Verwaltete Vielfalt: die königlichen Tafelgüter in Polen-Litauen, 1697–1763

Abstract

While some groups and individuals criticized the Nazi regime, others held back, anxious to prevent another war and keep the lines of communication open with their German counterparts. There was also a refusal in many quarters to acknowledge Christianity’s underlying antisemitism. This spirit of acquiescence is a theme that runs through many of the essays. Many Christian leaders saw antisemitism as antithetical to Christ’s call but were cowed by the growing strength of the Nazi movement and other fascist regimes. Their decision either to compromise or to remain silent made it easier for antisemitism to spread and helped to enable the horrors that followed. This impressive collection of essays adds to our understanding of the interwar period as a prelude to the Holocaust and it reflects exceptional scholarship. However, the diverse range of subjects is both a strength and a weakness of the book. Although it gives readers a broad sense of growing ethnonationalism across many countries, at times its breadth causes the reader to lose the sense of a unifying thread to the volume. In addition, although this is a collection aimed at specialists, a preface with a quick historiographical summary at the start of each essay would have provided valuable context for the reader. This criticism is not meant to take away from this important collection of essays, which adds a welcome dimension to our understanding of antisemitism in the interwar period and provides a challenge for those who believe that religious faith has something positive to contribute to politics and society. Faith is part of individuals’ core identities and helps shape how they engage with the wider world. It cannot be easily set aside. There are examples within this volume of Christianity being a source of inspiration to fight antisemitism. The danger, of course, is that its misuse can transform Christianity’s call of love into the grotesque parody highlighted in this volume.