Figure 1.--

The NAZIs changed the character of the German fashion and clothing industry forever. The first major action taken against the Jews in Germany was a well planned boycott of German businesses which Propaganda Minister Goebbels announced on April 1, 1933. The NAZIs began the boycott in every city and town at 10:00 AM. Uniformed, often armed Stormtroopers were placed in front of store or business owned by Jews. The boycott was not aimed at the clothing industry specifically, but it was one of the industries most affected. Clients were often stopped from entering. The names of those people who continued buying from Jews was posted in city newspapers. Patronizing Jewish shops became grounds for divorce. Stormtroopers were also placed at the offices of Jewish lawyers and doctors. The NAZIs in May 1933 established the Association of German Aryan Clothing Manufacturers (ADEFA) in Berlin under the Reich Ministry of Economy to oversee the Aryanization of the German fashion industry. The ADEFA label in German clothing certified that the garment had been manufactured "by Aryan hands only." Aryanization was the forced transfer of Jewish-owned businesses to German "Aryan" ownership. The NAZI Aryanization process had two stages. First there was "voluntary" stage, from which Jews were excluded from German economic life. Even during this stage Jewish owners would arrive at their business as simply be told that they no longer were the owners. The compulsory stage that began immediately after Kristallnacht. In this final stage, Jewish-owned businesses that had not already been "Aryanized " were liquidated within a few weeks and transferred to The NAZI government "trustee". Jews who fled Germany had their property confiscated. For the most part, even after World War II, the Jews who survived were never compensated for their business that were taken from them. The exclussion of the Jews had the impact of ending the the fashion prominence of Berlin and Vienna, a prominence that has still not been recovered.

1933 Boycotts

The first major action taken against the Jews in Germany was a well planned boycott of German businesses which Propaganda Minister Goebbels announced on April 1, 1933. The NAZIs began the boycott in every city and town at 10:00 AM. Uniformed, often armed Stormtroopers were placed in front of store or business owned by Jews. The boycott was not aimed at the clothing industry specifically, but it was one of the industries most affected. Clients were often stopped from entering.

Subsequent NAZI Actions

The initial bycotts were widely publicized in the newpapers, but not continued. Most Jews continued doing business, but a steady string of new regulations made it more and more difficult for Jews to do business in Germany. The names of people continuing buying from Jews was posted in city newspapers. Patronizing Jewish shops became grounds for divorce. Stormtroopers were also placed at the offices of Jewish lawyers and doctors. The NAZIs prohibited Party members and government employees from patronizing Jewish-owned shops and stores. Welfare recipients are not permitted to use their food stamps in Jewish stores. The Government in 1935 prohibited newspapers from publishing advertisements for Jewish stores.

Association of German Aryan Clothing Manufacturers (ADEFA)

The NAZIs in May 1933 established the Association of German Aryan Clothing Manufacturers (ADEFA) in Berlin under the Reich Ministry of Economy to oversee the Aryanization of the German fashion industry. The ADEFA label in German clothing certified that the garment had been manufactured "by Aryan hands only."

Aryanization

Aryanization was the forced transfer of Jewish-owned businesses to German "Aryan" ownership. The clothing industry was only one industry subjected to Aryanization, but as Jes were so prominent in the industry, it was one of the most important. The NAZI Aryanization process had two stages.

Voluntary

First there was "voluntary" stage, from which Jews were excluded from German economic life. There ws, however, little real choice open to the Jewish businessmen. Jewish ownerswere "incouraged" to sell their stores and shops. Even during this stage Jewish owners would arrive at their business as simply be told that they no longer were the owners. Many businessmen sold their property at rediculously low prices.

Compulsory

In preperation for the finalstage of Arayanization, Reich Marshal Goring on April 27, 1938, ordered the registration of all Jewish businesses, bank balances, accounts and real estate holdings. About 60-70 percent of Jewish businesses in Germany using this data are liquidated. The compulsory stage began in earnest immediately after Kristallnacht. NAZI Stormtroopers on November 9, 1938, rioted against Jews, destroying Jewish businesses and synagogues and breaking into Jewish homes, stealing valuables and arresting many men. Many of the men arrested were forced to sign over their property. This was Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass"). After Kristallnacht, Jews were forced to pay for damages caused by the NAZI rioters. In the final stage of Arayanization, Jewish-owned businesses that had not already been "Aryanized " were liquidated within a few weeks and transferred to The NAZI government "trustee". Jews who fled Germany had their property confiscated. For the most part, even after World War II, the Jews who survived were never compensated for the business that were taken from them.

Judenrein

The NAZIs in 1939 declared thec clothing industry to be free of Jews (Judenrein). The exclussion of the Jews had the impact of ending the the fashion prominence of Berlin and Vienna, a prominence that has still not been recovered.

Holocaust

The NAZIs by late 1941 had dcided on what they described as the "Final Sollution", the mass killing of Jews. While German Jews no longer had a role in the country's clothing industry, clothing was involved in the Holocaust. The Germans use slave labor in first the gettos they created and then in concentration camps in weaving and dressmaking shops to fabricate uniforms and civilian clothing. The initial mass killings were Polish Jews and after the invasion of the Soviet Union, Rusian Jews. Deportations of German Jews began but were conducted gradually. Beginning in January 1942, German Jews receive no clothing rations and all their warm clothing was confiscated. This followed the military reverses in Russia. Hitler thought the Russians would be defeated before the Winter. When this did not occur, there was a great need for coats and cold weather clothes. THe NAZIS in Summer 1942 forced German Jews turn in suits, blouses, skirts, hats and undergarments as well as all fabric and wool remnants, including the yellow stars that they had been forced to wear. The NAZIS in 1941-42 constructed facilities capable of industrial scale killing in Poland and occupied Russia. Mass deportations and killing of millions of Jews from Poland and other occupied countries at these camps created warehouses full of confiscated property, including clothing, eye glasses, watches, and other valuables.

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Created: March 9, 2002
Last updated: June 9, 2002