Berlin, Germany — Adolf Hitler delivered a brief yet impactful address to the Reichstag in Nuremberg on September 16, 1935, marking the first time in 440 years that the legislative body convened in the city. Lasting no more than 10 minutes, the speech prompted enthusiastic applause as well as vociferous shouts of disapproval from some Nazi deputies. The speech notably addressed Germany’s foreign relations and introduced significant changes in domestic policy, including the controversial replacement of the traditional black, white, and red flag with the swastika as the national emblem.
Hitler issued a stern warning to Lithuania regarding its treatment of Germans in the Memel region, claiming that past actions against this group had been legitimized by the League of Nations. He emphasized that the German population in Memel suffered unjustly at the hands of the Lithuanian authorities.
Turning to domestic matters, Hitler reiterated a prioritization of the Nazi party over the state, an ideology set to take formal legal shape. His statements regarding Jews, marked by a hardline approach, appeared to empower extremist factions within the party. Hitler accused Jews of inciting internal and external disturbances, linking them to recent riots in Berlin following a Swedish film screening, which he suggested were part of a broader Jewish conspiracy.
The day after Hitler’s speech, the Reichstag passed new citizenship legislation, further entrenching anti-Semitic policies. This law delineates a divide between full citizens and others in Germany, explicitly targeting individuals of Jewish descent. A key provision concerning an oath of loyalty to Hitler was absent from the final law draft, indicating shifts from initial proposals.
Particularly alarming is the new law meant to “protect German blood and honour,” prohibiting marriages between Jews and Aryans. This legal framework aligns with the Nazis’ broader racial ideologies and further marginalizes Jewish individuals in German society. The law has already prompted Dutch authorities to deny marriage licenses to German Jews, complicating relationships between German and Dutch nationals.
In Manchester, England, an estimated 3,000 people gathered at the Free Trade Hall on September 16 to protest against the treatment of Jews in Germany. Prominent figures like barrister G.H.C. Bing highlighted the extreme measures outlined in German penal codes, which threaten dire consequences for political dissenters. Bing urged attendees to recognize the significant impact of public protests in combating oppressive regimes.
As Jewish individuals in Germany face increasingly restrictive laws and social exclusion, concerns are rising that these policies may lead to more violent forms of persecution. Reports from concentration camps like Dachau reveal the grim reality for many prisoners, who suffer physical and psychological torment with little hope for liberation.
The legal measures instituted by the Nazis serve as a stark reminder of historical cycles of discrimination. With the government’s recent actions framing Jews as a separate category within society, many fear a return to the systemic oppression similar to past eras.
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