Gelsenkirchener Juden Im Nationalsozialismus

Gelsenkirchener Juden im Nationalsozialismus

Describes the gradual exclusion of Jews in Gelsenkirchen from German social and economic life after the rise of the Nazi regime. This led to a decline of the Jewish population from 1,616 in 1933 to 545 in 1942, due to emigration. In 1942 the remaining Jews were deported to concentration camps, where almost all were murdered. Discusses the failure of these Jews to emigrate, noting that such decisions were influenced more by age and profession than by the economic situation, since most of the Jews were middle-class. In addition, political orientation played an important role in the evaluation of imminent danger. "Ostjuden", as strangers with low social status, had little chance for emigration. Concludes that there was no "correct" estimation of the situation; decisions were made based on personal circumstances.

Historisches Handbuch der jüdischen Gemeinschaften in Westfalen und Lippe

Gedenkstätten für die Opfer des Nationalsozialismus: Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein