The Mischling Question

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The Mischling Question Nazi Definitions of Jewishness German citizenship for those with: . “German or racially related blood” . “A Jew cannot be a citizen of the Reich. He has no right to vote in political affairs and he cannot hold public office.” Banned marriage and sex between Jews and Mischlinge November 1935 = first supplementary decree: . “Definition of the Concept Jew” . Jew = at least three “full Jewish” grandparents . Practicing Jews, regardless of blood Mischling = someone with one or two Jewish grandparents . BUT, classed as “full Jew” if . ▪ A member of a Jewish religious community ▪ OR, married to a “full Jew” Mischlinge needed special permission to marry Germans Mischling, 1st Degree = “half-Jew” . one Jewish parent Mischling, 2nd Degree = one Jewish grandparent, and no Jewish parent Quick summary: . 3 Jewish grandparents = Jewish . 2 Jewish grandparents = Mischling, 1st Degree . 1 Jewish grandparent = Mischling, 2nd Degree BUT, one was also “full Jew” if: . They were practicing Judaism . They were married to a “full Jew” January 1937 = civil servants could only by married to non-Jews, or 2nd Degree Mischlinge March 1937 = Mischlinge banned from Labor Service foremen jobs Dec. 1937 = Mischling civil servants forced to retire Exceptions? . Only for WWI veterans September 1941 decree = all Jews must wear yellow stars . Jewish husbands in mixed marriages exempt . ▪ . So long as their children “do not count as Jews” Quarter-Jews cannot marry each other . But a Quarter Jew can marry a half-Jew? Race, not religion, determines inclusion in religious communities 330,892 Jews . 0.42% of population 72,738 1st Degree Mischlinge . 0.09% of population 42,811 2nd Degree Mischlinge Reinhard Heydrich on the Mischlinge . Proposes to kill all 1st Degree ▪ Exception: Mischling married to a German, with children ▪ Exception: “honorary Aryans” . Sterilization? “endless administrative work”? Loss of labor from Mischlinge? Sterlization vs. liquidation? Heydrich tables the issue . Wilhelm Stuckart (1902-1953), from Interior Ministry . Hesitant . Appointed SS major general Continuously stalls . Hitler is not supportive of deportations Example of the “polycratic state” . No order from Hitler, but deputies still work on it . Competing agencies Mischling downgrade possible . “personal appearance” . “personal merits” Nuremberg Laws initially established need to define the concept of the Jew Supplementary decrees were required . Wannsee Conference shows how complex this was . .
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