1918 Quote by Hannah Arendt
““A circular letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to all German authorities abroad shortly after the November pogroms of 1918 stated: "The emigration movement of only about 100,000 Jews has already sufficed to awaken the interest of many countries to the Jewish danger… Germany is very interested in maintaining the dispersal of Jewry... the influx of Jews in all parts of the world invokes the opposition of the native population and thereby forms the best propaganda for the German Jewish policy… The poorer and therefore more burdensome the immigrating Jews is to the country absorbing him, the stronger the country will react.””
About This Quote
The passage reveals German officials' strategic view that Jewish emigration could be used to provoke native opposition and serve propaganda purposes.
In simple terms: German officials saw Jewish migration as a tool for political manipulation.
Key Takeaway
Beware how governments may exploit refugee crises for political ends.
Themes
war
propaganda
refugee policy
Mood
critical
historical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- historical study
- human rights education
- policy debate
- media analysis
- activism
Key Concepts
nationalism
political manipulation
immigration rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern states use migration issues politically?
- What ethical limits exist for such strategies?
A Different Perspective
The quote reflects a specific historical context and may not apply universally.
