The genesis and developement of modern Lithuanian antisemitism (1883 - 1940) ; Moderniojo lietuviško antisemitizmo genezė ir raida (1883-1940)
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VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY THE INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN HISTORY Linas VENCLAUSKAS THE GENESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN LITHUANIAN ANTISEMITISM (1883 – 1940) Summary of Doctoral Dissertation Humanities, History (05 H) Kaunas, 2008 The Dissertation was prepared in the period of 2004 – 2008 at Vytautas Magnus University. The doctoral study license is granted to Vytautas Magnus University together with the Institute of Lithuanian History by the resolution No.926 of the Government of the Republic of Lithaunia on the 15th of July, 2003. Scientific supervisor: doc. dr. Antanas Kulakauskas (Mykolas Romeris University, Humanities, History – 05H) The dissertation is defended at Vytautas Magnus University at the Council of Scientific Field of History of Vytautas Magnus University and the Institute of Lithuanian History. Chairman: prof. habil. dr. Egidijus Aleksandravi čius (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History -05 H) Members: doc.dr. Algirdas Jakub čionis (Vilnius University, Humanities, History - 05 H) doc.dr. Pranas Janauskas (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History - 05 H) prof.dr. Juozas Skirius (Vilnius Pedagogical University, Huma) dr. Jonas Vai čenonis (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History - 05 H) Opponents: doc.dr. Rimantas Miknys (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History - 05 H) doc.dr.
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| Publié par | vytautas_magnus_university |
| Publié le | 01 janvier 2009 |
| Nombre de lectures | 80 |
| Langue | English |
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VYTAUTAS MAGNUS UNIVERSITY THE INSTITUTE OF LITHUANIAN HISTORY Linas VENCLAUSKAS THE GENESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN LITHUANIAN ANTISEMITISM 1883 1940 Summary of Doctoral Dissertation Humanities, Histor 05 H Kaunas, 2008
The Dissertation was re ared in the eriod of 2004 2008 at V tautas Ma nus Universit . The doctoral stud license is ranted to V tautas Ma nus Universit to ether with the Institute of Lithuanian History by the resolution No.926 of the Government of the Re ublic of Lithaunia on the 15th of Jul , 2003. Scientific su ervisor: doc. dr. Antanas Kulakauskas M kolas Romeris Universit , Humanities, Histor 05H) The dissertation is defended at V tautas Ma nus Universit at the Council of Scientific Field of Histor of V tautas Ma nus Universit and the Institute of Lithuanian Histor . Chairman:rof. habil. dr. E idi us Aleksandravič ,ius V Ma tautas Universit nus Humanities, History -05 H) Members: doc.dr. Al irdas Jakubč , Universitionis Vilnius 05 H - Humanities, Histor doc.dr. Pranas Janauskas (Vytautas Magnus University, Humanities, History - 05 H) rof.dr. Juozas Skirius Vilnius Peda o ical Universit , Humanities, Histor - 05 H dr. Jonas Vaič , Universit - Humanities, Historenonis V tautas nus Ma 05 H Opponents: doc.dr. Rimantas Mikn s V tautas Ma nus Universit , Humanities, Histor - 05 H doc.dr. V antas Vareikis Klai , Humanities, Historda Universit 05 H -The official defense of the dissertation will be held at 10:00 on December the 18th, 2008, at the ublic sittin of the defense Board in the A. a okos lecture-hall 508 of V tautas Ma nus Universit K. Donelaičio street, 52, Kaunas Address: K. Donelaičio street 52, LT-44246, Kaunas, Lithuania Phone: + 370 37 327836 The summar of the dissertation was sent out on the of November, 2008. The dissertation is available at Mart nas Mav das National Librar of Lithuania, V tautas Ma nus Universit Librar and the Librar of the Institute of Lithuanian History.
VYTAUTO DIDIOJO UNIVERSITETAS LIETUVOS ISTORIJOS INSTITUTAS Linas VENCLAUSKAS MODERNIOJO LIETUVIKO ANTISEMITIZMO GENEZIR RAIDA (1883 1940 m.) Daktaro disertacijos santrauka Humanitariniai mokslai, istorija (05 H) Kaunas, 2008
Disertacija rengta 2004 - 2008 metais Vytauto Diiojo universitete. Doktarantros teis Vytauto Diiojo universitetui kartu su Lietuvos istorijos suteikta institutu 2003 m. lie os 15 d. Lietuvos Res ublikos V riaus bs nutarimu Nr. 926. Mokslinis vadovas: doc. dr. Antanas Kulakauskas M kolo Romerio universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istori a 05H Disertacija bus ginamaVytauto Diiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos istorijos instituto Humanitarinimoksl e. tiessrities istori os kr bo tarPirmininkas:prof. habil. dr. Egidijus Aleksandravičius (Vytauto Didiojo universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istori a - 05 H . Nariai: doc.dr. Algirdas Jakubč mokslai, humanitariniaiionis (Vilniaus universitetas, istori a - 05 H doc.dr. Pranas Janauskas (Vytauto Didiojo universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istori a - 05 H rof.dr. Juozas Skirius Vilniaus eda o inis universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija - 05 H) dr. Jonas Vaič tauto Didioenonis V universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, o istorija - 05 H) Oponentai: doc.dr. Rimantas Mikn s Lietuvos istori os institutas, humanitariniai mokslai, istorija - 05 H) doc.dr. V antas Vareikis Klai edos universitetas, humanitariniai mokslai, istori a - 05 H) Disertaci a bus inama vieame Humanitarinimokslsrities istori os kr ties tar bos posdyje, kuris vyks 2008 m. gruodio 18 d. 10 val. Vytauto Diiojo universitetoA. a okos auditori o e 508 , K. Donelaičio . 52, Kaunas Adresas: K. Donelaičio g. 52, LT-44246 Kaunas, Lietuva, Tel. + 370 37 327836 Disertacijos santrauka isista 2008 m. lapkrič d.io ......... Disertaciją peri galimarti Lietuvos nacionalinje Martyno Mavydo, Vytauto Didiojo universiteto ir Lietuvos istorijos instituto bibliotekose.
THE GENESIS AND DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN LITHUANIAN ANTISEMITISM (1883 1940)
Relationships between different national communities are almost always marked with some tensions, especially if these communities - as in our case - are different in all possible manners: religiously, linguistically, mentally, and anthropologically. Despite the fact that the Lithuanians and the Jews were both part of large national minorities mosaic in the tsarist Russian empire, so in some way suffered the same oppression, Lithuanian national revival didnt see the Jews as allies or brothers and sisters of the same destiny. Thus the period discussed in the thesis - 1883 1940 -is marked with the tensions between the Lithuanians and the Jews as both being national minorities till 1918, and with tensions between the Lithuanians as the owners of the independent state (1918 1940) and national minorities in Lithuanian in which Jews were the largest one. Having suffered quite harsh oppression of the tsarist regime at the beginning of the period discussed in the thesis, the Lithuanians did not have their legal press in Lithuanian, their elite was quite small and weak, and majority of potential Lithuanians were peasants, with almost no education, just manumitted from serfdom, so their self consciousness, not to mention national perception, was quite feeble. However, as almost all of Europe was immersed at that time in to the Spring of Nations, Lithuania followed the path. Some intellectuals realized that Lithuanian way of life should be modernized, first of all by involving more Lithuanians in crafts and commerce. The sphere was yet already occupied and operated by the Jews, which led to the perception that the Lithuanians were derived from any suitable occupation other than agriculture with the dawn of modern époque becoming not the single prestigious occupation and means of self-realization - in their own land. On the other hand, the potential of agricultural economy was diminishing as households were being increasingly divided between inheritors. At this background, Lithuanian intellectuals decided to take actions aiming to waken up Lithuanian peasants from their social immobility and inactivity.
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Naturally, press was one of the most practicable means in spreading their ideas. In 1883, the first Lithuanian newspaperAura launched, initiating the was development of Lithuanian press until Soviet occupation in 1940, when the press was totally reorganized as the tool of Soviet propaganda. On the other hand, the Lithuanian press was free only for several years in the 1920s, and it was clandestine from 1883 to 1904, later on censored and supervised by the tsarist, the German and the Lithuanian authorities themselves, for the reasons ranging from the wartime situation to the nature of Antanas Smetona authoritarian regime. Thus one on the main focuses in this work is to see how the Jewish image and stereotypes changed from 1883 to 1940. Theaim of the thesis is: problematically analyzing the discourse of modern Lithuanian Anti-Semitism from 1883 to 1940;the goals: a) determining what were the epithets, images and stereotypes the Lithuanian Jewish community was being presented by to the readers, and how they alternated during the period, b) finding out if the development of anti-Semitic discourse was influenced by the ideological orientation of the press, c) defining key similarities and differences between different ideological camps in regards to the Jewish question, d) identifying what were the Jewish traits used the most to attract the readers attention to: different religion, race, traditions, morality, professions etc. and how they changed during the period, e) disclosing the main forms of the discourse of modern Lithuanian Anti-Semitism and establishing what has determined this particular phraseology. The concept of anti-Semitism inthe dissertation is based on the following: anti- Semitism refers to (a) discriminating the Jews from other national and religious groups considering them as the main source of evil, (b) blaming the Jewish religion or the race for that, (c) envisaging their powerful conspiracy aiming to dominate and exploit the others, (d) and therefore demanding to isolate the Jews by boycotting them or segregating from the society, unlike the other groups. Methods. The research is based on linguistic (content) and rhetorical analysis of the Lithuanian press in 1883 1940. One of the most important and the most employed method could be called discourse analysis; applying the method means paying much attention to the image of the Jews in the Lithuanian press, the changes of the image and the process of transferring the images into stereotypes. Other methods used are related tomass media analysis: the role of public press in the society, the functions the press
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might play in shaping the readers attitudes towards national groups, the significance of the impact the press has etc. Theories of nationalism were also employed in order to develop the concept of the Lithuanian society in this period; it is obvious that Lithuania became nationalizing country. Chronological frameworkis based on two dates - 1883 and 1940. The first milestone indicates the beginning of the period when the Lithuanian press was published without any significant interruptions. The second date correlates to the history of the Lithuanian press and, even more importantly, with the loss of independence. Starting with the summer of 1940, Lithuania was incorporated into the USSR and the press fell under the Soviet control and censorship, which saw no need to use the press to escalate national conflicts, and the Jewish question, was simply erased from actual field of interest. Historiography.Lithuanian Jewishrelationships in the XIXth XXth centuries was one of the points of interest for the historians, although no independent research was possible up until Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, except for publications in exile. The main statement of the latter, quite strongly built not only on the sources available, but also on personal memories and experience, was that the Lithuanian and the Jewish communities lived in isolation regarding each other. Their only communication was in the field of the daily round, day-to-day commerce etc., and not deeper involvement into mutual understanding. Lithuanian Jews willingly became Lithuanian citizens, but some of them wanted to preserve their Jewish identity, Lithuania being a nationalizing country demanded from national minorities deep involvement into Lithuanian culture and those members of national minorities groups who had more complex identity were seen as non supporters of modern Lithuanian project. After the independence Lithuanian historians began to research Lithuanias Jewish history. Recently not only general or positive aspects of Lithuanian Jewish relationships are being researched, but also some attention is paid and to tensions between these two communities as well as to Lithuanian anti-Semitism. But Lithuanian anti-Semitic discourse and rhetoric was not yet thoroughly examined. There are two major camps in the Jewish historiography: one portrays Lithuania as a quite peaceful country with somewhat mildly expressed Anti-Semitism, no anti-Jewish laws passed and no austere pogroms present. The general idea here is that the first
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Republic of Lithuania was a friendly state for the Jewish minority. The other camp suggests that Lithuanian Anti-Semitism was quite vivid, and Lithuanians took any chance to express their anti-Semitic views and even actions. This interpretation sees Lithuania no different or in any way better than other countries, among those that emerged after the First World War - Poland, Hungary, Romania etc in particular. Lithuanian historiography now is researching tensions between Jews and Lithuanians, such scholars as Liudas Truska, Vygantas Vareikis, Valdas Sirutavičius, or Saulius Suiedmentioned here. On the other hand basic understanding oflis could be Lithuanian anti-Semitism is based on archival or press material research which clearly indicates some anti-Jewish statements. But no deeper methodological or conceptual approach is made, as there are few works trying to combine theoretical approach with sources data, for example implementing some nationalism theories, or theories of modernization and its discontent etc.The work is divided in two major parts: The portrayal of the Lithuanian- Jewish relationship in the period of Lithuanian national revival (1883 1918) and the Lithuanian and Jewish communities in the period of the first Lithuanian Republic: between getting together and antagonism. The research is organised in the problematic-chronological manner, and the content of main Lithuanian newspapers is examined in expansion chapters. The first is earmarked to theAura, where Lithuanian Jewish relationship is touched upon from the very beginning, and the Jews are presented as merchants trying to take advantage of the Lithuanians. This situation should serve as a stimulus for conscious Lithuanians to get more involved in the commerce, the newspaper suggests (this motive can be seen to a larger or smaller extent in all Lithuanian press even till 1940). Inn keeping is another big sin of the Lithuanian Jewish community, the rhetoric claims. Again, the Jew as a host is pictured not only in the Aurabasically in all newspapers until 1894 1896 roughly, when a state, but monopoly on the production and selling of strong drinks - first of all vodka - was introduced and the Jews were in some ways pushed out of the business. However, the new situation soon received another interpretation proving the Jews could use it for their own sake and well being as they usually were some authors were trying to persuade their readers that the Jews were then deceiving not only the Lithuanians but the tsarist
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bureaucracy as well. The Jews, they claimed, were asking Lithuanians to be formal owners of their inns (for certain fee, of course) but the Jews were the actual innkeepers. Generally speaking, the Jews were pictured as trying to mire the Lithuanian nation into alcohol dependence.where one can sell stolen goodsThe inns were allegedly the place to the Jews, and were also the place where the Lithuanians lose their purity and morality. TheAura -first Lithuanian newspaper - did not have clear ideologicalthe program, and ideologically differently orientated authors were publishing their articles in the newspaper. After theAura being published in 1886, other pro-catholic ceased press followed the lead, as they were more organized than the liberals or opposing ideologies in general. Varpas the first newspaper to express liberal standpoint, and one of the chapters was deals with the content of theVarpas. Attention is also paid to the views of Vincas Kudirka, the founder and the chief editor (till his death) of the newspaper. TheVarpaswas publishedby secular intellectuals, and naturally there were tensions between catholic orientated and laicistic press, yet both sides agreed on the Jewish question by sharing the same image and stereotypes of the Jewish population in Lithuania. We should also note, that it was just the beginning of political and ideological division in the public life of Lithuania (expressed through Lithuanian language), and some mixture of ideas and in some way ideologically lost texts, concerning the Jewish question could be found in the newspapers of these opposite ideological camps. For example, the liberalVarpas included publications focused on the Jews stereotyped as the Christ killers, whereas in the catholic-conservative press there were suggestions to solve the Lithuanian- Jewish in a liberal way through radical social reforms, sudden changes in Lithuanian peasant society etc. In other words, the two opposite ideologies were quite combative against each other, but agreed perfectly on the Jewish question. Catholic conservative position was supported by several newspapers, such as Sviesa orApvalga emaiči Lietuvos ir, butTvyns sargas had the biggest impact on the population and was the main opponent to the Varpas. Both newspapers were Anti-Semitic enough, especially in regards to the Jewish stereotype and the image of the Jew, which basically was the same. On the other hand, the newspapers used different strategies of spreading the information about Lithuanian Jewish community:Tvyns sargascontinued quite intensively publishing Anti-Semitic
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articles without any significant changes in their rhetoric and intensity from the very beginning (1896) till the end (1904), whereasVarpas and intensity was rhetoric diverged during its history (1889 1906). At the very beginning,Varpas published quite a lot Anti-Semitic articles, most intensively in 1890 1891 and only then it set the target to unmask the real Jewish face and to permanently write about the Jewish issues, but it was left as a project and unfulfilled promise. As at the same time,Tvyns sargashad set the goal to expose the Jewish villainy towards the Lithuanian society in the very first issue, and fruitfully fulfilled this promise regularly informing the readers about the black deeds of the Jews. HoweverVarpas changed its attitude toward Jewish community and at the eventually end of its existence published more favourable articles about Jews in Lithuania, in some articles even suggesting for Lithuanians to cooperate with Jews, or at least to learn some positive things and manners in commerce and crafts form them. Vincas Kudirka anti-Semitic views are also examined in this chapter trying to understand why and how liberal thinking and having a lot of sentiments to all the suffering from injustice and oppression person on the same time shared anti-Semitic views and besides everything saw Lithuanian Jews as impossible allies in the realization of Lithuanian modern project. Some Lithuanian press and anti-Semitism historians say that article in theVarpaswith the promise to unmask Jews was written by Vincas Kudirka, as well as obvious French anti-Semitism influence is seen in this particular article. On the other hand in Vincas Kudrika critique Jews are not the only criticized group the author is unsatisfied not only with tsarist bureaucracy but also is harshly criticizing and those Lithuanians whom, in the eyes of V. Kudirka, are not putting enough efforts in the process of Lithuania awakening. So generally speaking in V. Kudirkas perspective Jews are only one of the obstacles to create modern Lithuania, but not the only and the core problem. Thats why his anti-Semitism should be seen and interpreted in broader context of his critique of these days Lithuania life. Some crucial point in Lithuanian- Jewish relationship could be seen around 1905, especially in liberal and social-democratic orientated press. As far as conservative press still sees Jewish community as a potential threat and still tries to persuade Lithuanians to have as less contacts as possible with Jewish community in Lithuania. Liberal press tries to present Jews in some different perspective. Around this time Lithuanian
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community from just one of the minorities in tsarist Russia becomes a community with some political aims and programs. One of the possibilities to achieve some pro-Lithuanian goals was elections to Dma. To send there Lithuanian representatives liberal Lithuanian press encouraged its readers to make some coalitions with local Jewish communities and to vote for the same candidates. So on this pragmatic basis some Lithuanian newspapers tried to change Jewish image. Nowadays historians agree that such cooperation was fruitful enough. But later on basically negative image of the Jews circulated in the newspapers. There were several reasons for that. Liberal and social democratic orientated press was not giving any significant advocacy for Lithuanian Jewish community in their press but kept to the position that Lithuanian Jews are and should be acceptable partners in all the spheres, and people from these two camps had quite a lot of contacts with Jewish community and its members. Conservative press even after 1905 remained active in raising Jewish question in Lithuanian society and was trying to show that Jews are problematic minority and they are not supporting Lithuanian goals, they are not understanding them, or simply ignore main national Lithuanian goals and are trying to create a state within a state by asking some more political are cultural autonomy rights for Jewish community etc. So this basically negative image of the Jews was circulating in Lithuanian press even till 1940. One more important thing is that Lithuanian Jewish community for quite a long time was not publishing any newspaper in Lithuanian to publicly present their values, orientation and support for main national and internal goals of Lithuania. Jewish newspaper in Lithuania calledMs garsas published in 1922 1923, than it was stopped. And other newspaperApvalgabegan to publish only in 1935. When a lot of negative Jewish images and stereotypes already circulated in Lithuanian society, so opposite press tried to persuade their readers that Apvalga is not a mean of communication for Lithuanian and Jewish communities, but it is one more cunning project of the Jews to present themselves in a perspective they are not really standing and supporting. One more chapter is dedicated to the images of Jews during first years of independent Lithuania. Again there were different positions and suggestions but Lithuanian Jews became citizens of Lithuania and quite willingly supported Lithuania freedom and aims. Around the same time (first signs could be seen eve earlier around 1909 1914) new
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