What do you think? To What Extent Were Americans Complicit in
Hitlers Plans?
Slide 2
Anti-Semitism in America 1880-1935 Influx between 1880-1920
Immigration Quotas KKK-Anti-semitism Anger during Depression How
does the cartoon from 1896 show a history of anti-semitism in the
U.S.?
Slide 3
Immigration Laws 1924-2% of immigrants already here Meant to
limit immigrants from Southern & Eastern Europe Great
Depression further justified restrictive immigration laws In
defiance of these laws, 200,000 Jewish refugees were permitted
between 1933 and 1942.
Slide 4
1936 Olympics Hitlers Agenda U.S. Olympic Committee Milton
Green & Norman Cahners: boycott Jesse Owens- not credited by
Hitler but neither celebrated by FDR either Notification of Mtg for
a boycott
Slide 5
Evian Conference 1938 Objective: Discuss increasing numbers of
Jewish Refugees Jews in Austria & Germany hopeful Outcome:
France saturated; U.S.exceeded 30k quota; Dominican Republic only
country willing to take a large number (100k); Australia, Britain,
etc. limited Hitlers Response: I can only hope and expect that the
other world, which has such deep sympathy for these criminals
[Jews], will at least be generous enough to convert this sympathy
into practical aid. We, on our part, are ready to put all these
criminals at the disposal of these countries, for all I care, even
on luxury ships.
Slide 6
SS St Louis Departed Germany for Cuba May 1939 Docked in Havana
Visas not accepted Negotiations w/U.S.failed Returned to
Europe
Slide 7
Wagner-Rogers Bill Would have admitted 20,000 children under 14
Hearings: 1400 adoption offers; 42 patriotic societies opposed
Failed by 90% American Jewish organiz. did not contest out of fear
of anti-semitism
Slide 8
Roosevelts Denunciations Denounced deportations of Jews from
Vichy France Oct 1942: Threatens Hitler w/ Prosecution for war
Crimes 11 allies condemn Nazi extermination Of Jews Dec. 1942
Slide 9
Refugee Board Estab. 1944 Funded by FDR Administ., American
Jewish Congress and Joint Congress of Jews Raoul Wallenberg-Swedish
diplomat Headed by John Pehle (see letter about Auschwitz)
Slide 10
Bombing Auschwitz From the film: What happened at Auschwitz?
Read the letter. What reasons were given for not bombing
Auschwitz?
