Language:
English
Year of publication:
1990
Titel der Quelle:
Holocaust and Genocide Studies
Angaben zur Quelle:
5,4 (1990) 381-402
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
;
World War, 1939-1945 Diplomatic history
;
Jews History 1939-1945
;
Jews History 1939-1945
Abstract:
Analyzes the British government's attitude to the rescue of European Jewry compared to that of the American government. Discusses the influence of public opinion on government policy. Polls in 1943-44 showed a rise in antisemitism in the U.S., whereas those in Britain showed a marked decrease in antisemitism and more sympathy for the plight of the Jews. Yet the U.S. was liberalizing its rescue program in 1944, establishing the War Refugee Board in January, while Britain was uniformly opposed to changes in its policy - which was to do as little as possible. In America, the WRB was formed due to public pressure and internal government dissension. In Britain, the former faded by summer 1943 and the latter never occurred. Some historians have argued that British policy was influenced by antisemitism and bureaucratic indifference. Contends that it was a policy of liberal ambivalence: sympathy for the persecuted Jews, but abhorrence of ethnic or racial particularism. Discusses, also, the establishment of the pro-Jewish National Committee for Rescue from Nazi Terror in March 1943 in Britain and the activities of its leaders Eleanor Rathbone and Victor Gollancz (among others); the Bermuda Conference in April 1943; and reactions to the offer to save Hungarian Jewry. Brandt's mission in May 1944 was rejected; Horthy's offer, made in August 1944, was accepted too late.
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