Language:
German
Year of publication:
1989
Titel der Quelle:
East Central Europe
Angaben zur Quelle:
16,1-2 (1989) 1-38
Keywords:
Masaryk, T. G.
;
Šrobár, Vavro
;
Antisemitism History 20th century
;
Jews History 1918-1938
Abstract:
A wave of antisemitism swept Czechoslovakia in 1918. The Jews became the scapegoat for social and economic problems, and were accused by politicians and by the press (especially of the Agrarian Party) of being pro-German, anti-Slavic, and agents of Bolshevism - a thesis supported by two well-known historians, Josef Pekař and Josef Šusta. Masaryk and his administration opposed antisemitism but were weak and administratively inexperienced. Part of Slovakia was occupied by the Hungarian Red Army. In spring 1919 the government declared a state of emergency and a military dictatorship. Demobilized soldiers, joined by other citizens, engaged in pogroms and plunder; they received an amnesty for these acts. Czech military forces in Slovakia took Jewish hostages, and robbed and murdered Jewish citizens. The Slovak government, especially the Minister for the Administration of Slovakia, Vavro Šrobár, blamed the Jews for all its difficulties. After protests by the Jewish National Council were of no avail, Masaryk warned Šrobár that his antisemitism was damaging the cause of Czechoslovakia at the Versailles Peace Conference.
DOI:
10.1163/187633089X00014
URL:
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