Christian Democratic leader Richard von Weizsacker was chosen as the sixth president of the Federal Republic, succeed- ing Karl Carstens, who had been elected in 1979.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe Federal Republic of Germany Domestic Affairs JJNINETEEN SEVENTY-SEVEN was a challenging year for the federal government in Bonn. The main challenge was to safeguard domestic security and combat terrorism. In addition, the government sought to breathe new life into a stagnant economy. Left-wing extremism dominated the news during the year. In comparison, right- wing extremism remained a marginal phenomenon, although its intensification made for added unrest, particularly among Jews and others who had been per- secuted by the Nazi regime. The political leadership systematically sought to curb excesses on the left, while keeping a watchful eye on the right. A chronology of events relating to left-wing extremism includes the following: on January 8, two terrorists opened fire on a Swiss official at a German-Swiss border crossing; on March 24, law offices in Frankfurt were bombed; on April 7, in Karlsruhe, terrorists killed Chief Federal Prosecutor Siegfried Buback; on April 28, in Stuttgart, terrorist leaders Andreas Baader, Jean-Carl Raspe, and Gudrun Ens- slin were sentenced to life in prison for murder; on May 9, Hans-Joachim Klein, a wanted terrorist, revealed a plot to assassinate the presidents of the Jewish congre- gations in West Berlin and Frankfurt; on June 2, in Kaiserslautern, terrorists Manfred Grashof and Klaus Juschke were given life sentences; on July 20, in Diisseldorf, terrorists Hanna Krabbe, Lutz Taufer, Karl-Heinz Dellwo, and Bern- hard Rossner received life sentences; on July 30, terrorists in Oberursel
    [Show full text]
  • Information Issued by The- Association of Jewish Refugees in Great Britain
    VOL. XX No. 1 January, 1965 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE- ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES IN GREAT BRITAIN 8 FAIRFAX MANSIONS. FINCHLEY RO. (corn*r Falrtax Rd,), London. N.W.S Olfict and Coiaulting Houn: Tolophont : MAIda Vala 9096/7 (Conoral OAct and Wolfar* tor tht Aiotf). Monday to Thurtday Wa.m.—fp.m. 3—6p.i MAIda Vala 4449 (Employmtnt AsanCT, annually llctnttd by tha L.CC., and Social Sorvicas Dtpt.) Friday lOa.m.—l p.m. C. Kapralik its attention to problems of compensation and restitution, and helped to create the U.R.O. (United Restitution Organisation), the J.R.S.O. (the Jewish Restitution Succes­ JUBILEE OF "JOINT" sor Organisation for the U.S.A. Zone of Germany), the J.T.C. (the Jewish Trust Cor­ .The American Joint Distribution Com- Then in 1933, the Nazis came to power, poration for the British and French Zones), niittee (AJDC) was 50 years old a few and the " Joint" immediately went into and later on the Claims Conference. Weeks ago, and the grateful thanks and action again. There is no room to give While the improvement in Europe ^est wishes of the Association of Jewish details of the help extended to Jews enabled the " Joint" to withdraw from a Kofij^egs and the Nazi victims in the United in Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and number of countries, its attention in the •^mgdom go out to that unique organisa­ in the countries of immigration, both in last ten years has been focused on the tion. Europe and overseas ; it is within the living plight of Jewry in North Africa and other The AJDC was formed on 27th Novem­ memory of most of the readers of this countries where Jews have been living in ber, 1914^ on the incentive of the late paper.
    [Show full text]
  • Research Report
    Institute of Jewish Affairs sponsored jointly by the IJA RESEARCH Anti-Defamation League and the World Jewish Congress 11 Hertford Street, London W1 Y 7DX REPORT TEL 01-491 3517 FAX 01-493 5838 823 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017 Source must be quoted on publication TEL 212-490 2525 FAX 212-867 0779 Nos. 2 & 3, 1990 -------------------­ Central and East European Jewry: the Impact of Liberalization and Revolution SuMMARY: The Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe have been deeply affected by the collapse of Communism. Jewish life, even in very small centres of population, is being transformed. For most, a stagnant stability prevailed, with religious and cultural life rigorously curtailed and controlled by the authorities. Even in countries where some degree of freedom was granted to the Jewish community, the regime's motives were often dubious and their policies two-faced. But political liberalization in the wider society has led to the more open expression of Jewishness in most of the Jewish communities. The patterns of development in the seven countries covered by the writers of this Research Report are remarkably similar albeit varying in intensity: a revival of Jewish cultural life; people who had denied their Jewish origins now identifying themselves as Jews; young people discovering their Jewish identity; the ousting of Jewish communal leaders who had been closely identified with the Communist authorities; an increasing desire to participate in European and international Jewish activities. Of special importance· to the strengthening of Jewish identity in the communities is the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between the new governments and Israel.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe West Germany T A HE YEAR 1974 saw economic stagnation and recession, a change of government, and a substantial drop in the vote for the ruling Social Democratic party (SPD). The rate of economic growth dropped sharply, gross national product increasing by only 0.4 per cent, as against 5.3 per cent in 1973. At year's end, there were almost one million unemployed. Still, the economic situation in the Federal Republic was better than in any other Western country. The rate of inflation during the year was only 7 per cent. Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt resigned in May. While the immediate cause was the discovery that his personal assistant Guenter Guillaume was an East Ger- man spy, Brandt was also charged by his own party, and by the opposition, with lack of leadership in both the political and economic spheres. He nevertheless remained chairman of the Social Democratic party. He was succeeded on May 16 by Helmut Schmidt, a former Wehrmacht officer who had been a Hamburg senator and had held the portfolios of defense, economy, and finance in the federal govern- ment. On May 15 the former chairman of the Free Democratic party (FDP), Walter Scheel, was chosen to succeed Gustav Heinemann as federal president. Former Interior Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, who became foreign minister in Schmidt's cabinet, was named FDP chairman in October. In the various state and local elections held during the year, the ruling Social Democratic party losses ranged from 5 to 13 per cent and the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) gains were between 3 and 8 per cent.
    [Show full text]
  • INFORMATION ISSUED by the Assooaim W Xmn RBUGEB HI CREAT BRITAHI
    BilBgWWBiiBWjlByairyajMBWiWa •WK3W« ; ^•:»!miK*v!5'i-'a wif- :~v •"^rTr-igygB»TOi^gBjg!Mi'B«^H«gg-i Volume XXXI No. 8 August, 1976 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE AssooAim w xmn RBUGEB HI CREAT BRITAHI Secondly, residents become ill with greater frequency and — more seriously — it happens SOUD FOUNDATIONS AND NEW IDEAS all too often that they die very soon after their admission and sometimes applicants Annual General Meeting of the AJR pass away just before they are due for admission. As in previous years, the Hall of Hannah scholarly level, others consisted of genuine Though is is certainly to be welcomed that Karminsld. House was full to capacity at this autobiographies or fiction based on personal people keep their independence for as long years AJR General Meeting, held on June 17, experience, others again were written in a as possible, it is equally necessary to improve 1976. In his opening remarks, Mr. W. M. Behr, more journalistic vein, and, for this reason, and increase the facilities for those who are OBE, Chairman of the AJR, paid tribute to the sometimes limited in their value. In this coun­ now in the Homes as far as this is possible niemory of those Board members whom we try the AJR, under the auspices of the Council within the residents' physical and mental limit­ nad lost during the year: Rabbi Dr. G. Salz- of Jews from Germany, has also embarked on ations. In this connection, the speaker stressed ^erger. Rabbi Dr. I. Maybaum, Mr. E. J. a History of Emigration research scheme. the importance of occupational therapy, if Speyer, Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe West Germany Foreign Relations V^HANCELLOR WILLY BRANDT'S coalition of Social Democrats (SPD) and Free Democrats (FDP) continued its policy of detente with the states of Eastern Europe and with the German Democratic Republic (DDR), while intensifying its cooperation with the other Western nations, especially in Europe. The entry of Britain, Ireland, and Denmark into the European Economic Community (EEC) at the end of 1972 also was in considerable measure an accomplishment of the Bonn government. The crowning achievement of the Ostpolitik was the ratification of the agreements with Moscow and Warsaw by the Bundestag and Bundesrat in May 1972. The end of the era of confrontation between the two German states was exemplified by the Bonn parliament's ratification of the trade agreement with the German Democratic Republic in October and the signing of the Basic Treaty with the DDR in East Berlin on December 21. In the Middle East Bonn successfully continued its efforts to normalize relations with the Arab states. This normalization did not signify a worsening of relations with Israel, but was intended to further Bonn's policy of neutrality in the area. In an interview with the Frankfurt Jewish periodical Tribune, Brandt declared that Bonn shared responsibility for guaranteeing Israel's survival and safety. He stressed his government's desire to work, so far as it could, for a peaceful solution in the Middle East, and declared that after what had been done to the Jews of Europe in Germany's name, there could be no neutrality of the heart toward Israel for the German people, now or in the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe West Germany Foreign Relations BONN'S FOREIGN POLICY in 1970 concentrated on laying the groundwork for closer ties with the Communist nations of Eastern Europe. On August 12 it signed a treaty with the Soviet Union, renouncing force as a means of settling disputes and accepting the present borders in Europe as inviolable. Three months later, on November 18, West Germany signed a pact with Poland, which fixed the Oder-Neisse line as the border between the two countries—thereby acknowledging Poland's annexation of 40,000 square miles of pre-World War II German territory—and called for normal relations between Warsaw and Bonn. The coalition government of the Social Democratic party (SPD) and the Free Democratic party (FDP) also tried to bring about a better climate between East and West Germany. Twenty-five years had elapsed since the downfall of the Hitler regime. A new generation had grown up to whom the atrocities of the past were largely of historic import and who were concerned rather with such matters as Biafra and Vietnam, South America and the Middle East, and the oppression of the peoples of the Third World by the imperialist and colonial powers. At the universities all over Germany, but especially in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Heidelberg, student unrest was rampant. The com- bined forces of the New Left and the Arab students, the latter largely supported by German scholarship grants, managed to sway large segments of hitherto pro-Israel West German youth to become strongly anti-Zionist. Their opposition to the establishment and the pro-Israel older generation helped them identify Israel with reactionary and fascist tendencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Europe
    Central Europe Federal Republic of Germany Domestic Affairs J_/LECTION LOSSES AND internal government scandals in 1985 presented Chancellor Helmut Kohl with the biggest setbacks he had faced since taking office in 1982. Even his coveted "reconciliation" meeting with U.S. president Ronald Reagan at Bitburg in May, surrounded as it was by controversy, failed to bolster his sagging popularity. In two important state elections, Kohl's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lost to the left-of-center Social Democratic party (SPD). In the Saarland on March 10 the SPD won 49.2 percent of the vote, followed by the CDU (37.3 percent), the Free Democratic party (FDP) (10 percent), and the Greens party (2.5 percent). State elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on May 12 were swept by the ruling SPD, which obtained an absolute majority (52.1 percent), followed by CDU (36.5 percent), FDP (6 percent), and the Greens (4.6 percent). The newly elected head of North Rhine-Westphalia, Johannes Rau, was nominated by the SPD to run against Kohl for the chancellorship in the 1987 general elections. Kohl's prestige was further shaken by an espionage scandal and by continuing revelations of corruption and illegal tax deals involving both political parties and prominent individuals. Otto Graf LambsdorfF, the West German economic minister who was forced to resign in 1984, went on trial in Bonn, together with his predeces- sor, Hans Friderichs, and former Flick manager Eberhard von Brauchitsch, on charges of bribery and corruption. The trial continued into 1986. The announcement in December by Friedrich Karl Flick that the industrial conglomerate he headed would be taken over by Deutsche Bank, the state's largest financial institution, for DM 5 billion, reopened the issue of Flick's failure to make good on his promise to pay 5 to 8 million marks as indemnification to former Jewish slave workers in Flick enterprises during World War II.
    [Show full text]