Footnote -- Jewish boycott of German goods
For armchair historians, the curious, and others interested in learning more, may I recommend two perspectives on the 1933 boycott:
Could We Have Stopped Hitler? from the Jewish Virtual Library
(Pay particular attention to the material on The Transfer Agreement.)
THE 'RACE NATION' DECLARES WAR ON GERMANY Chapter 9 from Witness to History by Michael Walsh, Books Online -- Historical Review Press
(Of particular interest here is the letter from Reichsbund Judischer Frontsoldaten, e.V (Jewish Association of German ex-Servicemen) to the U.S. Embassy. This document appears to cast some doubt on the stories of German and/or Nazi persecution of Jews which led to the economic boycott that is the topic of this post)
We became aware of the propaganda in your country about alleged cruelties against the Jews in Germany. We therefore consider it our duty, not only in our own interests as German patriots, but also for the sake of truth, to comment on these incidents.
Mistreatments and excesses have indeed occurred, and we are far from glossing these over. But this is hardly avoidable in any kind of revolution. We attach great significance to the fact that these authorities, where it was at all possible to interfere, have done so against outrages that have come to our knowledge. In all cases, these deeds were committed by irresponsible elements who kept in hiding. We know that the government and all leading authorities most strongly disapprove of the violations that occurred.
But we also feel that now is the time to move away from the irresponsible agitation on the part of so-called Jewish intellectuals living abroad. These men, most of whom never considered themselves German nationals, but pretended to be champions for those of their own faith, abandoned them at a critical time and fled the country. They lost, therefore, the right to speak out on German-Jewish affairs. The accusations which they are hurling from their safe hiding paces, are injurious to Germany and German-Jews; their reports are vastly exaggerated.
"The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple."
--Oscar Wilde
Indeed.
S