Antisemitic Songs

(1934-1935)

Report by the CV (Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish Faith).

Document 1:
The CV (Central Association) of German Citizens of Jewish Faith.

26 April 1934

To the Regional branches:
Central Germany
Rheinland—Westfalia
Northern Germany
Hessen
Eastern Westfalia

Friends from small and middle sized towns have recently complain that songs with coarse anti-Jewish texts are being sung brazenly and provocatively. We intend to officially approach the Reich Ministry and report all these incidents and to address a letter of the board to the SA Chief and Reich Minister Roehm and to the Prussian Secret State Police. A representative of the CV will also raise this matter with the Propaganda Ministry. We therefore ask to report as soon as possible:

In what localities such songs are being sung
What songs are being sung
Who is doing the singing.

(signed) Rubenstein.

2. Document 2
CV—Local Branch Kassel
14 March 1935

To the CV
Berlin W 15

We have reliable information that Mr. Homburg, a teacher in Doernberg near Kassel, had the children learn the following poem by heart:
Jews are sinners,
They slaughter Christian Children,
They cut their throats,
The damned Jewish filth.

Mr. Homburg threatened the children with punishment if they would not learn the poem by heart by the following day.
Would you like to undertake something against this? We request you to state your position.

Sincerely,

Document 3
CV—Regional Association of Hessen-Nassau and Hessen—Local Branch Frankfurt/Main.

20 November 1934
To: The CV, Berlin
Advocate Dr. Gustav Reis, Darmstadt.

We have reports from Gross-Gerau that:

In the past few weeks, songs are being sung here and in the surrounding area with the following content:

Put the Jews up against the wall, etc. and throw the Jewish gang out of our German fatherland, send them to Palestine, once there—cut their throats so that they will never come back.

The songs are being sung not only by SA and Hitler Youth, but also by school children in the streets.

In Gross-Gerau, one should mention, it is not sung by the entire SA, but only by one formation—the Heinr. Kremm. (We believe that he is the author of the song).

Christian citizens who have spoken to me have expressed their misgivings and their shock at this.

We kindly request that you contact the appropriate authority so that such songs be banned.

Sincerely,

Document 4:
Songs with anti-Jewish content are still being sung in many places in the Reich. The most common texts are:

when Jewish blood splashes from the knife
Hang the Jews, put them up against the wall
Heads are rolling, Jews are hollering

The results of a survey conducted in the end of April 1934:

Reinland and Westfalia
Place

Song

Sung by

How often and when was it last sung

Remarks

Beckum i. W.

1. and 2.

SA

Frequently

—

Beverungen

1. with ritsch-ratsch and 2. And Have the Jewish gang scream

SA, SS and the Sports school

Several times a day

While they march past Jewish homes

Billerbeck i.W.

2.

SA

—

—

Bergherst

2.

SA leaders school

—

—

Brilen

1. 2. 3.

SA and FAD

Almost daily

—

Buende i.W.

1. and 2.

Hitler Youth

Often

—

Burgsteinfurt

2.

SA and SS

Frequently

—

Darmstadt

1. and 3.

Hitler Youth and Young Hitler Youth

1 May

—

Duesseldorf

2.

Hitler Youth

2 May

While marching past the synagogue

Elberfeld

2

SA, SS, Hitler Youth

All the time
1 May

—

Erwitte

2.

FAD and Hitler Youth

Daily

Source: The Central Archive for the History of the Jewish People, Jerusalem. Microfilm of CV Archives, Center for the Preservation of Historical Documentary Collection (OSOBI), Moscow. Fond. 721, File 47.