Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten
The Reich Federation of Jewish Front-Line Soldiers was an organization of German-Jewish soldiers founded in February 1919 by Leo Löwenstein in the aftermath of World War I to demonstrate Jewish loyalty to the former German Empire and Jewish German nationalism. The organization advocated for Jewish veteran rights as equal German citizens until they were dissolved in 1938.
History
Origin
In 1918, German antisemites claimed that the Jews had stabbed Germany in the back by avoiding combat and treating the war as a profiteering opportunity. The rise of this antisemitic sentiment in Germany was shown within veteran activities as right-leaning groups began to protest the inclusion of Jews in remembrance services. In response, German-Jewish veterans met in Berlin and formed the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten in 1919 with Leo Löwenstein as their leader. The RjF would eventually become the 2nd largest Jewish organization in Germany with average numbers ranging from 30,000 to 40,000 members. The membership was male-dominated since it was organized by front-line soldiers. The essence of the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten was that of a defensive organization. The goal of the RjF was to organize former Jewish Veterans to defend and portray the sacrifice of themselves and their comrades during World War I as a method to combat antisemitism and the changing political landscape.The Reichsbund emphasized that 85,000 Jewish soldiers had fought for the German Empire in World War I, and 12,000 had died, which placed their loyalty to Germany beyond any reasonable doubt. Jews had received 30,000 medals and awards during the war. At its high point the Reichsbund had 55,000 members. This large membership status made the RJF an organization with multiple political identities ranging from right to left leaning.
Termination
Ultimately, by 1935 laws were enacted banning Jewish participation in armed forces, signaling the loss of RjF advocacy power. The enactment of the Nuremberg Laws was shocking to its members after advocating for integration into German society. Its activities were outlawed by the Nazis in 1936, and in 1938 it was dissolved.Ideology
As a war veterans group, the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten believed that Jewish war veterans should be honored alongside non-Jewish war veterans from World War I. Throughout the organization's existence, even when the Nazis were in power, the RjF firmly believed in their rights to live in an integrated German society because Jewish citizens had fought and died for Germany. Compared to similar veteran groups at the time, the Reichsbund jüdischer Frontsoldaten generally upheld German-nationalist and anti-Zionist ideals. However, the political makeup of the RjF is also widely varied, with both right- and left-leaning members. This makeup leads to a complicated organization in regard to political action. Some members and aspects of the RjF were Zionist in orientation, while others were merely dedicated to the advancement of former German Jewish Soldiers. Because of these differing political orientations, they had members with political beliefs ranging from communism and socialism to right-leaning views in line with German society at the time.The Reichsbund regarded the German Reich as the mother country of all German Jews.The RjF also advocated for the integration of the Jewish people into German society.
The group stated: "The RJF sees the basis of its work as complete allegiance to the German homeland. It does not have any goal or desire outside of this German homeland, and sharply rejects any movement which wishes to bring us German Jews to a position of outsiders in relation to this German homeland."