Language:
English
Year of publication:
1992
Titel der Quelle:
Review of the Society for the History of Czechoslovak Jews
Angaben zur Quelle:
5 (1992-1993) 15-37
Keywords:
Hilsner, Leopold,
;
Jews Cultural assimilation
;
Antisemitism History 1800-2000
Abstract:
Describes the rise of antisemitism in the 1890s, and its background in the conflict between Jewish-Czech and Jewish-German affiliations. The nationalist Young Czech movement resented German-oriented Jewish culture and financial connections. Czech hostility toward Jews degenerated into riots and looting (e.g. Prague, 1897), and frequent blood libel accusations. Focuses on the blood libel case in Polná in 1899, in which Leopold Hilsner was found guilty and sentenced to death. Tomas G. Masaryk wrote a brochure condemning the verdict and calling for a retrial. When the retrial in 1900 upheld the earlier verdict, Masaryk wrote the eponymous brochure. Hilsner's sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. In 1917 he was pardoned, but never exonerated from guilt. States that this trial is a taint on the Czech nation. In all the other blood libel cases of the 1890s the charges were dismissed. Notes that Czech antisemitism was not racist - it was based on nationalism, religious hatred, and envy of Jewish prosperity. Mentions repercussions in recent antisemitic publications in Czechoslovakia.
Note:
On antisemitism in 19th century Czechoslovakia.
URL:
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