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Who
Shall We Blame Now?...
9
November 2003
International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism
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CONTENTS
1 What is the
campaign about
2 Join the campaign
3 Background
information
1 What
is the campaign about
For the Nazis Jews were the
scapegoats...
In the 20s and early 30s Germany faced a great crisis. Due to
the worst worldwide economic recession ever, unemployment and
inflation were growing explosively. The First World War had been
lost and a lot of social and political tensions created a climate
of mistrust and fear.
The upcoming politician Adolf Hitler was obsessed by the idea
that the Jews are the real reason for German's problems. During
a propaganda event in Munich in 1920, Hitler spoke about the
'threat' for 'Aryans' by the 'Jewish race'. Hitler claimed that
'the Jews'
are one 'race' who only want 'money and power' (Adolf Hitler
"Survey on Antisemitism", 1919).
Hilter's political success was mainly based on his aggressive
propaganda abusing fears and feelings of insecurity and the German
wish for strong 'leadership'. He was able to pick out the Jews
as scapegoats on whom all the hate and fears could be focused.
According to Hilter's antisemitic, totalitarian ideology there
was only one 'solution': the total annihilation of the Jewish
population. 9 November 1938 marks the symbolical beginning of
this extermination policy - the Holocaust.
...and who shall we blame now?
After World War II the Europeans decided that they would never let anything like the Holocaust happen again. They stated: Never Again.
"Never Again" not only means no more Hitler and no more Holocaust, but it also means to be aware of the underlying hatred, fear, prejudice, discrimination and racism that was the driving force behind National-Socialism.
The focus of this year's campaign around 9 November is the way certain groups are used as scapegoats for economic, political and social problems. In times of insecurity, whether political, social or economic in nature, people look for somebody (other than themselves) to blame.
Don't point your finger
Generalising statements like 'immigrants steal our work', 'all these Mosques are places where religious extremism grows' or 'the Jewish world lobby prevents peace in Israel' are based on prejudices and promote racism and hate. Scapegoats are usually groups, who do not fit mainstream culture and who seem to be different - because of the colour of skin, their culture, their different lifestyles or viewpoints.
The Nazis persecuted all groups, who were not compatible with their fascist ideology: Jews, Roma and Sinti, homosexuals, political offenders and people with disabilities.
Hitler could base his fascist ideas on existing prejudices towards Jews, rooted not only in Germany but all across Europe. Nowadays some politicians also abuse fears, resentments and xenophobic attitudes to promote their 'solutions': exclusion,
restriction of civil rights and introduction of so-called anti-terrorist laws.
Europe is far away from a culture of mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence. Minorities are separated and blamed for everything that goes wrong.
Join the struggle against intolerance: NEVER AGAIN!
You are involved in a public discussion and somebody argues, that in fact, "it's the refugees, who cause higher taxes, because they abuse the welfare system!" How would you react? Would you be afraid to oppose such a statement although you do not agree? It is not indifference that is needed, but - on the contrary - active involvement. This means to be critical and to voice your opinion. It means to resist against propaganda and demagogy. Instead of pointing one's finger to somebody else it is important to discuss about common solutions, about intercultural approaches for social integration. Through cooperation with groups of other faith, other ethnic and cultural background, we promote tolerance and ways of social cohesion that clearly show what we stand for: Never Again!
2 Join the campaign
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Around 9 November the UNITED network organises each year a European-wide campaign to commemorate the "Kristallnacht" pogrom, to protest against intolerance and to build a different future.
The strength of UNITED campaigns is that the whole diversity of the European movement against racism, fascism and intolerance takes part in a common campaign. In that way we not only generate more publicity and mobilise more people but it is even more important that we motivate and inspire each other and learn from each other's experiences and ideas. As a sign of reconciliation and mutual understanding different groups commemorate the day together. Eyewitnesses tell about their experiences to young activists, Jews and Christians organise joint commemorations and Roma groups cooperate with gay organisations. Together we do not just want to highlight the danger of discrimination, racism and division but we stand together for peace and understanding.
The variety and creativity of many simultaneous activities on different levels and all over Europe make the campaign successful. The campaign is linked together by the use of a single date at its centre - 9 November - and the use of a common theme and slogan. This poster is designed to introduce you to the theme. As a campaign tool you can use it during your campaign activities. You can organise: public discussion meetings, demonstrations, commemoration meetings, conferences, poster actions, media actions, cultural events together with minorities groups.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN!
> Order more of these posters for free from the UNITED secretariat (max. 100)
> Inform UNITED (by mail/fax/e-mail) about your planned activities (title, date, theme, place) and the name, address and contact person of your organisation
Planning a campaign activity
Keep in mind that most activities are organised on a low- or no-budget basis. So 'no money' does not necessa-rily mean 'no action'. Important is to include in your campaign aims the protection and empowerment of victims of fascism.
Practical tips:
> Start your preperations on time
> Use the resources you already have within your organisation
> Look for partners and alliances - if appropriate also outside the NGO movement (schools, religious groups, community groups)
> Try to involve as many people as possible already during preparation (volunteers, partners etc.) and divide clear tasks
> Keep in mind that you can order campaign material at the UNITED Secretariat for free
Questions to be answered:
> What is the message you want to communicate?
> What outcome do you expect (short-term/long-term)?
> How do want to communicate your message?
> What publicity do you need to communicate your message?
> Are there special ways and/or occasions when the communication can be more effective?
HOW UNITED CAN HELP
UNITED will produce a special Calendar of Activities that will be taking place all around Europe, which can help you to make contacts, generate ideas and exchange speakers with other groups. It will be updated several times and will be published on our website: www.unitedagainstracism.org
Call UNITED if you cannot find a partner for your activities. We might know of other NGOs in your re-gion or city who are planning something.
A media release will be sent out to all important European press agencies, newspapers, etc. Journalists that want to know about specific activities are referred to the organisations involved in local actions. UNITED will produce a European report after 9 November, including as many of the activities that took place as possible.
HOW YOU CAN HELP UNITED
We can only do this with your help. Help us make the media release exciting! Announce your activities to us! Send us your invitations, leaflets and posters before the activities take place. Send us your media contacts. Help us make the report complete. Make sure your activity is included! Send us reports, newspaper articles, photographs, etc. directly after the event.
3 Background information
THE "KRISTALLNACHT" POGROM
In Germany on November 9th 1938, the Nazis started a pogrom against the Jews. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, Jews were subjected to harsh laws against them - being forced to hand over their businesses to 'Aryans', only being allowed to shop in Jewish-owned shops, children only allowed to go to Jewish schools etc. This was accompanied by much organised violence against Jews in the streets and elsewhere. But, until November 9th 1938, these attacks had the appearance of being unplanned and not sanctioned by the leadership of the Nazi Party, the government of Germany. On November 6th, a young Jew living in Paris, Herschel Grynszpan, received a post-card from his father Zindel who had been deported, along with 18.000 other German Jews, on October 27th to the Polish frontier. The postcard described the terrible conditions that the deportees were living under. Herschel Grynszpan was so angered by what he read that he went to the German Embassy in Paris and shot the first German official that he saw, Ernst vom Rath, a diplomatic assistant. Vom Rath died of his injuries on November 8th and the news of his death reached Germany the next day. Hitler and Goebbels were at that moment on the NSDAP-celebration on occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Hitler-putsch on 9 November 1923. Goebbels directly took up the chance to hold a rabble-speech against Jews.
The pogrom started in Berlin on November 9th 1938, organised unofficially by Hitler's SA storm troops. In a telegram-letter to all SA and SS-groups, Reinhard Heydrich, a group-leader of the SS, clearly ordered the violence to begin. Synagogues were set on fire. Jewish shops had their windows smashed across the country, which gave rise to the name "Kristallnacht", which freely translated means the Night of Broken Glass. Many Jews were physically attacked too. More than 7000 Jewish businesses across the country were attacked. Fires were lit in every Jewish area and the Nazis burned religious books. Around 200 synagogues were destroyed. The violence lasted 24 hours and 91 Jews were killed. More than 30.000 were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Many of them were killed in the following two months.
The "Kristallnacht" pogrom is usually seen as the symbolic beginning of the Holocaust. In addition to the approximately 6 million Jews who were the targets of a complete annihilation policy, were an estimated 5,5 million "enemies of the German state", criminals and 'asocials', people with mental disabilities, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses, political offenders such as communists and socialists, and Roma and Sinti. Estimates of the number of so-called "Gypsies" murdered are between 200.000 and 1.500.000. The estimated number of homosexuals killed in the camps varies from 10.000 to 15.000.
Around 100.000 men and women were arrested of the German homosexual community of around 1.500.000 men and women. The word "Kristallnacht" was given to the event by the Nazis themselves, because it mocked what had happened. German anti-fascists today prefer to describe the pogrom as "Reichspogromnacht",
although in most other countries the term "Kristallnacht" is used as it is better-known.
DEFINITIONS
antisemitism
Antisemitism is prejudice against Jewish people. Antisemites wrongly believe that Jews are fundamentally different from other people, that they want to rule the world and are trying to reach this goal through a world-wide conspiracy. This form of xenophobic intolerance leads to discrimination against individuals as well as to the persecution of Jews as a group. The most horrific manifestation of antisemitism came with
Hitler's rise to power and the Nazi ideology of racial purity.
fascism
Fascism is a violent reactionary right-wing political movement, which manifests itself ultimately in an openly terrorist dictatorship. Fascism gains support among all social groups especially in times of political and economical crisis. It destroys democratic liberties and discriminates members of specific (ethnic) minorities and people with different views. Fascists believe in the just leadership of a strong man, instead of parliamentary democracy. Fascism builds on a strong nationalism, which often turns racist. The term fascism is historically linked to the Italian fascism under Mussolini, but is applied to a range of similar regimes, parties and movements.
nazism
Nazism is an ideology and policy of the German fascism, which was characterised by racism, antisemitism, totalitarianism, social demagogy, aggressivity and superiority claims over other nations. The word nazism is derived from the expression 'national-socialism', which was a political movement in Germany led by NSDAP (German national-socialist workers party). The nazi regime was responsible for the deaths of millions of civilians. Some groups identify themselves with the ideals of nazism even today. These neo-nazis sometimes manifest themselves as skinheads, but not all of them do and not all skinheads are neo-nazis.
scapegoats
In general a scapegoat is a person blamed or punished for sins of others. In the societal context the use of scapegoats is strongly related to prejudice. A person or an entire group is blamed on basis of misleading information, stereotypes or resentments. Especially in times of societal changes and crisis people look for somebody to blame. Problems in society become so complex that it is difficult to understand the real reasons
for social change. The use of scapegoats compensates this feeling of powerlessness and insecurity.
INTERNET RESOURCES
UNITED for Intercultural Action - www.unitedagainstracism.org
Internet Centre Anti-Racism Europe (I CARE) - www.icare.to
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - www.ushmm.org
Simon Wiesenthal Center - http://motic.wiesenthal.com
Antisemitism and Xenophobia Today - www.axt.org.uk
WHAT IS UNITED?
UNITED for Intercultural Action is the European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees. Racism, nationalism, fascism, discrimination, restrictive asylum policies -these issues have a European dimension. It is important to fight intolerance on all levels. Linked through UNITED, more than 550 organisations from a wide variety of backgrounds, from all European countries, work together on a voluntary basis. They base their cooperation on common actions and shared activities on a mutual respect. UNITED is and will remain independent from all political parties, organisations and states, but seeks an active co-operation with other anti-racist initiatives in Europe. Through the UNITED network organisations meet each other, work on common actions and share information. European-wide action weeks, campaigns and such are planned and discussed on UNITED conferences. Like-minded organisations find each other on such conferences and work together on specific projects and on specific topics. The workers in the secretariat are in constant contact with the network organisations, ensuring that information and proposals for action are transmitted rapidly. Information is received from more than 2000 organisations and mailings go out to about 2200 groups in Europe. If you want to get involved, discuss the ideas and aims of the UNITED network within your organisation. Let us know that your organisation would like to join or receive information. And add us to your mailing list!
Up
UNITED for Intercultural Action
European network against nationalism, racism, fascism
and in support of migrants and refugees
Postbus 413, NL-1000 AK Amsterdam, Netherlands
phone +31-20-6834778, fax +31-20-6834582
info@unitedagainstracism.org, www.unitedagainstracism.org