Figure 1.-- These German brothers went to the same school. There was no school uniform, with the exception of the cap. They are a good example of the assimilation of German Jews. This was postcard portrait made in 1918.

Germany had one of the most assimilated Jewish communities in Europe. German Jews became proud members of the rising German middleclass. They received full citizenship rights in Imperial Germany. Not all Germans agreed with granting Jews full civil rights. this, but Chancellor Bismarck did. Jews as a result, entered many professions including medicine and the law and came to play an important role in German universities. Jews became especially prominent in certain disciplines, one of which was nuclear physcics. Jews were also prominent in many economic sectors, especially retailing and the clothing industry. German Jews except for those recently arrived from Russia were fully assimilated into German life. More and more were marying gentile Germans. Many were becoming non-practing Jews. German Jews for the most part dressed and spoke like other Germans. A reader writes, "The photograph on this page and other photographs show that in Western Europe Jewish people had assimulated very well. Jewish people from Eastern Europe do not appear to have assimulated into society in the same way. They have a distinctive religious identity."

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Created: 5:44 AM 1/15/2006
Last updated: 5:44 AM 1/15/2006