Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military

"Not every one who had Jewish ancestry was a victim of the death camps" (Rigg, p. 268). According to both the Halaka and Israel's "Law of Return", a Jew is defined as a person having a Jewish mother while remaining unconverted to another religion, or one who converted to Judaism. Based on this definition, a large fraction of the Mischlinge (German-Jewish "mongrels") consisted of true Jews. In fact, based on a sample which he has analyzed, Rigg (p. 18, 283) estimates that 60% of half-Jews and 30% of quarter-Jews in Nazi Germany were Halakically Jewish. The number of Mischlinge spared from persecution by Hitler undoubtedly numbers in the thousands (p. 3). Perhaps 16,000 Mischlinge officers were in the Wehrmacht in 1940, and more than 150,000 Mischlinge fought for the Nazis in WWII. Although Hitler had the final say, many of the top Nazi officials were actively involved in the relabeling and protection of German Jews, including Ribbentrop, Sauckel, Bormann, Canaris, Donitz, Heydrich, Himmler, von Schirach, Kaltenbrunner, and Goring (p. 182). The latter reputedly remarked: "I'll decide who is a Jew." (p. 21). Moreover, the exemptions from persecution were NOT limited to those of partial Jewish ancestry. Luftwaffe Field Marshall Erhart Milch, was either a half or full Jew (pp. 29-30). According to Rigg (p. 203), some 200 full-blooded Jews (the Schutzjuden, or protected Jews) were spared persecution in Berlin alone. One way or another, at least 6,000 full-blooded Jews served in the Wehrmacht (p. 65). Although there were many reasons for service to the Nazis, the most obvious one is the fact that German Jews had become well integrated into German society, and had long been prominent in the German military. Rigg devotes some pages to the centuries-old German-Jewish symbiosis, pointing out that many German Jews had become "more German than the Germans". Significantly, Rigg discusses a number of Mischlinge directly involved in the German conquest of Poland in 1939. Rigg briefly discusses the involvement of German Jews in the Holocaust itself. Mention is made of part and full Jews such as Killy, Eppinger, Goldschlag, Abrahamsohn, and Scherwitz (p. 258). Much less attention is paid to the Jewish origins of many top Nazi leaders. There is some elaboration of Hitler's obsessive fear of his Jewishness, as well as the probable Jewishness of Reinhard Heydrich (p. 176), one of the chief architects of the Holocaust itself. Most relevant documents that trace the ancestry of top Nazi officials have been destroyed. Rigg inadvertently undermines any equation of Christian antisemitism with Nazi antisemitism. Those Germans whose Jewish ancestors had converted to Christianity as far back as great-grandparents were considered tainted by Jewish blood (p. 21). Relatively recent Jewish converts to Christianity were, in Hitler's mind, fully Jewish (pp. 17-18). Those practicing Judaism but not racially Jewish (e. g., the Karaims and Tats) were spared (p. 283). All th

The book is about the phenomenon of people of partial Jewish descent (mischlinge in German) that served in the German military (Wermacht) during the World WarII. The book is the result of a ten years' study including 430 interviews with mischlinge that had served in Wermacht. The book is very serious: for example, index and references comprise one third of the volume. The author claims that about 150,000 mischlinge (probably, about half of them - halachic Jews) served in Wermacht.The first chapter discusses the question: who is a Jew? Several points of view are presented. The Halacha says that person born to a Jewish mother is also a Jew; and also one that converts to Judaism (makes "giyur"). However, many Jews believe that Jewishness means "ethnic allegiance". Reform Jews believe that "paternal descent" is also enough to be a Jew. The author mentions that this problem (who is a Jew) in modern Israel is "second only to Israel's preoccupation with problems of peace and security."The second chapter explains who were mischlinge and how they felt in Nazi Germany. In most cases, mischlinge felt themselves as Germans. Part of them felt like second-class Germans, and many of them made their best to be considered as Aryans (i.e. pure Germans).The third chapter is about the assimilation in Germany and Austria, and also about Jews serving in German Military prior to WWII. The assimilation rate in Germany and Austria was very high: for example, between 1901 and 1929 ther were over36,000 mixed marriages in Germany alone. And from all the facts we see that many Jews served in the German army during WWI and afterwards. They felt united to fight for Germany.The next three chapters give the historical background. When Hitler came to power, he started the racial policy. This policy was established by "Nuremberg laws" that were legislated in 1935. The aim of these laws was to stop connection between Jews and non-Jews. The term "Jew" was not defined by these laws, and as a wide-spread practice mischlinge were not treated as such. Later, around 1941, mischlinge in the Army felt that something bad towards them was happening. At that time in the SS offices "the mischlinge question" was discussed. In 1943 there was a "turning point" for mischlinge: the Party decided that half-Jews could not serve in in elite military units. Many mischlinge were removed from their positions. After that it was decided that half-Jews should be exterminated in the long-term perspective. Many were sent to forced labor camps. The next two chapters are about exemptions from the racial policy. The author says that thousands applied for racial exemptions, i.e. for the right to continue military service. Many of them obtained such exemptions, and the first questionis why Hitler granted such exemptions (he treated each case personally with little or no advice from anybody else). B.M. Rigg points that several authors say that this is because of his own allegable Jewish past, i.e. Hitler feare

I spent my youth and adolescence during WWII in the Third Reich.Although Aryan by birth I followed the fate of and befriendedseveral 'Mischlinge' (half- and quarter-jews) during and afterthe War, and even knew some who served in the Wehrmacht. I foundBrian Mark Rigg's book excellent in scope and fair in itscontents. The research he conducted is extraordinary. The authorshed light on an angle that hitherto has been neglected byhistorians of Nazi-Germany. He also describes splendidly theirrational stupidity of the racial laws with their tragicconsequences. I wonder whether these 'Mischlinge' foughtvaliently in the German Army as a refuge from the Gestapo orunder the peer pressure of the 'comradeship' of one's fightingunit.They wanted to prove to the system that they were real' Germans. I vividly remember also Aryan friends who were strongAnti-Nazis but who courageously fought in the Wehrmacht,particularly on the eastern front. Some of them were evenscheming plots to kill Hitler. Was it again the bonding amongsoldiers or did they consider Naziism the smaller evil toBolshevism? I think these questions can only be only answeredindividually.

Brian Mark Rigg's "Hitlers Jewish Soldiers" brings a new dimension to Third Reich and Wehrmacht scholarship. The Third Reich of the movies is often portrayed as a seamless juggernaut brought down only because of Hitler's decision to fight a two-front war. The reality was far more complex. Nazi Germany was a hodgepodge of competing governmental, party and military bureaucracies with overlapping responsibilities, run by ambitious men with often disparate agendas. Thus it is not surprising that even in what the Nazis considered the unambiguous goal of the removal of Jews from German life, there arose contradictions, confusion and exceptions in the particulars of its implementation.The 1935 Nuremburg Laws began the eclipse of Jewish existence in Germany. Casting a wide net, the Reich ascribed Jewish identity to some who were astonished at their inclusion. In defining as Mischlinge (mixed breeds)those Germans with one or two Jewish grandparents, many who had been raised Christian and considered themselves Aryans suddenly found themselves on society's scrapheap.This affected the Wehrmacht in that serving officers and NCOs who were "full"`Jews and Mischlinge -- many who had served with distinction in World War I -- were ordered purged from the ranks. The 'lucky" one applied for and received -- from Hitler personally -- exemptions enabling them to continue serving, or in some cases declarations that they were "of German blood" and entitled to the rights of Aryans. A notable example is the retention of Luftwaffe General -- later Field Marshall -- Erhard Milch, the organizational wizard who helped prepare the air armaments industry for the coming war.Although legally unable to serve in leadership positions, Mischlinge continued to be liable for conscription and served past the outbreak of the war. In 1940, party ideology trumped military necessity and they began to be removed from active service. Astonishingly, as many as 150,000 soldiers identified as Jews or Mischlinge served, many with great disntction and a few reaching general officer rank.Using Extensive archival reserach and hundreds of personal interviews with Mischlinge, Author Rigg presents a lucidly written and fascinating account of their experiences. In his understanding of Third Reich institutions (Hitler's chancellery office, the interior ministry, armed forces and service high commands inter alia), we see puzzlement, frustration, arbitrariness and delay in implementing laws and directives as they pertained to these soldeirs. We also see individual advisors and decision makers whose inclination to help or hinder affected the careers and even survival of the Mischlinge.We also see the situation from the soldiers' perspective: surprised and demoralized, but in the main still eager to serve, whether to prove their loyalty to Germany or protect their families. Rigg is at his best interweaving the intense personal experiences of the soldiers -- still vivid in the telling after fifty years -- with

This excellent book goes way beyond its subject, although if it did not it still would rate 5 stars, in the presentation of unbelievable facts mixed with ancedotal recitations of history. The personal disclosures by German military officers and enlisted men of their Jewish heritage, most of whom were half to quarter Jews, and their tribulations due to their ancestry coupled with acceptance at the highest levels was amazing.Additionally, Hitler's hatred and obession with Jews was also tempered with his empathy for "Mischling's"(mixture of German and Jew)in certain situations such as the mother with a yellow Star of David on her clothes who had trouble getting food and Hitler helping her because of her son's military service to Germany. On the other hand, some "Mischlinge" were sent to concentration camps. The author states: "Ironically, Hitler was the one who allowed them both to serve and to apply for exemptions." As the war progressed he became less lenient. The final days found him in his bunker still worried about the Jewish question and how to rid society of Jews. Yes, his main objective was the eradication of Jews but at the same time one found him giving out many exemptions. His behaviors were obviously erratic and disturbed. There he was locked in battle with the Soviet Union at Stalingrad and his obesssion was with granting exemptions not with the battle per se.The book was absorbing and scholary at the same time. As a former professor I appreciated the referencing of all the surprising data. As a psychologist I know life is not always black and white but I find I and most people need to be constantly reminded of this simple fact. One of the most informative and interesting boooks I've read in the last few years.