245:, increased and soon the Nazis outlawed Jews from working in the public service, however, World War I veterans were exempt from these policies. The RjF claimed responsibility for this exemption for their members, and continued correspondence with government officials, working to retain their rights as German citizens. This was controversial for many German Jews, as there was disagreement as to whether they should integrate into German society or leave Germany altogether, Zionist groups were in favor of the latter option. These early strides by the RjF were not just in protecting Jewish Veterans' rights to work but also their benefits as the RjF in 1933 negotiated with the Nazis to ensure that wounded Jewish veterans would not be treated differently and would maintain their veteran benefits. The RjF also worked to create social activities for members such as sports leagues. The RjF in an attempt to show German patriotism and to have a Jewish presence remain in the
39:
212:
28:
154:, and 12,000 had died, which placed their loyalty to Germany beyond any reasonable doubt. Jews had received 30,000 medals and awards during the war. At its high point the Reichsbund had 55,000 members. This large membership status made the RJF an organization with multiple political identities ranging from right to left leaning.
219:
Due to the organization's emphasis on Jewish soldier's efforts in the war, the
Reichsbund participated in memorial and event planning, as well as the construction of memorials. The RjF also mobilized in a multitude of ways to defend Jewish Veterans, and Jewish rights outright within Germany. In 1932,
162:
Ultimately, by 1935 laws were enacted banning Jewish participation in armed forces, signaling the loss of RjF advocacy power. The enactment of the
Nuremberg Laws was shocking to its members after advocating for integration into German society. Its activities were outlawed by the Nazis in 1936, and in
249:
petitioned the German
Military and Nazi Party up to Hitler to allow the group to form a segregated Jewish Division within the army. Their request was not even acknowledged, but if enacted they would have had enough Jewish soldiers to support multiple units having an estimated 50,000 potential Jewish
138:
veterans met in Berlin and formed the
Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten in 1919 with Leo Löwenstein as their leader. The RjF would eventually become the 2nd largest Jewish organization in Germany with average numbers ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 members. The membership was male-dominated since it
224:
a book that listed the combat records of over 10,500 fallen Jewish
Soldiers in WWI. Outside of their advocacy, RjF members worked with other veteran groups, even attending lectures by non-Jewish organizations. The Reichsbund also advocated for Jewish sport and agriculture and essentially created a
492:
Der RJF sieht die
Grundlage seiner Arbeit in einem restlosen Bekenntnis zur deutschen Heimat. Er hat kein Ziel und kein Streben außerhalb dieser deutschen Heimat und wendet sich aufs schärfste gegen jede Bestrebung, die uns deutsche Juden zu dieser deutschen Heimat in eine Fremdstellung bringen
186:
in orientation, while others were merely dedicated to the advancement of former German Jewish
Soldiers. Because of these differing political orientations, they had members with political beliefs ranging from communism and socialism to right-leaning views in line with German society at the time.
197:
The group stated: "The RJF sees the basis of its work as complete allegiance to the German homeland. It does not have any goal or desire outside of this German homeland, and sharply rejects any movement which wishes to bring us German Jews to a position of outsiders in relation to this German
258:
This group was reestablished in
November 2006, with the name Bund Jüdischer Soldaten. The current group embodies similar goals to the original Reichsbund Jüdischer Frontsoldaten, aiming to recognize and preserve the memory of Jewish war veterans in Germany. They emphasize the remembrance of
176:
were in power, the RjF firmly believed in their rights to live in an integrated German society because Jewish citizens had fought and died for
Germany. Compared to similar veteran groups at the time, the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten generally upheld German-nationalist and
139:
was organized by front-line soldiers. The essence of the
Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten (RjF) was that of a defensive organization. The goal of the RjF was to organize former Jewish Veterans to defend and portray the sacrifice of themselves and their comrades during
134:) by avoiding combat and treating the war as a profiteering opportunity. The rise of this antisemitic sentiment in Germany was shown within veteran activities as right-leaning groups began to protest the inclusion of Jews in remembrance services. In response, German-
59:
Christian and Jewish heroes fought side by side and rest side by side in foreign land. 12,000 Jews were killed in action! Furious party hatred does not stop at the graves of the dead. German women, do not tolerate that a Jewish mother is scorned in her
181:
ideals. However, the political makeup of the RjF is also widely varied, with both right- and left-leaning members. This makeup leads to a complicated organization in regard to political action. Some members and aspects of the RjF were
171:
As a war veterans group, the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten believed that Jewish war veterans should be honored alongside non-Jewish war veterans from World War I. Throughout the organization's existence, even when the
259:
German-Jewish soldiers who lost their lives in World War I. In response to current global politics, they also express solidarity with Jews in Israel and any attacks they face, specifically condoning attacks from Iran.
80:
655:
620:
630:
569:"Kampf um die Erinnerung". Jüdische Frontkämpfer des Ersten Weltkriegs und ihr Widerstand gegen die rechtspopulistische Propaganda in der Weimarer Republik.
32:
645:
640:
625:
610:
635:
605:
600:
660:
650:
576:
562:
504:
38:
67:
285:"Researching German-Jewish Responses and German-Jewish Resistance to National Socialism: Sources and Directions for the Future"
194:
as the mother country of all German Jews.The RjF also advocated for the integration of the Jewish people into German society.
215:
Circa 1929 by Max Liebermann as a dramatization of the pain suffered by those affected by the deaths of Jewish Soldiers in WWI
615:
571:, in: Tobias Arand (Hg.), Die "Urkatastrophe" als Erinnerung. Geschichtskultur des Ersten Weltkriegs, Münster 2006, S. 81-98
241:
and attempted to curb the rise of the Nazis by protesting the political party. Antisemitic policy in 1933, with the rise of
220:
right before Hitler's rise, The RjF held an event that was attended by many German elite to celebrate the publishing of the
581:
109:. The organization advocated for Jewish veteran rights as equal German citizens until they were dissolved in 1938.
349:
284:
211:
127:
17:
435:
394:"Fighting a Lost Battle: The Reichsbund judischer Frontsoldaten and the Rise of National Socialism"
475:
Kristallnacht in Context: Jewish War Veterans in America and Britai and the Crisis of German Jewry
106:
572:
558:
455:
413:
369:
304:
447:
405:
361:
296:
555:
Der Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten 1919 -1938. Geschichte eines jüdischen Abwehrvereins
84:
27:
594:
147:
102:
242:
238:
191:
178:
173:
123:
365:
300:
151:
140:
98:
94:
234:
459:
417:
373:
308:
409:
246:
322:
Grady, Tim. "Forgetting: Nazism, Front Fighters and Destruction, 1929-45".
451:
143:
as a method to combat antisemitism and the changing political landscape.
532:
146:
The Reichsbund emphasized that 85,000 Jewish soldiers had fought for the
505:"Jewish Ex-soldiers Form Federation in Germany; Aims to Preserve Rights"
487:
393:
97:
soldiers founded in February 1919 by Leo Löwenstein in the aftermath of
324:
The German-Jewish Soldiers of the First World War in History and Memory
183:
53:
12,000 Jewish soldiers fell on the field of honor for the fatherland.
210:
37:
26:
135:
350:"Embattled Veterans: The Reichsbund Judischer Frontsoldaten"
488:Diaspora and Jewish Self-Understanding (in German)
76:Reich Federation of Jewish Front-Line Soldiers
64:Reich Federation of Jewish Front-Line Soldiers
8:
436:"Jewish Society Through Nazi Eyes 1933–1936"
101:to demonstrate Jewish loyalty to the former
18:Reich League of Jewish Front-Line Soldiers
268:
656:Jewish organisations based in Germany
621:Opposition to antisemitism in Germany
584:Heroische Gestalten Jüdischen Stammes
477:. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 57–58.
429:
427:
387:
385:
383:
343:
341:
339:
337:
335:
333:
278:
276:
274:
272:
7:
631:Organizations disestablished in 1938
527:
525:
42:An RJF leaflet, published in 1920.
533:"History: Bund Jüdischer Soldaten"
233:The RjF knew of the threat of the
90:Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten
33:Jüdischer Friedhof Köln-Bocklemünd
25:
641:1938 disestablishments in Germany
626:Organizations established in 1919
611:Jewish anti-Zionist organizations
250:soldiers for Hitler's Wehrmacht.
354:The Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook
289:The Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook
207:Activism Before the Third Reich
646:German veterans' organisations
636:1919 establishments in Germany
606:Jewish anti-Zionism in Germany
601:Jewish political organizations
440:Holocaust and Genocide Studies
93:, RJF) was an organization of
1:
661:Defunct Jewish organizations
190:The Reichsbund regarded the
473:Berkowitz, Michael (2009).
128:stabbed Germany in the back
677:
651:Jewish Nazi German history
557:. Droste, Düsseldorf 1977
348:Pierson, R. (1974-01-01).
283:Paucker, A. (2006-01-01).
126:claimed that the Jews had
586:(Erwin Löwe, Berlin 1937)
509:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
366:10.1093/leobaeck/19.1.139
301:10.1093/leobaeck/51.1.193
392:Grady, T. (2010-03-01).
229:Activism Under Nazi Rule
163:1938 it was dissolved.
44:Inscription at the top:
567:Hans-Christian Kokalj:
537:Bund Jüdischer Soldaten
434:Bankier, David (1991).
225:youth league program.
216:
88:
71:
68:Registered Association
47:To the German mothers!
35:
616:Jewish German history
410:10.1093/gerhis/ghp105
214:
41:
30:
452:10.1093/hgs/6.2.111
217:
107:German nationalism
72:
36:
582:English notes on
132:Dolchstosslegende
16:(Redirected from
668:
541:
540:
529:
520:
519:
517:
516:
501:
495:
485:
479:
478:
470:
464:
463:
431:
422:
421:
389:
378:
377:
345:
328:
327:
319:
313:
312:
280:
122:In 1918, German
83:
31:Memorial at the
21:
676:
675:
671:
670:
669:
667:
666:
665:
591:
590:
553:Ulrich Dunker:
550:
548:Further reading
545:
544:
531:
530:
523:
514:
512:
503:
502:
498:
486:
482:
472:
471:
467:
433:
432:
425:
391:
390:
381:
347:
346:
331:
321:
320:
316:
282:
281:
270:
265:
256:
231:
209:
204:
169:
160:
120:
115:
79:
62:
57:
55:
51:
49:
45:
43:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
674:
672:
664:
663:
658:
653:
648:
643:
638:
633:
628:
623:
618:
613:
608:
603:
593:
592:
589:
588:
579:
565:
549:
546:
543:
542:
521:
496:
480:
465:
446:(2): 111–127.
423:
398:German History
379:
360:(1): 139–154.
329:
314:
295:(1): 193–208.
267:
266:
264:
261:
255:
252:
230:
227:
208:
205:
203:
200:
168:
165:
159:
156:
119:
116:
114:
111:
50:On the tomb:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
673:
662:
659:
657:
654:
652:
649:
647:
644:
642:
639:
637:
634:
632:
629:
627:
624:
622:
619:
617:
614:
612:
609:
607:
604:
602:
599:
598:
596:
587:
585:
580:
578:
577:3-934064-67-1
574:
570:
566:
564:
563:3-7700-0479-5
560:
556:
552:
551:
547:
538:
534:
528:
526:
522:
510:
506:
500:
497:
494:
489:
484:
481:
476:
469:
466:
461:
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
437:
430:
428:
424:
419:
415:
411:
407:
403:
399:
395:
388:
386:
384:
380:
375:
371:
367:
363:
359:
355:
351:
344:
342:
340:
338:
336:
334:
330:
325:
318:
315:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
279:
277:
275:
273:
269:
262:
260:
253:
251:
248:
244:
240:
236:
228:
226:
223:
213:
206:
201:
199:
195:
193:
188:
185:
180:
175:
166:
164:
157:
155:
153:
149:
148:German Empire
144:
142:
137:
133:
129:
125:
117:
112:
110:
108:
104:
103:German Empire
100:
96:
95:German-Jewish
92:
91:
86:
82:
77:
69:
65:
61:
54:
48:
40:
34:
29:
19:
583:
568:
554:
536:
513:. Retrieved
511:. 2015-03-20
508:
499:
491:
483:
474:
468:
443:
439:
401:
397:
357:
353:
323:
317:
292:
288:
257:
243:Nazi Germany
232:
221:
218:
196:
192:German Reich
189:
179:anti-Zionist
170:
161:
145:
131:
121:
89:
75:
73:
63:
58:
52:
46:
404:(1): 1–20.
254:Re-founding
222:Gedenkbuch,
198:homeland."
158:Termination
152:World War I
141:World War I
124:antisemites
105:and Jewish
99:World War I
56:And below:
595:Categories
515:2024-04-16
326:: 122–157.
263:References
460:8756-6583
418:0266-3554
374:0075-8744
309:0075-8744
247:Wehrmacht
81:‹See Tfd›
202:Activism
167:Ideology
184:Zionist
113:History
575:
561:
458:
416:
372:
307:
239:Hitler
136:Jewish
118:Origin
85:German
60:grief.
493:will.
235:NSDAP
174:Nazis
573:ISBN
559:ISBN
456:ISSN
414:ISSN
370:ISSN
305:ISSN
237:and
74:The
448:doi
406:doi
362:doi
297:doi
150:in
597::
535:.
524:^
507:.
490::
454:.
442:.
438:.
426:^
412:.
402:28
400:.
396:.
382:^
368:.
358:19
356:.
352:.
332:^
303:.
293:51
291:.
287:.
271:^
87::
539:.
518:.
462:.
450::
444:6
420:.
408::
376:.
364::
311:.
299::
130:(
78:(
70:)
66:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
