M HKA Ensembles

Book, 17.3 x 25 x 2.2 cm.

Collection: Collection M HKA, Antwerp.

Eugen Fischer, Gerhard Kittel, World Judaism of Antiquity: Facts, Texts, Pictures,1943
Published by Hanseatische Verlagsanstalt
First Edition
Collection M HKA, Antwerp 

Eugen Fisher and Gerhard Kittel’s book World Judaism of Antiquity: Facts, Texts, Pictures was considered so important it was printed despite the strict limits of publications due to the rationing of paper and budget cuts during the War. While Fischer is infamous as an ardent advocate of eugenics, Kittel is a more paradoxical figure, a prominent lexicographer of biblical languages and one of the most competent New Testament experts, he was also known as an open anti-Semite and an enthusiastic supporter of the Nazis. A striking example of theological anti-Semitism, this richly illustrated study consists of a historical overview of “World Judaism” provided by Kittel and Fisher’s analysis of the visual content from a racial perspective. According to the authors, “World Judaism” which has world domination as its ultimate goal, has been present from the ancient times. Kittel presents an anthology of anti-Semitic clichés with racist interpretations, disguised as a historical analysis of classical texts, images and archaeological discoveries, with the aim of portraying 'the Jew' as an unchanging character because:

“Always, in any period, whether in the first or the twentieth century, the dream of World Judaism is absolute world dominion, then and now”.
— Eugen Fischer, Gerhard Kittel