The Jewish Population of the Czech Lands and Emigration: The Causes, Argumentation, and Consequences (Years 1918–1939). On Jewish Migration in the 20th Century Cover Image

Židovské obyvatelstvo českých zemí a emigrace: Příčiny, argumentace, důsledky (léta 1918–1939). K problematice židovských migrací ve 20. století
The Jewish Population of the Czech Lands and Emigration: The Causes, Argumentation, and Consequences (Years 1918–1939). On Jewish Migration in the 20th Century

Author(s): Blanka Soukupová
Subject(s): Social history, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), Migration Studies, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies
Published by: Ústav etnológie a sociálnej antropológie Slovenskej akadémie vied
Keywords: emigration; Jews; Czech Lands; twentieth century;

Summary/Abstract: During the restless 20th century, Jews from the Czech lands repeatedly faced emigration. While it was their voluntary choice during the period of the first Czechoslovak Republic until the second half of the 1930s, concerning mainly Zionists (national Jews who left for Palestine as pioneers), the emigration from respected Czechoslovakia in the course of the next years was a response to the worsening political, economic, and social possibilities. After World War II, the community faced two emigration waves (from 1945 to 1948 and after 1968). The choice after the defeat of the Prague Spring can be considered an individual decision caused by the contemporary political and social situation. The study focuses not only on the nature of these emigration waves, but mainly on an analysis of the debates on emigration conducted within the structured Jewish community. The said opinions were presented not only within Jewish, but also within Czech society where emigrants were no longer considered part of the nation, especially after the February coup. The analysis also covers the structured relationship between those who left for abroad and the ones who stayed at home.

  • Issue Year: 70/2022
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 16-30
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Czech