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Was it possible that Hitler looked at the ideas of Martin Luther? Having had a rather vague knowledge of who he was before, the more I study him, the more I realize that he seems to be an earlier Hitler. I know it was unfortunately normal for Christians to dislike the Jews at this time, but Martin Luther seemed to have a certain zest in his hate. Read these things that he has said,QUOTE"What then do we Germans want to do with this rejected, damned people of the Jews? First, we will set fire to their synagogues, and schools, and bury and cover with dirt all that will not burn. Second, we will burn and destroy and raze their homes and places of dwelling. Third, we will destroy and burn their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in such lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught. Fourth, I advise the Jews should be made into our slaves and forced to do the work and labor of God for His Good. Lastly, I advocate that the remaining Jews be eliminated from Christendom." -Martin Luther, 1543.Earlier, he also said this, which disturbed me because it echoes what Hitler said:QUOTE"I am writing in German, for the German Hernvolk. (master race)" -Martin Luther, 1520I find this rather scary. I have not studied Hitler in depth, but did he study Martin Luther? The similarities are strange. Here is where the quotes come from:http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/1543-Luther-JewsandLies-full.html
It appears that the answer to your question is “yes”. I have found that Martin Luther's views on Jews were brought up by Nazi Julius Streicher during the Nuremburg Trials, that over a hundred synagogues burned on Kristallnacht (similar to Martin Luther's call), and that his views were cited as justification for the Final Solution. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Jews_and_their_Lies#Impact_on_Nazi_ideologyHowever, here is a possible difference between Martin Luther's views and those of Hitler:
While there is little doubt that Christian anti-Semitism laid the social and cultural basis for modern anti-Semitism, modern anti-Semitism does differ in being based on pseud-scientific notions of race. The Nazis imprisoned and killed Jews who had converted to Christianity: Luther would have welcomed them.
I had no idea That Martin Luther was so anti-Semitic. I think though that even if some had converted they would have 'enjoyed' second class citizenship at best.
Again, as a “newbie” to this forum I am reviving an old thread so please bear with me. In answer to your thoughts about Martin Luther – yes, he was adamant about his dislike, maybe venturing on hate, towards Jews. And in relation to Hitler, (again turning to my relatives in Germany for an explanation) people of the Lutheran faith were less likely to question Hitler's motives than Catholics. As to the “why” of this, I can't answer this; maybe some day my relatives will reveal this also.
