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| Julius Streicher was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, 1885. He became an elementary school
teacher in his hometown. He fought in World War One and was
awarded many medals for his duty in combat. Through the years,
Streicher became known as "Jew-Baiter Number One," because he
believed the Aryan race is the superior race. He followed Hitler and believed Adolf's prophecies would come
true one day. Streicher became the Obergruppenfurhrer (general) of
the Storm Troopers and banned Jews from public places such as restaurants
and cafes.
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| April 14, 1923 is known as the "Evening of
Revelation." On this night, Julius Streicher was at a
meeting and was told he was a coward, liar, spouse abuser, and adulterer.
Afterward a long walk in the woods he got the idea to start a newspaper, Der Stuermer. This
means the "Attacker" in German. It was used to promote
Anti-Semitism and National Socialism. Nuremburg is the home of Der
Stuermer. The first issue came out on April 20, 1923 after alot of
researching.
Streicher formed the German Socialist party, but the responsibility was too hard at the time to handle, and he handed the party over to his hero and friend, Adolf Hitler. Julius Streicher was a Nazi from 1921-45, even though his work was unpopular with some Nazis. Others were also offended by Streicher's work, but he refused to drop the newspaper. After much controversy, in 1923 the newspaper came to a streaking halt. Miraculously, Der Stuermer was resurrected in 1924, and it was as strong as ever. Julius Streicher was determined to educated everyone about the Jews. He asked two thousand children, "Do you know who the devil is?" The children responded with, "The Jew. The Jew. The Jew." Der Stuermer published three anti-Semitism books for children like this. Also,Fritz Frank was hired to translate issues of Der Stuermer into Braille. Not all of Der Stuermer's information was researched by Julius Streicher, but some of it was submitted by the Gestapo and readers/ In 1924, Julius Streicher became the new Gauleiter of Franconia, but he was suspended in 1932. He never came back after the fall. Julius Streicher was in charge of the famous Jewish boycott on the first of April in 1933. He led the destroying of all the Nurnberg synagogues on August 10, 1938. Why did Julius Streicher hate the Jews so much? Like many others, he blamed the Jews for the fall in Germany's economy after World War One. Streicher was convinced that behind every crime there stood a Jew. In a picture of the explosion of the Hindenburgh stood a Jewish man. Also, after the explosion the cloud was shaped like a Jew's face. He was one of the first to notice this, but after he did he made sure all of Germany did, too. Wilheim Gustloff was an enemy of the Jews. Julius Streicher believed that his killer was a Jew after all the haateful things Gustloff said about the Jewish race. Through Der Stuermer, Julius Streicher brainwashed readers into believing that Jews were a disgrace to the human race. He continuously told his readers that the Jews were planning on exterminating all Gentiles so they could rule over the world. Even if a Jew confessed to converting his religious beliefs to Christianity, he was still stereotyped as a rat. There is a medieval belief that Jews killed Christian children. These were called "ritual murders." By informing the public of this, people who thought all men are equal,even after Germany's fall in economy, were now helping in the slaying of thousands of Jews. In one of Julius Streicher's issues of Der Stuermer, he compared a butcher slaughtering a cow to Jews killing Aryans. The victims of Jewish murders' throats were slit, just like that of a pig who is being slaughtered. Streicher had special editons on this topic alone. It was, what he believed to be, one of the strongest statements that would change everyone point of view about the Jews. In 1943, Julius Stricher sent a photographer to take photographs at death camps. Not to inform the community of these crimes, but to brag about it. He published these pictures in Der Stuermer. The owner of Der Stuermer handed over the business to Julius Streicher. Streicher wanted to prove that he was an even better owner than the last. Every issue after this event Der Stuermer included information pertaining to Jewish crimes. Crimes ranged from stealing, cheating, and lying to rape and mass murder. Julius Streicher took educating Jewish children another step farther. He was convinced that today's children are tomorrow's Nazis. Der Stuermer published a teaching curriculum on anti-Semitism. Overall, Julius Streicher was Adolf Hitler's mouthpiece. They supported each other one hundred percent. After realizing that he may be arrested, Julius Streicher tried to hide his identity and pretended to be a house painter. He was caught on May 25, 1946. Julius Streicher was tried and convicted of crimes against humanity. The judge sentenced Streicher to death on October 1, 1946. Before Streicher was supposed to be hung he saluted Hitler by yelling, "Heil Hitler!" For no reason, the rope snapped, and Streicher fell to the ground.Fifteen days later, Streicher was supposed to be hung again. Julius Streicher spat on the hangman's face and yelled," The Bolsheviks will hang YOU one day!" Streicher was executed shortly thereafter. |
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Hannah Sharp 7th Grade Rossville Junior High Spring 2001
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