Unsung Heroes

This past week, the German Association of Jewish Soldiers held its first meeting in Berlin. Michael Berger, president of the association, said his group, which was founded last year, aims to research and record the history of Jewish soldiers.

Special focus is to be placed on "the fate Jewish soldiers who served on the front during World War I and who later suffered, along with their families, under Nazi dictatorship," Berger said.

More than 85,000 Jewish soldiers served for the German Empire during the First World War, and over 12,000 lost their lives. The surviving Jewish military personnel, many of whom were highly decorated, were forced out of the German military beginning in 1933 when Hitler became came to power.

Jewish soldiers serve again

Nowadays, Jewish soldiers once again serve in the German army, or Bundeswehr as it has been called since 1955. The exact number is unknown since answers to questions about religion are voluntary in the army. According to the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, however, it is at least a three-digit number.

These are the military who have founded the Bund jüdischer Soldaten, or German Association of Jewish Soldiers.

Stephan Kramer, secretary general of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, has assured the Bund of his group's support.

Carrying on a tradition

The modern German Association of Jewish Soldiers sees itself as carrying on in the tradition of the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten (Reich Federation of Jewish Front Soldiers), which was founded in 1919 with the purpose of opposing the renewed growth of anti-Semitism during the Weimar Republik. In its heyday, up to 40,000 soldiers were members.

When Hitler claimed power, the Nazis declared the Jewish soldiers "unfit to serve" in the military and in 1936, banned any political activity by the group. Following the 1938 pogrom known as the Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass), the group was dissolved completely.