Language:
English
Year of publication:
2004
Titel der Quelle:
Jewish Studies at the Central European University
Angaben zur Quelle:
4 (2004-2005) 191-208
Keywords:
Teleki, Pál,
;
Antisemitism History 20th century
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
Jews Legal status, laws, etc.
;
Numerus clausus
Abstract:
In the framework of the recent debate about honoring the memory of interwar Hungarian prime minister Pál Teleki with a statue in central Budapest (the effort failed and the statue was placed in rural Hungary), discusses the question whether the Numerus Clausus Law of 1920 regarding university study led to the post-1938 anti-Jewish laws and the Holocaust. Rejects the argument in Hungarian historiography that the 1928 repeal of the racial clause indicated that Hungary rejected antisemitism. Argues that Teleki, who was responsible for 12 anti-Jewish laws and an additional 108 decrees, himself saw the continuity in Hungarian policies. The numerus clausus established a precedent for marginalizing the Jews. The repeal of the racial clause was merely a sop to foreign pressure; it entailed no self-criticism, and discrimination continued in practice. Therefore, there was continuity of antisemitism in Hungary in terms of both attitudes and actions. Although Teleki died (he committed suicide in 1941) before seeing the fatal effects of this policy on Hungarian Jewry, those who favored erecting his statue in the capital do know the results of his policies and were either overlooking or whitewashing Teleki's antisemitism.
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