Max Naumann

Max Naumann ( born January 12, 1875 in Berlin, † May 15, 1939 ibid ) was a doctorate lawyer, politician and publicist. He was founder and chairman of the nationalist and anti-Zionist Association National German Jews ( VnJ, 1921-1935 ). Due to its formative influence on the VnJ whose followers were often called Naumann Jews. From 1922 to 1934 Naumann gave the magazine out The national German Jew.

Work

Naumann received his doctorate in 1899 in Erlangen. He was a reserve officer in the Bavarian Army, eventually moved to Berlin during the Weimar Republic and was a member of the DVP.

Naumann and his national federation was established in 1921 German Jews ( VnJ ) saw in the emphasis and display a particular Jewish identity the trigger for racial hatred and anti-Semitism. Naumann and VnJ was thus in sharp opposition to the Zionist movement and the most Jewish organizations and a strong distinction between German Jews and foreign Jews. Especially in the realm immigrant Orthodox Eastern Jews aroused his anger. Naumann and members of the VnJ joined the idea of ​​a " German God " and committed Christian holidays. Initially saw Naumann himself in Adolf Hitler, whose anti-Semitism he dismissed as unimportant, a positive political force.

Despite ( or rather because of) the affirmation of loyalty to the Nazi regime and its nationalist thrust of Naumann's national association of German Jews was dissolved earlier than other Jewish organizations already on 18 November 1935. Max Naumann was arrested by the Gestapo on the same day. After a suicide attempt, he was released a month later from the Gestapo. His tomb is located on the southwest Stahnsdorf.

Writings

• From the National German Jews, Berlin 1920.
• Full - or half - German German - Four essays, Berlin 1921.
• From German Future - Two essays, Berlin 1924.