Why the Germans? - Why the Jews?

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This provocative analysis offers fresh insights into the historically complex questions of why the Germans targeted the Jews. Historian Gotz Aly examines the prehistory of the Holocaust, tracing its roots from the 1800s to the Nazis' rise to power in 1933. He argues that German anti-Semitism was significantly fueled by material concerns rather than solely by racist ideology or religious animosity. During the Industrial Revolution, the stark contrast between the struggling German majority and the thriving Jewish minority bred envy and fear, creating a dangerous environment for Nazi politics. Aly controversially posits that the origins of the Holocaust are linked to German aspirations for social equality. The push to redistribute wealth from the affluent to the impoverished was commendable, especially in an era marked by widespread poverty. However, this quest for material equality led to the perception that the skilled Jewish population was disproportionately advantaged. Aly's exploration of this perilous social dynamic provides a new perspective on one of history's greatest atrocities, likely igniting intense debate for years to come.