Der Giftpilz

Der Giftpilz is a children's book published by Julius Streicher in Nazi Germany in 1938.[1] The title is German for "the poisonous mushroom/toadstool".[1] The book was intended as antisemitic propaganda. The text is by Ernst Hiemer, with illustrations by Philipp Rupprecht (also known as Fips); the title alludes to how, just as it is difficult to tell a poisonous mushroom from an edible mushroom, it is difficult to tell a Jew apart from a Gentile. The book attempts to "warn" German children about the dangers allegedly posed by Jews to them personally, and to German society in general.

The Poisonous Mushroom
Cover illustration. The text is in the Sütterlin script.
AuthorErnst Hiemer
Original titleDer Giftpilz
IllustratorPhilipp Rupprecht (Fips)
CountryGermany
LanguageGerman
GenreChildren's literature, Antisemitism
PublisherJulius Streicher
Publication date
1938
Media typePrint
Pages56
833.912

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,[2] 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.[3] 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 National Socialist German Workers' Party.[4] Jews are portrayed as abusing their German servants.[5] In addition, the book warns of Jews in various occupations – Jewish businessmen,[6] lawyers,[7] tradesmen,[8] and kosher butchers, who, in one chapter, are described torturing an animal to death.[9] The same chapter also accuses the Jews of kidnapping Christian children to use their blood in matzohs (a common variant of the blood libel).[9] 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.[10]

Antisemitism

The book claims that the Talmud discourages Jews from performing manual labour and encourages them to engage in trade instead; that it teaches Jews that non-Jews are meant to be slaves and asks Jews to enslave the non-Jewish population; and that Talmudic law allows Jews to cheat non-Jews.

Julius Streicher in custody at Nuremberg. He was found guilty of crimes against humanity and hanged in 1946.

The book was sometimes used in German schools.[11] A copy of the book is held by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.,[12] where it is on display.

An English-language translation of the book was produced by U.S. neo-Nazi activist Gary Lauck, and thereafter marketed on his website for $10. Lauck also produced an Estonian-language translation in 2007, and claims to be working on translations into many other languages. The Estonian Internal Security Service has investigated the case under the section of Estonian penal code criminalizing 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.[13]

In March 2020, the online retailer Amazon removed the book, along with Hitler's Mein Kampf and several other Nazi publications, from sale on its platform.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Der Giftpilz"
  2. "The Experience of Hans and Else with a Strange Man"
  3. "Inge’s Visit to a Jewish Doctor"
  4. "How Worker Hartmann Became a National-Socialist"
  5. "How the Jew Treats His Domestic Help"
  6. "How a German Peasant Was Driven from House and Farm"
  7. "How Two Women Were Tricked by Jewish Lawyers"
  8. "How Jewish Traders Cheat"
  9. "How Jews Torment Animals"
  10. "What Christ Said about the Jews"
  11. "Der Giftpilz". German Propaganda Archive. Calvin University. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  12. "Cover of a German antisemitic children's book". US Holocaust Memorial Museum. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  13. "Juute vaenav raamat tõlgiti eesti keelde" [An adversary's book was translated into Estonian] (in Estonian). Postimees. June 20, 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  14. Waterson, Jim (March 16, 2020). "Amazon bans sale of most editions of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf". The Guardian.
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