The Swedish Jews and the Holocaust (Routledge Studies in Second World War History)

"We will be judged in our own time and in the future by measuring the aid that we, inhabitants of a free and fortunate country, gave to our brethren in this time of greatest disaster." This declaration, made shortly after the pogroms of November 1938 by the Jewish communities in Sweden, was truer than anyone could have forecast at the time. Pontus Rudberg focuses on this sensitive issue - Jewish responses to the Nazi persecutions and mass murder of Jews. What actions did Swedish Jews take to aid the Jews in Europe during the years 1933-45 and what determined their policies and actions? Specific attention is given to the aid efforts of the Jewish Community of Stockholm, including the range of activities in which the community engaged and the challenges and opportunities presented by official refugee policy in Sweden. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 Introduction 10 The world reacts to the Holocaust 11 Jewish responses 16 Swedish Jews and the MFST 18 Agency and room for manoeuvre 23 Method and sources 26 Representing Jews in Sweden 30 Swedish refugee politics and legislation 45 Notes 51 1. The first phase: 1933–1938 58 What did they know? 59 Foreign impulses and influences 61 Political work 72 Financing the aid 95 Refugee aid and relief 103 Chapter conclusion 109 Notes 111 2. The second phase: From November 1938 to the outbreak of the war 120 What did they know? 120 Political work 121 The other Jewish communities in Sweden 139 Administration and selection 140 Financing the aid 147 Refugee aid and relief 152 Chapter conclusion 159 Notes 160 3. The third phase: From the outbreak of the war to September 1941 168 What did they know? 171 Financing the aid 173 Refugee aid and relief 179 Chapter conclusion 189 Notes 191 4. The fourth phase: Holocaust 195 Knowledge of deportations and mass murder 197 Political work 208 The other Jewish communities in Sweden 228 Financing relief and rescue 229 Refugee aid and relief 234 Chapter conclusion 254 Notes 255 Conclusions 266 References 269 Index 291 Covers -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- The world reacts to the Holocaust -- Jewish responses -- Swedish Jews and the MFST -- Agency and room for manoeuvre -- Method and sources -- Representing Jews in Sweden -- Swedish refugee politics and legislation -- Notes -- 1. The first phase: 1933-1938 -- What did they know? -- Foreign impulses and influences -- Political work -- Financing the aid -- Refugee aid and relief -- Chapter conclusion -- Notes -- 2. The second phase: From November 1938 to the outbreak of the war -- What did they know? -- Political work -- The other Jewish communities in Sweden -- Administration and selection -- Financing the aid -- Refugee aid and relief -- Chapter conclusion -- Notes -- 3. The third phase: From the outbreak of the war to September 1941 -- What did they know? -- Financing the aid -- Refugee aid and relief -- Chapter conclusion -- Notes -- 4. The fourth phase: Holocaust -- Knowledge of deportations and mass murder -- Political work -- The other Jewish communities in Sweden -- Financing relief and rescue -- Refugee aid and relief -- Chapter conclusion -- Notes -- Conclusions -- References -- Index "We will be judged in our own time and in the future by measuring the aid that we, inhabitants of a free and fortunate country, gave to our brethren in this time of greatest disaster." This declaration, made shortly after the pogroms of November 1938 by the Jewish communities in Sweden, was truer than anyone could have forecast at the time. Pontus Rudberg focuses on this sensitive issue - Jewish responses to the Nazi persecutions and mass murder of Jews. What actions did Swedish Jews take to aid the Jews in Europe during the years 1933-45 and what determined their policies and actions? -- Provided by publisher