The Third Reich and the Palestine Question

by Francis R. Nicosia

Overview

In order to ensure its racial, ideological, and strategic interests, the Hitler regime actively supported the status quo in Palestine and the Middle East during the interwar period. This included the perpetuation of British imperial power in Palestine, the Jewish National Home (not an independent Jewish state) promised by the Balfour Declaration, and the rejection of Arab self-determination and independence.

The Third Reich and the Palestine Questionis the first comprehensive study of German Palestine policy during the 1930s. Francis R. Nicosia places that policy within the context of historical German interests and aims in Palestine, the Middle East, and Europe from the Wilhelminian era through the Weimar period and the Third Reich. He also provides insight into the broader foreign policy aims and calculations of the Nazi regime throughout the Arab Middle East before World War II.

In a new introduction, Nicosia places his ground-breaking research in its proper historical perspective. He reviews some of the recent literature on the history of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. He also discusses some of the archival materials that have recently become available in the former German Democratic Republic and Soviet Union.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138539112
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/26/2017
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Francis R. Nicosia is professor of history at St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont.

Table of Contents

1: Imperial and Weimar Precedents; 2: Early National Socialist Attitudes toward Zionism; 3: The Development of the Haavara Transfer Agreement; 4: The Zionist Connection, 1933–1937; 5: The Role of England in Hitler’s Foreign Policy Plans; 6: The Rejection of an Arab Connection, 1933–1937; 7: The Peel Partition Plan and the Question of a Jewish State; 8: Continuation of the Zionist Option; 9: Germany, Palestine and the Middle East, 1938–1939; 10: Conclusions

Editorial Reviews

This well-referenced exploration of the interwar conflict over Palestine by Nicosia (history, St. Michael's College, Colchester, VT) remains timely, although Germany no longer is a Middle East power player. Includes details of early German interests in Palestine and data on legal German Jewish immigration there until 1940. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"Nicosia has written the definitive study of this fascinating epoch in the histories of the participants. It is a masterful examination of every interwoven thread in the complicated tapestry of Nazi Germany's relations with the Middle East, as well as with Great Britain and the Zionist movement." —Arnold Krammer, American Historical Review "The tight structure of the book, lucid narrative, and exhaustive use of relevant sources lend this book a definitive character." —Martin Kramer, Middle Eastern Studies "A masterly piece of scholarship, Nicosia's historical study defines the aims and purposes of Nazi foreign policy toward Palestine in the thirties. A valuable addition to an often neglected area of Holocaust studies." —Dimensions, A Journal of Holocaust Studies "Francis R. Nicosia's volume is a pleasure to read; he does everything that scholars are taught to do when writing scholarly monographs, but which few do in such an easy and fluid style." —Sara Reguer, Simon Wiesenthal Center Annual "[T]he appearance of Francis Nicosia's study of the Third Reich's approach to matters related to Palestine is a welcome event. . . . [A] valuable contribution." —David Engel, Studies in Zionism "[Nicosia's] own well-researched account shows how mistaken it is to infer from Arab enthusiasm for the new Nazi regime that Hitler's government supported Arab national self-determination in Palestine." —Marjorie Lamberti, The Journal of Modern History "It is a masterful examination of every interwoven thread in the complicated tapestry of Nazi Germany's relations with the Middle East, as well as with Great Britain and the Zionist movement." —Arnold Krammer, American Historical Review "Apart from being a valuable contribution to Middle Eastern studies, this book should stimulate those "revisionist" historians who argue that appeasement of Hitler was a sensible policy, since his original aims constituted no threat to British interests. Nicosia finds no evidence of any substantial German encouragement to Arab nationalist movements during the 1930s. Earlier studies have thrown light on some of these matters, but this book is the first comrephensive treatment of the whole question in English. It is clearly written, excellently produced and deserves to be widely read." —J. S. F. Parker, The Middle East "This well-written study is based on substantial research and will become the definitive work on this topic." —G.M. Kren, Choice "Palestine is still a burning issue. There is something to support all sides in Nicosia's book. But more, there is something for all to reflect upon." —Hugh T. Murray, New German Critique

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