Alain Fleury Bücher

Traces the coverage of events in Germany by the Catholic French newspaper "La Croix". Ch. 7 deals with the "Jewish question". Although traditionally violently antisemitic, "La Croix" moderated its views with the appointment of editor Leon Merklen in 1927. However, Jews were still accused of corrupting society and Nazism was first explained in terms of self-defense. Hoping that German Catholics were protected by the 1933 Concordat, "La Croix" did not appreciate the full importance of the Nuremberg racial laws. Racial legislation in Catholic Italy evoked a stronger reaction and the realization that racial antisemitism must necessarily lead to an attack on Christianity. After the "Kristallnacht" pogrom, "La Croix" openly condemned Nazi persecution of the Jews, although continuing to advocate political compromise with Germany.