Der Giftpilz
Encyclopedia
Der Giftpilz is a children's book published by Julius Streicher
in 1938. The title is German
for "the toadstool" or "the poison mushroom". The book was intended as anti-Semitic propaganda
. The text is by Ernst Hiemer
, with illustrations by the illustrator Philipp Rupprecht
(also known as Fips).
The book was intended to "educate" children about the Jews -- the title "poisonous mushroom" being a Jew. In a series of stories, it tells how to distinguish Jews from non-Jews. It also warns children not to trust their Jewish classmates, or even Jews who have converted to Christianity. In some instances, it is implied that Jews will try to molest children; one little girl escapes a Jew offering her sweets only when her brother calls the police, and when Inge's mother sends her to a Jewish doctor, despite Inge's protests of what she learned in the League of German Girls
, Inge barely escapes. Communism is portrayed as being led by Jews who wish to sacrifice Germany to Russia's good -- this being put in the mouth of a former Communist, whose loyalty to Germany brought him to the Nazi party. Jews are portrayed as abusing their German servants. In addition, the book warns of Jews in various occupations – Jewish businessmen, lawyers, tradesmen, and kosher butchers, who in one chapter are described torturing an animal to death
. The same chapter also accuses the Jews of kidnapping Christian children to use their blood in matzohs
. One of the final chapters blames the Jews for the death of Jesus
, who is called the greatest enemy of the Jews of all time.
There is an entire chapter containing numerous false quotations from the Talmud. The book claims that the Talmud forbids Jews to do manual labour, and that Jews are only permitted to engage in trade, and that non-Jews are meant to be slaves. The chapter further states that Talmudic law allows Jews to cheat non-Jews, and asks Jews to enslave the non-Jewish population.
It was sometimes used in schools.
A copy of the book is on display at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.
An English-language
translation of the book was produced by a US Nazi leader Gary Lauck and thereafter marketed on his website for $10. Lauck also recently produced an Estonian language
translation in 2007 and claims to be working on translations into many other languages. The Estonian security police
have investigated the case under the section of Estonian penal code criminalising incitement to social hatred, but concluded that it is unlikely to have the jurisdiction or means to prosecute the author, as under American
law websites are covered by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
.
Julius Streicher
Julius Streicher was a prominent Nazi prior to World War II. He was the founder and publisher of Der Stürmer newspaper, which became a central element of the Nazi propaganda machine...
in 1938. The title is German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
for "the toadstool" or "the poison mushroom". The book was intended as anti-Semitic propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
. The text is by Ernst Hiemer
Ernst Hiemer
Ernst Hiemer was a German writer, who worked closely with Julius Streicher, the founder of the anti-Semitic newspaper Der Stürmer...
, with illustrations by the illustrator Philipp Rupprecht
Philipp Rupprecht
Philipp Rupprecht was a German cartoonist best known for his antisemitic caricatures in the Nazi publication Der Stürmer, under the pen-name Fips.-Career:...
(also known as Fips).
The book was intended to "educate" children about the Jews -- the title "poisonous mushroom" being a Jew. In a series of stories, it tells how to distinguish Jews from non-Jews. It also warns children not to trust their Jewish classmates, or even Jews who have converted to Christianity. In some instances, it is implied that Jews will try to molest children; one little girl escapes a Jew offering her sweets only when her brother calls the police, and when Inge's mother sends her to a Jewish doctor, despite Inge's protests of what she learned in the League of German Girls
League of German Girls
The League of German Girls or League of German Maidens , was the girl's wing of the overall Nazi party youth movement, the Hitler Youth. It was the only female youth organization in Nazi Germany....
, Inge barely escapes. Communism is portrayed as being led by Jews who wish to sacrifice Germany to Russia's good -- this being put in the mouth of a former Communist, whose loyalty to Germany brought him to the Nazi party. Jews are portrayed as abusing their German servants. In addition, the book warns of Jews in various occupations – Jewish businessmen, lawyers, tradesmen, and kosher butchers, who in one chapter are described torturing an animal to death
Cruelty to animals
Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse or animal neglect, is the infliction of suffering or harm upon non-human animals, for purposes other than self-defense. More narrowly, it can be harm for specific gain, such as killing animals for food or for their fur, although opinions differ with...
. The same chapter also accuses the Jews of kidnapping Christian children to use their blood in matzohs
Blood libel
Blood libel is a false accusation or claim that religious minorities, usually Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays...
. One of the final chapters blames the Jews for the death of Jesus
Jewish deicide
Jewish deicide is a belief that places the responsibility for the death of Jesus on the Jewish people as a whole.This deicide accusation is expressed in the ethnoreligious slur "Christ-killer." As a part of Second Vatican Council , the Roman Catholic Church under Pope Paul VI issued a declaration...
, who is called the greatest enemy of the Jews of all time.
There is an entire chapter containing numerous false quotations from the Talmud. The book claims that the Talmud forbids Jews to do manual labour, and that Jews are only permitted to engage in trade, and that non-Jews are meant to be slaves. The chapter further states that Talmudic law allows Jews to cheat non-Jews, and asks Jews to enslave the non-Jewish population.
It was sometimes used in schools.
A copy of the book is on display at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.
An English-language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
translation of the book was produced by a US Nazi leader Gary Lauck and thereafter marketed on his website for $10. Lauck also recently produced an Estonian language
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
translation in 2007 and claims to be working on translations into many other languages. The Estonian security police
Kaitsepolitseiamet
The Estonian Security Police is a central national security institution of Republic of Estonia. Its purposes are centered around enforcing constitutional order...
have investigated the case under the section of Estonian penal code criminalising incitement to social hatred, but concluded that it is unlikely to have the jurisdiction or means to prosecute the author, as under American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
law websites are covered by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
.