Jews as a Barometer of the National Struggle in Bohemia and Moravia, 1890–1910
Jews as a Barometer of the National Struggle in Bohemia and Moravia, 1890–1910

Summary/Abstract: "This article will examine the pressure Jews in Bohemia and Moravia faced as a result of the Czech-German national conflict and their reaction to it. The fluid Jewish national identities led to Jews being singled-out as a specific group within the population." "During the nineteenth century, modernization and Jewish assimilation brought many Jews to positions where they could shape the culture and politics of the time. In Bohemia and Moravia, where a national struggle between Czechs and Germans unfolded and where the two nationalities often fought over every inch of the social space, the behaviour of every educated, tax-paying person assumed great significance. On the whole, Bohemian and Moravian Jews tended to perform better in the attainment of these two status qualifiers than the average members of the gentile society. This development meant that Jews became seemingly crucial for the outcomes of the national struggle. However, most Jews lacked a firm identification with either of the national groups." With Population statistics for Bohemia and Moravia, 1890–1910.

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