Understanding Historical Prejudices: The Schnorrer Stereotype in 19th Century Germany

Meta Description: Explore the historical portrayal of a Schnorrer, a Jewish beggar stereotype, in a postcard during the late 19th century in Germany, shedding light on prevalent biases and anti-Semitic sentiments of the time.

Content

In the late 19th century, a troubling stereotype known as the Schnorrer, depicting a Jewish beggar, was widespread and perpetuated and also found its way into this antisemitic postcard.

The postcard vividly illustrates a stereotypical representation of a destitute Jewish man. The accompanying German caption reads: "Der Schorrer oder der neueingewanderte Staatsbürger" ("The Moocher, or the newly immigrated citizen"). In Yiddish, a Schnorrer refers to someone who seeks financial assistance.

This postcard reflects the condemnation of the acceptance of Jewish immigrants into Germany during that era. The prevailing "defensive policy" in Prussia at the time held strong anti-Semitic undertones, aligning with pre-existing biases among the populace. These biases depicted Jewish immigrants as unclean, beggars, or dishonest individuals from the East, further fueling the wave of anti-Semitism that argued against the inclusion of Jews within the German nation.

Deltiology

Artist:
Publisher: U. Baasch, Plauen, Germany
Printer:
Date: Circa 1900

The postcard says: "Vat! Somedings for Nodings".
The Jew is made to look evil and cheap!

The stereotype of a 'Jewish accent'

The stereotype of a 'Jewish accent,' characterized by distinct pronunciations and language adaptations, has roots in historical immigration and language transition. Over time, these linguistic traits may have been exaggerated or misrepresented in popular culture, perpetuating a harmful stereotype. This stereotype emerged as Jewish immigrants and their descendants embraced English as a second language while maintaining aspects of their native tongues. Unfortunately, these caricatures have been used in media, entertainment, and literature, contributing to prejudiced perceptions. It's crucial to challenge and dispel stereotypes, fostering understanding and promoting a more inclusive society that appreciates diversity and values individuals for who they are.

The stereotype of a Jew being evil

The harmful stereotype of Jewish people being evil or untrustworthy has deep-rooted origins in centuries of anti-Semitism, prejudice, and discriminatory beliefs. Anti-Semitism, which is hostility, prejudice, or discrimination against Jewish people, has a long and unfortunate history, dating back over two thousand years.
Throughout history, Jews have often been scapegoated and blamed for various societal issues, economic problems, and political unrest. In medieval Europe, for instance, false accusations were made against Jews, such as the blood libel (accusations of Jews using Christian blood in religious rituals) and the spreading of harmful myths about their supposed malevolent influence.
During the Middle Ages, when Christians were forbidden by the Church from engaging in money lending due to usury laws, Jews were permitted to participate in money lending. As a result, they became associated with financial transactions, further perpetuating stereotypes about greed and untrustworthiness.

Deltiology

Artist: Alfred N. Yerkes
Publisher: U.S. Novelty Co
Printer:
Date: 1905 (Undivided back era)
From U.S. Novelty Co Series 779
This card is a collaboration between A. Yerkes and the US Novelty Co.

Depicts a Jew with claws as hands, clutching the entire globe as if he owns it. It is inscribed "Their Homeland" at the bottom. This antisemitic cartoon was published on the front page of "La Libre Parole illustrée" of October 28, 1893. View it here.
The stereotype of a Jew as controlling the world is vividly depicted here.

Artist: Albert Esnault
Publisher: Librairie antisémite
Printer:
Date: 1900
Card #2, of 8 

Rarity: ☝☝☝☝☝(Less than three seen)

Here are links to others: 

The front of the postcard features a cartoon in which two stereotypical Jews are catapulted from a bench by a large sack of money. The German title reads: "Gruss von grossen Bankkrach in Leipzig" ("Greetings from the big bank crash in Leipzig"). The money bag reads: "Trebertrocknungs Aktien Gesellschaft Cassel"

The card refers to the collapse of the Leipzig Bank in the year 1900. In 1899 there was a crash in bank stocks and industrial securities of Russian banks. The loss of capital in Russian companies had an impact in Germany and Belgium, where much of the resources for these companies came from. In Germany, the large syndicates tried to maintain high iron and coal prices by cutting production, but were only partially effective. Banks that had tied up their capital in new industrial projects could not meet their obligations. Two mortgage banks failed in the fall of 1900 because they speculated in real estate through subsidiaries. The bankruptcies triggered a mortgage bond panic.
The Leipzig Bank which was founded in 1839, also failed. Trebertrocknungs Gesellschaft company in Cassel, in charge of securities and bonds,had advanced money to this bank which and they were unable to meet their commitment to repay. The head of the Leipzig Bank request help from Berlin and was refused. This was a huge scandal at the time and because Jews were quite often bankers, many blamed them, although there is littele evidence to show any Jewish involvement.
The stereotype of a Jew as controlling the money is vividly depicted here.

Artist:
Publisher: Bruno Bürger & Ottillie in Leipzig, Germany
Printer:
Date: 1900
Card 6769

Rarity: ☝☝☝☝☝(Less than three seen)

The card says: Money to lend at only 10 percent per month".
This is the stereotype of a Jew that he is greedy.

Artist: Charles Lederer
Publisher: Monarch Book Company, Chicago.
Printer:
Date: 1905 (Undivided back era)
Rarity:

The card says: Mazel, Broche und a grosse mispoche". The card shows an image of a family with many children, all ugly with the same deformed face with hook noses and shabbily dressed.
This is the stereotype of a Jew that they have a large family and only speak Yiddish.

Artist:
Publisher: National Comic Postal Card Company.
Printer:
Date: 1905 (Undivided back era)

Hotel Kölner Hof prided itself on being a hotel without Jews. Read about it here.
In this postcard, a travelling salesman, a Jew, is kicked out of the hotel! You can see an image of the hotel with a huge sign saying "Jew Free Hotel". There is also an image of the main train station on the right. The hotel was in the vicinity of the train station.

Artist:
Publisher: Kolner Hof
Printer:
Date: circa 1898

The island of Borkum prided itself on being an entire area without Jewish guests. Read about it here.

The postcard depicts a large crowd of "Christian" Germans enjoying a meal and a concert at the resort. On the right there is a Jewish family who want to enter the hotel / restaurant and the manager says: "Those with flat feet that must leave! Go away!"

At bottom there are the lyrics to the infamous "Borkum Song" which sings the praises of the resort's "exclusive" policy

Artist:
Publisher: E. Adami, Emden
Printer:
Printing method: Lithography
Date: circa 1906

Artist prepared an artwork series showing different stereotypes as animals. For a Jew he used the skullcap and prominent sidelocks (or payot)

Sidelocks in English, or payot in Hebrew, are worn by some men and boys in the Ultra Orthodox Jewish community and is based on an interpretation of Jewish law's injunction against shaving the sides of one's head.

Artist: Arthur Thiele
Publisher: Theodor Ströfer
Printer:
Date:
From series 1215 of “Horse Gentlemen”

The character of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice shows the stereotype of a Jew as greedy and will do anything for money.

The Merchant of Venice was written by WIlliam Shakespeare in 1596 – 8. In the story, a merchant named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. The security for the loan was a pound of Antonio's flesh. When a bankrupt Antonio defaults on the loan, Shylock demands the pound of flesh. Shylock was fueled by revenge, for Antonio had previously insulted, physically assaulted and spat on him. Shylock's daughter, Jessica, falls in love with Antonio's friend Lorenzo and converts to Christianity, leaves Shylock's house and steals vast riches from him, which add to Shylock's rage and harden his resolve for revenge. Shylock put money before everything.
Strangely no Jews were living in England during Shakespeare's time. Jews were expelled from the country in 1290 by Edward I, 300 years before.

Deltiology

Artist: Sydney Carter
Publisher: S. Hildesheimer
Printer: Bavaria
Date: 1907 - 1914 (after the outbreak of World War I, companies stopped printed in Germany
Rarity: ☝☝☝☝☝ (not common)

Shows the ultimate stereotype of the Jewish nose. It is a hooked nose with a downward turn of the tip of the nose. The 'Jewish nose' was singled out as a hostile caricature of Jews in mid-13th century Europe. Since the 18th century it has become the rule when showing what a Jew looks like.

What is the Jewish nose or the Hooked nose

The term 'Jewish nose' or 'hooked nose' is a harmful stereotype perpetuating a perceived physical trait associated with some Jewish individuals, suggesting a prominent or curved nose shape. However, it's crucial to emphasize that stereotypes are inaccurate and offensive. Stereotypes only fuel prejudice, discrimination, and bias. Jewish people, like any other group, display a diverse range of physical characteristics. It's essential to promote understanding and respect for diversity rather than perpetuating harmful assumptions based on physical appearances. Stereotypes have no basis in science or fact and should be actively discouraged and challenged.

Deltiology

Artist:
Publisher: F. S. Backus
Printer:
Date: 1905
From series 718 of “Say!” Each postcard in the series showed two different stereotypes.

Fire Sale Next Tuesday. "I may be crazy, but I aint no fool".

Shows the stereotype of a Jew as a dishonest person.
 
Artist: 

Publisher: Tammen

Printer:

Method: chromolithography

Date: 1906

Rarity: ☝☝ (not common)

Postcard shows a tramp as a Jew, picking up garbage, presumably for sale with the words: "My business is picking up".
Showing the stereotype of a Jew as cheap

"OH vat a peautiful bresendt for Uncle Jacob's golden vedding". This goldfish is a play on golden. Shows the Jew as cheap and speaking with a Yiddish accent.
Showing a Jew as being cheap is no tthe same as being greedy

Rebeccah having a bath, referencing Rebecca from the Bible.

Showing a Jew as being dirty (diseased), you can see the mud pouring off her. Note: Some people have claimed that she is merely having a mud bath, but there are no known postcards depicting other people, other than Jews.

The card says: "I'm no Scotchman and I am no Jew, but I draw the line sometimes". The sign on the wall says, "Please tip the basin", meaning raise the lid and the man is misinterpreting the sign to understand that he needs to leave a tip.
The Jew is made to look cheap!

Deltiology

Artist:
Publisher: Bamforth & Co Ltd.
Printer:
Date: 1905 (Undivided back era)

"Greeting from Russian Poland" - A postcard showing 'Russisch poln jude' (meaning to characterize Polish Jews during the First World War. Facing the "Russian Polnisehe Laus", emphasizing their supposed similarity. The dehumanization in which the Jew is presented is clear. 

The illustrator and publisher Johann Philipp Ferdinand Preiss [1882-1943] of the leading German sculpture during the Art Deco period. His works are considered the pinnacle of sculpture in the century. 

The world of collectors interested in his sculptures is usually unaware of his radical antisemitic paintings and works from the beginning of the century. Preiss used to illustrate postcards comparing Polish Jew to different animals.

Depicts a Jew on the left (Russian Jew) and a louse on the right (Polish Russian).
The message in handwriting translates to "If you have 50 of this kind, you have to itch yourself now and then, or you have to murder them all, which is possibly even more important. Greetings to Peter, Magda and all acquaintances." meaning that both must be killed.
The stereotype of a Jew as bringing disease.

Artist: Ferdinand Preiss
Publisher: F. Preiss
Printer:
Date: 1915


Rarity: ☝☝☝☝(uncommon)