Kautsar Achouchen

How are Jewish people represented in films in the 1930s-1940s?

Jewish people during the era of World War 2 were stereotypically represented as vulnerable. Jewish
people are stereotypically represented as defenceless and victims in films set in the 1930s to the 1940s. One
way they were stereotyped was as the Aryan race which consisted of having a physical appearance such as
blonde hair and blue eyes. The films that Im going to focus on are; The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Book
Thief, Schindler's List, Defiance and the Eternal Jew. My thesis is, The Jewish people are represented as
vulnerable and victims in films set in 1930s to the 1940s (World War 2 era) and I will use various examples
and ideas from these films to prove my thesis.
World War 2 occurred in 1939-1945, which Germany fought in. Hitler used the Jewish people as a
scapegoat, blaming them for Germany's economic and social problems. Karl Marx exemplifies, the class system
in films is the main factor that creates the tribulations. Marx believes that the class differences are made so
that the bourgeoisie and the proletariat are divided into groups. This means that the Jews were treated
different too the Germans because they are both from two different hierarchies. Jewish people were
stereotypically highly educated, middle class and had important professions. They were wealthier than
working class people consisted of Germans and Hitler saw the Jews as greedy, manipulative and selfish. The
Eternal Jew (1940), represents the Jewish community as wandering cultural parasites, consumed by sex and
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money . The purpose of this film is to illustrate the conflict between the German and Jewish society, Hitlers
hierarchy system being a prime factor of this. The film consists of anti-Semitic messages, which represents the
idea of Jewish people being victimized as they are abused. However, they are portrayed as the villain in the
film because the films portrays them a greedy for money, which escalates, resulting in the Germans rebelling
against the Jewish community. The vulnerability of the Jews is shown through their attempt to escape from
imminent captivity by the Germans as they have no form of protection from the Germans.
The book Film, Ronald Bregan, claims that over 1,000 films were made under the Nazis that mostly
contained anti-Semitic propaganda ideologies. Jews were represented as rich and pretentious representing
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them as the antagonist and adversary . For example, propaganda was used in cartoons and expresses them as
rich and devouring; the cartoons include signs that show Jews that are not wanted and they resulted in being
stereotypically represented. This embodies them, as the victims because propaganda was used to create the
perceptions of the how the Jews are profane. This further represents the Jews as victims instead of
perpetrators and this is seen in many films existing during the 1930s-1940. Their vulnerability is also shown
through the propaganda as they are represented as egotistic people. This shows the films that have an ending,
escalate into the Jews losing their wealth, as they are too weak to fight back the Germans.
Jewish people are represented similarly in many films revolving around the holocaust such as; The Boy
in the Striped Pyjamas, ` Schindler's List, Defiance and the Eternal Jew. In particular Jewish people are depicted
as the victims due to the Nazis out casting them from the Aryan race. On the other hand, in the film
Schindlers List, the German soldier Schindler speaks directly to the Jewish man and tells him that Jews are
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known to be wealthy and own a lot of businesses . This can be seen as a positive expression however, in this
film its pursued in the negative way as this represents Jews as being wealthy and the dominant group in
society, which led Hitler to harbour hatred for all Jewish people and believed the Jewish society as trying to
usurp Germany; this made the Jews seem malevolent and spiteful. This makes the Jews victims of the Nazis
and also vulnerable. The Germans treat the Jews like they are some sort of disease and have no respect at all
towards the Jewish citizens and this created mutual hatred towards the Jewish people. The Germans actions
bound the Jews to try and run in fear of being captured. For example, when the Nazi soldiers were running
through the streets shouting cruel lines to indicate their hatred towards Jews and this causes the Jews to flee.
Schindlers List revolves around a character name Schindler, whose greed for money encourages his actions for
creating a work camp for himself and employing Jewish people who he would be in control of and would be
cheap labour. The Jews are represented as vulnerable as they follow the instructions given of working in those
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http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?Moduleld=10005274

Bregan, Ronald, Film. Eye witness companions, Sydney.2006. Page 204

Schindlers List, Steven Spielberg

Kautsar Achouchen
camps. Schindler also oppresses them as he forces them to comply to work with him or they would risk getting
beaten by German soldiers. Therefore, the Jews are represented as depraved victims of the society.
In the evacuation scene, a number of German Nazi soldiers are seen evacuating a Jewish family from
their home. The Jews belongings indicate that the family is very rich as they had a lot of property, yet theyre
income does not have an impact on them being thrown out of their home. This indicates that no matter what
the status of a Jewish person is, they will still be left vulnerable and thought to be inferior to German soldiers.
Even though Jews are known to be the wealthiest in Germany, the Nazis are throwing them out of their
houses. The Jews have a higher income and population, which in this case may be an advantage for the Nazis
as it creates a bigger reason for the Nazis resulting in the idea of exploiting the Jews. However, the
vulnerability of the Jews is exposed as they do not defend themselves nor try and get away. Hence they
boycott the idea of taking a stand against the German Nazi soldiers or protesting in fear of being punished or
being killed. This shows that the Germans take complete control over their lives and possessions as their
belongings are put in the work camps and are separated into categories so that the Germans may reuse them
again. The way the concentration camp is surrounded by a fence has guards everywhere illustrates how the
Jews are captured and being treated. The idea of the fence is made for them not to escape and it can be seen
as a fence to protect the outside world from the Jews. This represents the Jews as vulnerable as they follow
the commands given. The film includes a scene where the Jewish workers have to separate the clothes of the
Jews that got killed. The miserable face on the Jewish workers shows the pain and suffering that they are going
through as they have to bear with the stereotype view of the idea that a Jew that got killed wore this type of
clothing. The Jewish workers are all displayed as fragile, weak and inferior. This contradicts the view of the
Jews because Jews are seen to be rich and fat as they earned a lot of money. Karl Marx states, that the
bourgeoisie treat the proletariat lower than them so they do not merge together as the idea of different
classes was a benefit for the bourgeoisie. This is seen with the Jews as the tables have turned and the
Germans now have control over them. This victimises the Jews and depicts them as being oppressed as it is
fundamental for them to follow the commandment given by German Nazi soldiers.

In Schindlers List, the Nazi soldier in charge of building the work camps demonstrates acts of cruelty,
greed and his ambitions for conflict as well as self-centeredness. He views Jewish people as vermin, creatures
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unworthy of possessing basic human rights . The shooting of a Jew in the head is a repetitive action that
occurs. This shows the pure hatred the Nazis have for the Jews, as it symbolises the life of a Jew being bled
out which satisfies the Nazis. This represents the Jews as victims because they are attacked out of hatred and
not of an actual reason. They are represented petrified as they get shot in the head and have no freedom to
speak. Young women are represented in this film, as fulfilments of the Nazis sexual needs. This is seen in the
film because the Nazi soldier in charge develops lustful desire for his Jewish maid. This shows that the maid is
mistreated because he beats her violently.
Mulvey states that in films, women are viewed as sexual objects by male characters. This is shown
through the maid only being seen as a sexual object and the soldier shows no remorse towards her. The
women fail to follow orders, without any objection, thus creating fear of the soldiers. The vulnerability of the
Jewish women is shown through the actions that the Nazis undertake. Following orders is not seen as a choice
but, is compulsory thus creating fear in the women. Using the maid as pleasure as well as cleaning instigates
that the Nazis are superior and have control over women. In the Nazis view, the idea of being in control of
their own maid insinuates their ego as they believe that through making the maid suffer, they are making the
whole Jewish nation suffer. This also shows that the Nazis believe that by taking the Jewish women they have
a possession over the Jews, which they can use and exploit as much as they want. This represents the Jewish
women as victims because the Nazi's attack them through sexual violence. The little Jewish girl that hides
underneath a bed represents the Jewish nation as defenceless of the German Nazis. Her fear of being seized
and dispatched from her home into a concentration camp indicates that Jews have no other choice but to
hide. The idea of someone hiding is usually the idea of someone fleeing from a brutal antagonist. This can
reflect to the Jews in hiding. Therefore, the Jewish people are represented as vulnerable victims due to the
way they are treated.

http://www.sparknotes.com/film/shindlerslist/canalysis.html

Kautsar Achouchen
The Book Thief demonstrates the vulnerability and victimising of the Jews. In this film, a German
family keeps a Jewish man in hiding due to the Jews being captured. Propaganda is illustrated towards the
German public through posters that depict the Jews as conceited and rapacious. For example, newspapers in
Germany, above all Der Strmer (The Attacker), printed cartoons that used anti-Semitic caricatures to depict
Jews. This displayed Jews in a negative way and that led to the increase in the hatred for Jews. The Jewish man
that is hiding from the Nazis represents the Jews as vulnerable and a victim as his only resort is to hide. This is
because the Nazis main attacks and captures are aimed towards the Jews. The only way the Jews may seek
some freedom is through escapism, as it will bring them to a safer area as well as protection. Instead of making
them leave the country, the Nazis insisted that they must be tormented and suffer desolation. This
impersonates the Jews as petrified because they can do nothing to stop these horrendous actions of the Jews.
As the idea of being captured is seen as appalling, the only option is either to hide or run away. The Jews are
represented as powerless because the Jewish man is frightful of the Nazis power. Hitler reproduced in photos,
film, and radio broadcasts, becomes a symbol of power and leadership for those who follow him, and a symbol
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of horror and terror for his targets . The targeted people are the Jews. Hitlers position gives him the
opportunity to exterminate anything related to Jews like seen in the scene where the books that are written by
the Jews are burnt. For the Nazis, the books represent the Jewish nation and by burning the books, it
symbolises for them the extinguishing of the Jewish people. This represents how the Jews are vulnerable as
not even their books have any significance in the Nazis lives, as there is no one to stop this event to happen.
The Eternal Jew represents the Jews in a negative way as being the victims. This film represents them as
prosecutors as the film shows how the Jews are the main aspect for the problems the Germany is facing. The
film delivers the stereotypical message of the Jews being full with money as they own most business and even
though they are rich, their houses are shown as filthy from the inside to show that the Jews actually dont care
about hygiene as their minds has taken over by their egos due to them earning a lot of money. This shows
that the Jewish people are being targeted by the Germans through propaganda. However as the film gradually
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comes to the final scenes, original shots of a kosher butchering are revealed . These scenes instigated
disgusting thoughts in the Germans minds of the Jews as the Jews are represented as brutal and unbearable
for the Germans. This finished with the Germans instigating their distaste towards the Jews. This represents
the Jews as the victims, as the propaganda is used to illustrate false ideas into the Germans heads about the
Jews as the kosher butchering is a religious action in which is not described to the Germans. Thus, the
Germans mutual hatred develops and the Jews become the victims of the society as they are presented in
these films as violent as well as patronizing in the eye of the Germans.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas represents the Jews as victims in the film like the boy in the striped
pyjamas, Schindler's List, Defiance and the Eternal Jew. The film consists of a boy that is the son of a Nazi
soldier who befriends a Jewish boy that is stuck in a concentration camp. The little Jewish boy called Shmuel is
displayed as a hungry little Jewish boy who is lonely. This contradicts the idea of Jews as Jews are seen to be
wealthy and popular. However, due to the concentration camp, the Nazis taken their lives away from them.
The little boy is represented as vulnerable as he is afraid of being captured by the Nazi soldiers. This shows the
brutality that the Nazis enforce onto the Jewish workers and even Shmuel who is just a little boy has to take
part in labour work. The idea of the Jewish boy working for the Nazis, shows that the Nazis are power hungry
and want every Jew to suffer. This represents the Jews as vulnerable because they are suffering not just
nutrients but also their lives. Shmuel eats roughly when he gains a piece of bread from his friend. This
represents them as fragile because the Jewish people are being starved. The Nazis want the Jews to feel like
they have lost everything and they dont deserve to have the luxury of eating a good amount of food.
Therefore, he represents the Jews as victims of society as they are blamed for the wealth of Germany and this
makes them get treated in a harsh way by the Nazis so that they can assure that the Jews learn their lesson.
The vulnerability is exposed through scenes and this elaborates the idea of their vulnerability. For example, a
scene which illustrates a Nazi camp in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, all the Jewish inmates are emaciated

http://shmoop.com/book-thief/symbolism-imagery.html

http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/holoprelude/derewigejude.html

Kautsar Achouchen
and forced to hard labour depicting their vulnerability against the Nazis and also as victims, because they are
tormented and starved by the Nazi portraying them as victims of Nazi abuse.
Defiance represents the Jews as vulnerable. The Jewish people that have to fend for them in the
forest show how vulnerable they are, as they had to leave their homes. This includes them having to look for
shelter, food and equipment to provide them with hunting equipment. The idea of Jewish people living in the
forest shows how much control the German have over the Jews, as they have to leave their homes to hide
from the German soldiers. This also represents them as victims as they are the victims of the German people
because they are seen as the depraved and egoistic. The idea of the Jews fleeing for safety connotes how they
are vulnerable due to their action of not being able to defend themselves. The act of vulnerability is discovered
through the children cowering away when soldiers capture them, as they are not struggling to get free. This
can be compared to the film 'Schindler's List', as they are too represented as vulnerable because they are
fleeing from the German Nazi soldiers.
My thesis is proven true from the information that I have collected, as the representation of the Jews
with different cinematography is that they are vulnerable portrayed in all the films. The analysis different
scenes has created a further understanding of the representation of Jews as my thesis combines with the idea
of the way Jewish people are represented in a negative way.

Word Count: 2,874

Bibliography:
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?Moduleld=10005274
Bregan, Ronald, Film. Eye witness companions, Sydney.2006. Page 204
Schindlers List, Steven Spielberg
http://www.sparknotes.com/film/shindlerslist/canalysis.html
http://shmoop.com/book-thief/symbolism-imagery.html
http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/holoprelude/derewigejude.html
Print screens:

The Eternal Jew: The property from the

Jews getting thrown out

Defiance: Jew running away

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Schindlers List: Little Jew girl

hiding

Schindlers List: Jewish men

working

The book thief: Jewish man

hiding

The book thief: The books

burning

Schindlers List: Jewish man

getting shot