This Day in History September 15, 1935

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Not a happy day in history today, I have to admit.  And if any of you know the significance of this symbol, you will know why.  On this day in 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were enacted in pre-WWII Germany.  Jewish Germans were stripped of their citizenship, and they became just "subjects" of the state.

I won't write too much about this here--I get too upset when I talk about the way Jews were treated by Hitler.  And I always am concerned that we have not learned from the past.  I hope and pray that a time like this will never occur again.

When Hitler first came to power in Germany, he had some ideas about a super-race in Germany that excluded the Jews.  Within the first year of his rule, Jews were removed from high profile positions and positions of power.  There were signs all over the country that said "Jews Not Welcome."  It was an accepted thing in Nazi Germany.

On this day, when the actual Nuremberg laws were enacted, these acts became an accepted part of "Aryan" culture.  Jews were forbidden to marry Aryans.  Jews struggled to buy food or even medicine.  And things only became worse as history bears out.

The worst part of this is the world's reaction.  I think that former British Prime Minister Lloyd George's response says it best--Hitler is a great man!  Hitler had the whole world fooled for a while.  And, of course, within the country of Germany itself, very few chose to stand up against Hitler.  Those who did met a bitter end.

With the enactment of these laws, the swastika also became the national symbol for Germans, and Jews were not allowed to display it.  But two months later, Hitler passed a supplemental law that defined various sects of Jewish races.

For more information, please see:

• http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nuremberg-race-laws-imposed
• http://jewishcurrents.org/september-15-the-nuremberg-laws-2728