Language:
French
Year of publication:
2016
Titel der Quelle:
Les Cahiers de la Mémoire Contemporaine
Angaben zur Quelle:
12 (2016) 223-256
Keywords:
Jews Press coverage
;
Antisemitism History 20th century
;
Antisemitism in the press
Abstract:
Discusses anti-Jewish stereotypes in the Belgian press during World War I. Mentions an antisemitic article by Albert van de Kerckhove, which appeared in "Libre Belgique" in 1915, denouncing the Belgian German-born Jewish advocate Fritz Norden as "a Belgian Judas". The article was a response to a book by Norden, published the same year in defense of the German invasion of Belgium. Argues that negative portrayals of Jews in the Belgian press in 1914-18 presented the Jews either as war profiteers or go-betweens, members of a "fifth column". Anti-Jewish stereotypes were thus mainly used to ridicule and discredit the German enemy, not the Jews, who played a secondary role. The image of the Jew was used to justify the treason of certain Belgian civilians by identifying them as persons who are not "authentic Belgians", and to cleanse the honor of betrayed and occupied Belgium. Concerning the Norden affair, "Libre Belgique" remained almost the only newspaper to express antisemitic views. Concludes that although the Belgian press cannot be considered as having been antisemitic at the time, it promoted a nationalistic and xenophobic view of society and strengthened stereotypes which later led to antisemitic policies.
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