Spa Antisemitism

Spa antisemitism – postcards of prejudice in Bohemia

By Lawrence

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the fashionable spa towns of Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) and Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad) became international resorts for health and leisure – and centers of a phenomenon historians call spa antisemitism.^[1]

Postcards as a visual weapon

Thousands of postcards caricatured Jewish spa guests. Two types dominated: the thin Ostjude in a kaftan and the wealthy, overweight assimilated Jew. Common motifs included exaggerated noses, garlic, and animalization.^[1]

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FAQ

What is spa antisemitism?
Localized antisemitism in Central European spa towns (1880s–1930s) combining commercial hypocrisy with social exclusion.

Why were postcards central to this phenomenon?
They were the mass medium of the day and spread ridicule worldwide.

What stereotypes appeared on these cards?
Dirty or greedy Ostjude, overweight assimilated Jew, toilet humor, animal traits, and exaggerated gestures.

Where can I see examples today?
German Historical Museum (Berlin), Jewish Museum Vienna, and private collections.

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References

1. Eva Janáčová, Spa Antisemitism in Bohemia and Moravia, De Gruyter, 2020. DOI link.