Skip to content

With the coming of the war the situation regarding the…

“With the coming of the war the situation regarding the Jews altered drastically. It is not widely known that world Jewry declared itself to be a belligerent party in the Second World War, and there was therefore ample basis under international law for the Germans to intern the Jewish population as…” quote by Richard Harwood
Download Open image
““With the coming of the war the situation regarding the Jews altered drastically. It is not widely known that world Jewry declared itself to be a belligerent party in the Second World War, and there was therefore ample basis under international law for the Germans to intern the Jewish population as a hostile force. On September 5, 1939 Chaim Weizmann, the principal Zionist leader, had declared war against Germany on behalf of the world’s Jews, stating that "the Jews stand by Great Britain and will fight on the side of the democracies... The Jewish Agency is ready to enter into immediate arrangements for utilising Jewish man-power, technical ability, resources etc." (Jewish Chronicle, September 8, 1939, pp. 7, 29). DETENTION OF ENEMY ALIENS All Jews had thus been declared agents willing to prosecute a war against the German Reich and, as a””

Richard Harwood

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

World Jewry was portrayed as a belligerent force in WWII, providing legal justification for German internment of Jews.

In simple terms: Jews were labeled hostile, used to legitimize internment.

Key Takeaway

Challenge harmful wartime narratives.

Themes

history law war Jewish identity propaganda

Mood

serious informative

Type

International law:1 Israel:0 Judaism:0 Second world war:1 War:1 World war:1 Jews Declared:1 Weizmann Principal:0 Regarding Jews:0 Stating Jews:0 Aliens Jews:0

When to use this quote

  • education
  • policy analysis
  • human rights advocacy

Key Concepts

international law wartime rhetoric collective guilt

Questions to Reflect On

  • How did propaganda shape public perception?
  • What legal safeguards exist today?
A Different Perspective

Legal justifications can be misused.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Richard Harwood

Explore all 2 Richard Harwood quotes

More International law quotes

Browse all 238 International law quotes