Antisemitism and Intensifying Jewish Migration to the Promised Land

The Zionist movement, founded by Theodor Herzl in the late 19th century, was formed with the goal of establishing a Jewish state in Palestine. One of the main challenges of this movement was attracting sufficient population to settle in Palestine, especially under conditions where many European Jews had no desire to leave their homes.

In the 1920s and 1930s, with the rise of antisemitism in Europe due to economic problems and the emergence of nationalist and fascist ideologies, some Zionist leaders used these conditions as an opportunity to advance their goals. They collaborated with antisemitic governments and even exploited antisemitic discourse to make life in Europe unbearable for Jews, thereby encouraging migration to Palestine. This article examines these strategies, including Theodor Herzl’s views, the Haavara Agreement with Nazi Germany, and collaboration with the Polish government.

Historical Context

In the 1920s and 1930s, Europe witnessed a significant increase in antisemitism. Economic problems, such as the Great Depression, and the rise of fascist and nationalist ideologies led to intensified anti-Jewish sentiments. In Germany, the Nazi regime intensified anti-Jewish policies after coming to power in 1933. In Poland, which hosted Europe’s largest Jewish population (about 3 million on the eve of World War II), nationalist parties like the National Democratic Movement promoted antisemitism. These conditions provided Zionists with an opportunity to exploit existing pressures to encourage Jewish migration to Palestine.

Theodor Herzl’s Views

Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, believed that antisemitism could serve as a tool to advance Zionist goals. In his diary on June 12, 1895, he wrote: “Antisemites will become our most reliable friends, and antisemitic countries our allies.”¹ Herzl believed that antisemitic governments, due to their desire to reduce the Jewish population in their countries, would support the Zionist project. He suggested using reputable antisemites as “liquidation supervisors” to ensure that the departure of Jews did not harm the economies of the origin countries.

Herzl also used language reminiscent of antisemitic stereotypes in an article titled “Mauschel,” published in 1897 in Die Welt newspaper. In this article, he divided Jews into two categories: “Juden” (authentic Jews) and “Jiden” (inferior Jews), calling anti-Zionist Jews “Mauschel,” a derogatory term rooted in Yiddish meaning “mouse.” He described this group with derogatory phrases to encourage them to support Zionism.

Herzl also met with antisemitic officials to gain their support. For example, in 1903, he met with Vyacheslav von Plehve, Russia’s Interior Minister known for his antisemitic policies. Herzl tried to convince Plehve that Zionism could solve the “Jewish question” in Russia by encouraging Jewish migration. This meeting demonstrated Herzl’s willingness to collaborate with antisemitic officials to advance Zionist goals.²

The Haavara Agreement

With the Nazi regime coming to power in Germany in 1933, Zionists found an opportunity to collaborate with this antisemitic regime. The Haavara Agreement was signed on August 25, 1933, between the Zionist Federation of Germany, the Anglo-Palestine Bank (under the Jewish Agency), and Nazi Germany’s economic authorities. This agreement allowed German Jews to transfer part of their assets by purchasing German goods and selling them in British Mandate Palestine. Jews deposited their assets in a special account in Germany, which was used to buy German goods, and then these goods were sold in Palestine with proceeds paid to the immigrants.

Between 1933 and 1939, about 60,000 German Jews migrated to Palestine, and approximately 105 million marks (equivalent to about 35 million dollars in 1939 value) were transferred. This agreement helped Zionists increase the Jewish population in Palestine and strengthen its economic foundations. The agreement brought significant capital to Palestine, with 60% of investments in Palestine from 1933 to 1939 funded through this agreement and German Jewish money. However, this agreement also broke the international boycott of Nazi Germany, which aimed to pressure the regime to stop its antisemitic policies, and paved the way for Nazis’ interest in intensifying antisemitic policies.

The following table summarizes key details of the Haavara Agreement:

Feature	Details
Signing Date	August 25, 1933
Parties Involved	Zionist Federation of Germany, Anglo-Palestine Bank, Nazi Germany’s Economic Authorities
Purpose	Facilitate migration of German Jews to Palestine and transfer their assets
Number of Migrants	About 60,000 people (1933–1939)
Amount of Financial Transfer	About 105 million marks (equivalent to 35 million dollars in 1939) / 60% of investments in Palestine from 1933 to 1939

Collaboration with the Polish Government

Poland, which had about 3 million Jews on the eve of World War II, witnessed an increase in antisemitism in the 1930s. The Polish government, especially after Marshal Józef Piłsudski’s death in 1935, sought to reduce its Jewish population and viewed Zionism as a solution to this “Jewish question.” In this regard, the Polish government supported the Revisionist Zionist movement led by Ze’ev Jabotinsky. This movement, which emphasized establishing a Jewish state through military force, aligned with the Polish government’s goals.

The Polish government provided military training to members of Betar, the youth branch of Revisionist Zionism, to prepare them for defense in Palestine. This training included military exercises, light weapons training, and combat tactics. In 1934, Poland hosted 40,000 of the world’s 70,000 Betar members. This military support helped Betar members prepare for potential conflicts in Palestine, which in turn strengthened the Jewish presence in the region.

Additionally, in September 1937, Chaim Weizmann, a prominent Zionist leader, met with Józef Beck, Poland’s Foreign Minister. Beck assured Weizmann that Poland supported Zionism as it would help reduce Poland’s Jewish population. The Polish government also supported Zionist positions in the League of Nations and called for allocating larger territory for a Jewish state in Palestine to absorb more Jews. Jabotinsky also proposed a plan for migrating 1.5 million Jews to Palestine over 10 years, which was welcomed by Polish officials, including Beck and Poland’s consul in Jerusalem, Witold Hulanicki.

The following table summarizes details of collaboration with the Polish government:

Feature	Details
Time Period	Late 1930s
Supported Organization	Revisionist Zionist Movement (Betar)
Type of Support	Military training, diplomatic support in the League of Nations
Number of Betar Members	40,000 in Poland (out of 70,000 global members in 1934)
Key Meeting	Chaim Weizmann’s meeting with Józef Beck in September 1937

Other Examples

In addition to Germany and Poland, there is evidence of direct Zionist collaboration with other antisemitic governments in the 1930s. However, the overall Zionist approach during this period indicated a willingness to use antisemitic pressures to encourage migration. For example, Herzl in his negotiations with Ottoman officials and other European powers emphasized that Zionism could solve the “Jewish question,” aligning with the interests of governments seeking to reduce their Jewish populations.

Conclusion

Zionists in the 1920s and 1930s used antisemitism as a strategic tool to encourage Jewish migration to Palestine. Theodor Herzl’s views, including his diary statements and the “Mauschel” article, demonstrate the use of antisemitic discourse to pressure Jews into supporting Zionism. The Haavara Agreement with Nazi Germany and collaboration with the Polish government are prominent examples of engagement with antisemitic regimes to increase the Jewish population in Palestine. These actions played a significant role in strengthening the Jewish presence in Palestine and laying the groundwork for the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

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