Julius Streicher
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Julius Streicher (February 12, 1885–October 16, 1946) was a prominent Nazi prior to and during World War II. He was the publisher of the Nazi Der Stürmer newspaper, which was to become a part of the Nazi propaganda machine. The newspaper was controversial even in Nazi circles because of its pornographic obsessions and sensationalism. His publishing firm released an anti-Semitic children's book Der Giftpilz ("The Poisonous Mushroom").
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Early life
He was born into a teacher's family in Fleinhausen, Bavaria, and worked himself as an elementary school teacher until joining the German Army in 1914. Streicher won the Iron Cross and reached the rank of lieutenant by the time the Armistice was signed in 1918.
Nazism
In 1919 Streicher helped to establish Wistrich, an anti-Semitic organization, but it became part of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) in 1920.
In 1923 Streicher founded and edited the racist newspapers, Der Stürmer (1923–45) which he used to build up a deep hatred of the Jewish race. Eventually the newspaper reached a circulation of 800,000.
In the newspaper Streicher argued that the Jews were responsible for the depression, unemployment and inflation in Germany. He claimed that Jews were white-slavers and were responsible for over 90 percent of the prostitutes in the country.
During the time of the Munich Beer Hall Putsch of 1923, Streicher became friendly with Adolf Hitler and became one of his active advocates.
In 1940 he was stripped of all party offices after printing untrue stories about Hermann Göring. He would remain on good terms with Adolf Hitler, however.
Trial and execution
Julius Streicher was found guilty of crimes against humanity at Nuremberg War Crimes Trial. His last words before execution on 16th October, 1946, were "Heil Hitler".
Newsweek magazine (October 28, 1946, Foreign Affairs Section, page 46), ran a story on the hanging. The last paragraph describes the death of Julius Streicher:
Only Julius Streicher went without dignity. He had to be pushed across
the floor, wild-eyed and screaming: "Heil Hitler!" Mounting the steps
he cried out: "And now I go to God." He stared at the witnesses facing
the gallows and shouted: "Purimfest 1946!"
This last may be an ironic observation that, like on the Jewish holiday Purim, ten evil men were hanged on that day (the eleventh, Hermann Göring, had committed suicide the night before).
Influence
Despite having a tested IQ of 106, he was considered by many observers to be insane. Despite this his newspaper and his speaking tours made him one of the best known leaders in Nazi Germany.
Remarkably, large amounts of material from Der Stürmer have found their way, together with The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, into present-day outlets of antisemitic literature.
External links
- Jewish Virtual Library article on Streicher
- Spiegel TV short biography (German)
- Caricatures from Der Stürmer
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