Italy’s History of Jewish Persecution—Written Anew

Abstract

Was Italy also a country of anti-Semitism and Jewish persecution? The precise research results of this essay volume sweep away the difference between the two fascist systems in Europe of the 20th century, a theme that research has come to adore. The authors do not seek to equate National Socialism and fascism. And yet the non-threatening image of a people who are Jewish friendly and who stand in solidarity against a lax bureaucracy, an image perpetuated by Renzo De Felice, can no longer stand the test. The researchers not only focus on the years of Jewish legislations in Italy after 1938 but also examine findings on the unholy tradition of Catholic anti-Judaism in the Middle Ages to contemporary Italy. They sharpen their thesis through their specific examination of the situation of female Jews. They introduce select important female representatives and present literary experiences from the camps.