The Jewish Factor in the Relations between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union

Govrin, Yosef

Nazi Germany's foreign policy towards the Soviet Union was carried out in accordance with ideological and political objectives. These were defined and planned well in advance, with a view to a final confrontation for the domination of Europe. This policy regarded 'Jewish Bolshevism' as the main obstacle to securing victory in the coming confrontation, hence its rise and fall constituted a yard-stick in the formulation of Germany's relationship with the Soviet Union. Soviet foreign policy towards Nazi Germany was much more pragmatic. Soviet diplomatic activity was aimed at thwarting the German threat to Soviet territorial integrity and its political regime. By putting ideological principles to one side, belittling the danger of Nazi anti-Semitic policy for Jews themselves and for free Europe in its entirety, and dismissing Jews from senior positions in the Soviet hierarchy they hoped to stave off the conflict. From both the German and the Soviet perspective, the Jewish factor was significant. The purpose of this book is to assess its place and influence upon the mutual relations between the two countries in the years 1933-1941. The book was originally published in Hebrew by the Magnes Press of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, in 1986. This edition includes additional material published in Russia subsequently and newly revealed Soviet archival sources which were unavailable at the time the Hebrew edition went to press.

143 pages

Copyright: 1/15/2009