Kautsar Achouchen

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

My thesis is; how Jewish people are represented as vulnerable victims in films set in 1930's and 1940's
(World War 2 era). Jewish people are stereotyped as defenceless victims. They were stereotyped as the 'Aryan
race which consisted of having a physical appearance of blonde hair and blue eyes. The films that I will be
researching on are The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, The Book Thief, Schindler's List, Defiance and the Eternal
Jew.
World War 2 occurred in 1939-1945 where 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 of 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 differently to the Germans
because they are both from two different hierarchies. Most Jewish people were highly educated, middle class
and had important professions. They were wealthier than working class people who 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 money. The purpose of this film is to
illustrate the conflict between the German and Jewish society, Hitlers hierarchy system being a prime factor.
The film consists of anti-Semitic messages, which represents the idea of Jewish people being victimized as they
are abused. For example, there is a scene where the Jews are shown to be wealthy and greedily using their
money for their own good instead of helping the economy. However, within the film they are presented as the
villain as they are portrayed as avarice, 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. This film shows the way the Jewish people are
represented in the 1940's, as weak and vulnerable and had been stereotyped as selfish, thus making them
vulnerable victims to the society as they had no say in the way others thought of them, as they were labeled.
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
them as the antagonist and adversary. For example, propaganda was used in cartoons like 'The Three Little
Pigs' which was an animated film made in 1933. This film involved the wolf being dressed as a Jew which
represented him as the villain and this is how the Germans viewed them. This embodies the Jews 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
to 1940's. 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.
The Jews were also represented similarly in films around the time of the holocaust such as; The Boy in
the Striped Pyjamas, ` Schindler's List, Defiance and the Eternal Jew. In particular Jews are depicted as the
victims due to the Nazi's 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 known to be
wealthy and own a lot of businesses. This can be seen as a positive expression however, in this film its set out
in a negative way as it represents Jews as being wealthy and the dominant group in society, which led Hitler to
invest 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 devalue the Jews and show disrespect; this created mutual hatred towards the Jewish people. In the
movie it this shows that the Jews are fearful and captured by the Germans. Was the little boy (Shmuel) is
locked up in a concentration camp and the Germans forcing him to do work. The Germans actions bound the
Jews to try and run in fear of being captured by the Germans. 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 seen in the scene where the Jews have to
follow the instructions given of working in those camps. Schindler also oppresses them as he forces them to
comply to work with him or they would risk getting beaten by German soldiers. These shows the Jews were
depraved victims of the society.

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In the evacuation scene, German Nazi soldiers are seen evacuating a Jewish family from their home.
The Jews belongings for example clothes, furniture indicated that even though the Jews have riches, it didnt
help them as they were still as they were still thrown out of their house. 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. The
Jews have a higher income and population, in contrast to the Germans which in this case may be an advantage
for the Nazis as it gave them more of a reason for the exploiting of the Jews. However, the vulnerability of the
Jews is exposed as they cant defend themselves nor do they escape. 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 have taken complete control over their lives and possessions as their belongings are put in the
work camps so that the Germans may reuse them again. The way the concentration camp is surrounded by a
fence and has guards everywhere foreshadows how the Jews are captured and are being treated. The idea of
the fence being made is for them to not escape and it also 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 by the Nazi soldiers.
The film includes a scene where the Jewish workers have to separate the clothes of the Jews that have been
killed. For example, they separate the clothes that are ripped to the reusable clothes. The miserable face on
the Jewish workers shows the pain and suffering that they are going through as they have to fix the clothes of
their people. This can be seen through their physical appearance as most have dry and chalky skin which
shows their loss of nutrients. 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 having
a class system benefits the bourgeoisie. This is shown through the Jews as they are seen as subservient to the
Germans. This victimises the Jews and depicts them as being oppressed as it is fundamental for them to follow
the commandments 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
unworthy of possessing basic human rights. The shooting of a Jew in the head is a motif as seen in the shooting
scene. 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 seen to be petrified and have no freedom of speech as they stand still while
being shot in the head. Young women are represented in this film, as fulfillments 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 as in the scene the Nazi soldier hits her
and she does not defend herself. 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 ideology 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 under the 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
usually means someone is fleeing from a brutal antagonist. This reflects the Jews which are hiding as they are
fearful and patronized of the Nazis, thus representing the Jewish people as vulnerable victims due to the way
they are treated.
The Book Thief demonstrates the vulnerability and victimising of the Jews. A German family keeps a
Jewish man in hiding due to the Jews being captured. The Jewish man that is hiding from the Nazis represents
the Jews as a vulnerable victim as his only resort to be able to live, is to go into hiding. 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

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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. Being captured is seen
in a negative light as the only outcome will be death so 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 of horror and terror for his targets. 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 the stereotypical ideology. 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 a
stereotypical message of the Jews being wealthy as they own most business even though they are seen to be
wealthy their homes are shown to be filthy within the inside. This shows that even though the Jews may be
clean physically they are seen to be filthy minded and have become egoistic because of the consumption of
money. However, the final scenes, 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 used illustrates false perceptions into the Germans minds about the Jews as
the kosher butchering is a religious action in which is not described to the Germans culture. 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 similar to 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. As the little Jewish boy is locked up and has no freedom this
contradicts the idea that Germans portrayed of the Jews which is having the Jews seen as wealthy and high
classed. However, being locked up in a concentration camp portrays the Germans robbing the Jews' humanity.
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 deprived of 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 rich 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 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. This is shown through the scene where the Jews have to
fend for them in the forest as they had to leave their homes. This also makes them look for shelter, food and
equipment to provide them with hunting equipment. The Jewish people are living in the forest portrays how
much power the Germans have. This also represents them as being victimised as they are inferior to the
Germans because they are seen as the depraved and egoistic. 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 struggling 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.
The five films I have analysed of different scenes, has shown that the treatment of the Jews by the Nazi
Germans connotes negative actions. Through this my thesis has been proven true as the Jews were mistreated
thus making them vulnerable victims as the Nazi Germans mistreated them. Theories like Marx presented to
be true, as the films all portrayed the shift in the hierarchy system to the Jews having been at the top moved

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to the bottom while the Nazi Germans have increased in rank taking over Germany and its customs, thus also
presenting the Jews as vulnerable victims to the Nazi Germans as they had control over the actions made
towards the Jews whether it was positive or negative. As my thesis was how the Jews were shown as
vulnerable victims the use of applying theories and cinematography by analysing and understanding different
concepts has proven that Jews were vulnerable victims. The films all portrayed negative propaganda around
the Jews and also showed scenes were the Jews were defenceless to the Nazi Germans and had no freedom or
control over their own life. My opinion shows that the representation of Jews is a recurring factor as they are
presented in a negative light during films demonstrated during the 1930's to 1940s.
Word Count: 2,982

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:

Defiance: Jew running away

The book thief: Jewish man

hiding

The Eternal Jew: The property from the Jews getting

thrown out

Schindlers List: Little Jew girl

hiding

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Schindlers List: Jewish men working

Schindlers List: Jewish man getting shot

Schindlers List: Jewish man getting shot

The book thief: The books

burning