Page 39 - The Track Of The Jew Through The Ages - Alfred Rosenberg

Alfred Rosenberg 3

five Jews of Erfurt. In 1385, a single Jew in Ulm had 43 debtor's
letters to show; there were 55 debenture bonds to two Jews ofErfurt.
When a Jew Isaak fled from Munich and he was later
captured, jewellery of the citizens, the nobility, and even the silver
service of the king were found in his possession. These reports can
be continued for pages. Through usury and the pawn businesses the
Jew was indeed powerful at the court of princes and prelates where
he often worked as financial advisor and tax collector. By the side
of this court-Jew stood almost always a member of the tribe as
secretary, who maintained the book-keeping in Hebrew and in this
way alone possessed an insight into and overview of the business
situation.
From these brief suggestions the necessary consequences
are to be foreseen. The Jews' power grew increasingly great,
accordingly the wrath of the people grew and a Jewish persecution
erupted. But one should not think, as the Jews always affirm, that
they were always driven out and mistreated by the Germans. On the
contrary.
th
The Jew could until the 1 century occupy all professions,
everything was open to him. But he himself did not think ofworking
hand in hand with the gentiles, secluded himself strictly and had
only so much to do with the non-Jew as was necessary for trade.
And no trace of any interest in the life of the host nation is to be
observed. That indeed the Germans too became cooler on account
of their exploitation by the unscrupulous immigrant should be
attributed by the Jews to themselves. The Jew was also not, as the
saying still maintains, the pariah of society. To be sure, Jews and
usurers had become synonymous and the contempt for this profession
was justified.

And do not like the Jews very much,
Do not trust them,
They are the thieves of your soul,
The violators of your women.

says an old song innocently, but one cannot however speak of
constant mistreatment if the Count Palatine Philipp went with his

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