Wolfgang Benz, an 83-year-old historian, is well-known for his significant contributions to the study of anti-Semitism in Germany. He has penned several books on the subject, including an eight-part authoritative series and others targeting broader readership.
His insightful analysis of 17 historical regional studies in his 1991 book, Dimensions of Genocide, helped solidify the Holocaust death toll at between 5.29 and 6.1 million. However, after years of helping shape Germany’s understanding and memorialisation of the Nazi era, Benz feels belittled, expressing his frustration that his work seems to have been fruitless.
Especially troubling for him is the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attacks, which he believes has further polarised a tense public discussion in Germany around Israel. He suspects that political figures are using an illusion created by select groups of a sudden surge in anti-Semitism as leverage.
In reflecting on the tragedy of the Holocaust, Benz views current anti-Semitism in the country as lamentable, and contests the consistent claim of its increase. While he dramatically condemns October’s malicious terrorist assaults, he shows compassion for the majority of Palestinian civilians whose lives have been obliterated by counterattacks, with many living in fear and destitution.
Benz suggests that expressing such perspectives publicly in Germany is heavily impacted by certain affiliations to Israel. He feels there’s a growing concept among Germans that any criticism of Israel’s government or armed forces is swiftly labelled as anti-Semitism, something people want to avoid.
His comments have been unsettling for many in Germany’s Jewish community, particularly in the wake of the October attacks which have heightened their fear and insecurity. As corroborated by a December survey conducted by the Central Council of Jews in Germany, approximately 80 per cent of 105 Jewish communities reported feeling less safe since October 7th, with numerous incidents of intimidation and anti-Jewish vandalism taking place.
Based on records from Germany’s federal crime unit, there were 2,249 anti-Semitic misdemeanours between October and January, a figure almost identical to the average 2,400 incidents reported per year over the previous two years. Despite rising concerns from Jewish leaders and German politicians about an increase in anti-Semitism, Benz argues that such influxes are predictable in the aftermath of intense occurrences involving Israel. He underscores that these incidents do not necessarily signify a long-term spike in anti-Semitism. Demoscopic studies, he points out, suggest the contrary with a biennial study from Leipzig revealing a reduction in anti-Semitic beliefs from 9.5% to 3.2% of the populace between 2002 and 2022.
A survey conducted by Forsa for Stern magazine last December uncovered that the number of German individuals who concurred with the statement, “Jews have too great a sway globally,” dwindled to 14% from 28% when the question was last raised in 2003. This finding was mirrored by a Berlin-specific survey from December 2023 where 15% supported the same claim.
Yet, the report authors also flagged a concerning trend: even in multicultural Berlin, 20% of survey participants aired views that could be deemed “anti-Muslim”, with a further 48% expressing strong “anti-Islam” sentiments. Benz has previously argued that combating anti-Semitism in Germany will require a broader strategy, one that encompasses research, education and campaigns targeted at countering discrimination against all minorities.
Benz has faced substantial criticism for his insistence on not prioritising one minority over another. His opponents argue that anti-Semitism is distinct and should be confronted as such, with some even suggesting that Benz is trivialising the Holocaust. Benz disputes this claim but he acknowledges growing resistance since October 7th. He has even been disinvited from two recent anti-Semitism events, prompting him to question if Germans have truly absorbed the lessons of their past.
He noted that, “methods that were once commonplace are now being employed to stigmatize another minority – Muslims – and depict them as a threat because of their faith.”
Even though Benz has been retired for over a decade, he remains proactive in the publishing realm, proving that his age is no hurdle. His work earns the support of emerging professionals within the same sphere, like Peter Ulrich, a sociologist. Ulrich, who recently co-wrote and co-edited the book entitled ‘What is anti-Semitism?’, claims that the discourse surrounding this topic in Germany is becoming unduly impassioned and reductive.
Ulrich points out that the bulk of the discussion is focussed on Israel, while the rampant extreme-right anti-Semitism in Germany, which is quantitively the more significant issue, receives scarce attention.
Having had an extensive career, Benz asserts that he has no need for validation. He is not as much perturbed by the personal criticism he faces as he is by those who choose to deny the prevailing prejudiced behaviours in modern-day Germany.