Background: This story comes from Der Giftpilz,an anti-Semitic children’s book published by Julius Streicher, the publisher
of Der Stürmer.This summary and partial translation is taken
from a 1938 publication issued by the “Friends of Europe” in
London, an organization to which I have not been able to find a successor
to request permission to reprint.
This story tells how a German peasant was driven from his land and farm by a Jewish financier, who, enforcing usurious interests, ruins the peasant and compels him to sell his farm. The picture shows the Jew in the background enforcing his claim, while in the fore a neighbouring peasant and his young son discuss what is taking place.
Little Paul is frightfully shocked. His eyes sparkle with anger. “What a mean Jew!” he says. Then he is silent awhile. Full of loathing, he looks at the Jew. He would like best to break the waterjug on the creature’s head. But what could the little fellow do! That would not help his neighbour.
“Father, when I am grown up and have a farm of my own, I will always think of our neighbour. And no Jew shall ever enter my house. I will write on the door : Jews prohibited! And if a Jew were to come in, I would at once throw him out!”
The Father nods:
“Right, Paul! One should have nothing to do with a Jew. The Jew will always cheat us. The Jew will take from us all we possess. Every peasant must make a note of that!”
“Yes,” says little Paul, “and I will always think of the saying which teacher has taught us at school:
’The peasant prays to the Lord:
Oh, keep the hail from us,
Protect us from lightning and flood,
Then we shall have again good harvest.But worse than these plagues,
Never forget, is the Jews!
Be warned: Look out
For the bloodthirsty Jew!’”
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