Was East Germany as equally antisemitic as the Soviet Union? Both East Germany (officially known as the German Democratic Republic or GDR) and the Soviet Union had complex relationships with antisemitism, and it is not entirely accurate to say one was “equally” antisemitic as the other. However, both countries had periods where antisemitism was prevalent, and there were certain similarities in their approaches and policies towards Jewish populations.
Here’s a brief overview of the antisemitic aspects of each country’s history:
Soviet Union
Stalinist Era (1930s-1950s): Joseph Stalin’s regime was characterized by widespread purges and repressions, including the persecution of Jews. The so-called “Doctors’ Plot” in the late 1940s, for example, involved the arrest and public trial of a group of Jewish doctors on fabricated charges of conspiring to poison Soviet leaders. This event heightened antisemitic sentiments and fears within the country.
State Atheism and Jewish Identity:
The Soviet Union’s policy of state atheism and suppression of religious practices affected Jewish communities, as it did other religious groups. Synagogues were closed, and Jewish cultural and religious institutions were targeted.
Zionism as a Form of Nationalism:
In the Soviet Union, Zionism was often conflated with bourgeois nationalism and was suppressed. Jews were sometimes accused of “cosmopolitanism” or “rootless cosmopolitanism,” implying that they were not loyal to the Soviet state.
East Germany (GDR)
Initial Post-War Period:
After World War II, there was a resurgence of antisemitism in East Germany, similar to the antisemitism found in other parts of Europe. This was partly due to the influence of Nazi propaganda and lingering prejudices.
State Atheism:
Like the Soviet Union, the GDR promoted state atheism and suppressed religious practices, which affected Jewish communities. However, the GDR did not have the same history of antisemitic purges as the Soviet Union.
Relations with Israel:
The GDR initially had diplomatic relations with Israel, but these were severed after the Six-Day War in 1967. The GDR then adopted a pro-Arab stance, which sometimes manifested in antisemitic propaganda.
Differences
Intensity and Scale:
While both countries had periods of antisemitism, the Soviet Union’s antisemitism was often more intense and institutionalized, particularly during the Stalinist era.
State Policies:
The Soviet Union’s antisemitism was sometimes state-sanctioned and had broader implications, such as the banning of Hebrew language and suppression of Jewish cultural and religious practices. The GDR’s antisemitism was generally less systematic and intense.
Post-War Context:
East Germany had the added complication of dealing with the legacy of Nazism and the Holocaust, which influenced its approach to Jewish issues and antisemitism.
In summary, both the Soviet Union and East Germany had periods of antisemitism, but the nature and intensity of their antisemitic policies and sentiments were not identical. The Soviet Union’s antisemitism was often more institutionalized and severe, while the GDR’s was generally less intense but still present, influenced by broader political and ideological contexts.
