Trust No Fox on his Green Heath and No Jew on his Oath facts for kids

Trau keinem Fuchs auf grüner Heid und keinem Jud auf seinem Eid (which means Trust No Fox on his Green Heath and No Jew on his Oath) is a children's book. It was written and published in Germany in 1936. This was during a time known as the Third Reich. The book was written by Elvira Bauer, a kindergarten teacher who supported the Nazi ideas. It was illustrated by Philipp Rupprecht, who worked for the Nazi newspaper Der Stürmer.

This book was one of three children's books published by Julius Streicher. The book aimed to teach children, according to the Nazi Party in Germany, about Jewish people. Books like this were used to teach young people in Nazi Germany how to be a citizen of the Third Reich. They spread the ideas and beliefs of the Nazi Party.

Meet the Illustrator

Philipp Rupprecht, often known as ‘Fips’, was a very famous German cartoonist during the Nazi era. He mostly created drawings that were anti-Jewish. Many of his works appeared in the Nazi newspaper Der Stürmer. Rupprecht's drawings often showed Jewish people with exaggerated features. These included very large eyes and lips, hooked noses, and scraggly beards. He also drew them with short arms and long legs. Philipp Rupprecht also illustrated other anti-Jewish children's books. These include Der Giftpilz (by Ernst Hiemer, 1938).

How the Book Came About

The Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler took complete control of Germany's government in 1933. This allowed Hitler to create laws that limited the rights of different groups of people. These laws included anti-Jewish rules, like the Nuremberg Laws in 1935.

After the ‘Reich Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda’ was formed in 1933, the government ordered many anti-Jewish books, newspapers, radio shows, and speeches. Joseph Goebbels, the propaganda minister, said this new ministry would unite the government and the people. The Nazi Party believed that using propaganda could unite the German nation behind their beliefs.

By 1935, Jewish people in Germany had become second-class citizens. This was because of laws passed by the Nazi Party. It was also due to the attitudes of ordinary citizens. There were many boycotts of Jewish businesses throughout the 1930s. This showed the strong anti-Jewish feelings in Germany. Since racism was made legal, people could treat Jewish people unfairly without fear of punishment.

By 1936, the Nazi Party controlled much of people's lives. They had created a state that believed in Nazi policies.

What the Book Teaches

The book Trust No Fox on his Green Heath and No Jew on his Oath is divided into several short sections. Each section tries to teach children negative ideas about Jewish people.

The Father of the Jews is the Devil

In this part, the author, Elvira Bauer, claims that Jewish people work for the devil. She says they can never be trusted. She writes that "The Devil brought them to Germany." She also claims that "like thieves they stole our land." She describes Jewish people as always "cursing and swearing." They are shown with "bent backs and over-sized slippers." This section aimed to teach children what to look for to "recognize" a Jewish person.

Elvira Bauer also describes a "German" person in this section. A German "stands up" and "is a proud young man able to work and fight." This makes Germans seem strong and Jewish people seem weak. The book uses rhymes to make it easier for children to understand these messages.

The Eternal Jew

This section connects anti-Jewish ideas with Christianity. It blames Jewish people for the death of Jesus Christ. It claims that since then, they have "borne a curse" and should be avoided. Jewish people are described as being "everywhere as a pest," like a fox. Children are told to "keep a look out." This part aimed to make children afraid of Jewish people. It told them not to interact with them.

Jewish Names

In this section, Elvira Bauer tries to show children how to identify a Jewish person by their name. She says that Jewish people can be tricky with their names. She claims that even if some names sound German, there are small differences. This was another way the book tried to teach children how to "spot" a Jewish person.

Once a Jew, Always a Jew

This section tells a story about a Jewish person who becomes a Christian. But on a Friday, when Christians traditionally do not eat meat, he eats a goose. He claims that just as he converted, a goose can be converted into a fish. The author's point is that a Jewish person cannot truly become a Christian. They will always remain Jewish. This part aimed to teach children that Jewish people are sneaky and dishonest.

The Cattle Jew

This section claims that Jewish people are greedy. It says they only care about money. It suggests that Jewish people are disloyal to Germans and will always try to cheat them.

The Sabbath

In this section, the author describes Jewish people as lazy. It says that on the Sabbath (their day of rest), they expect Germans to do all the work. It also claims that Jewish people are dishonest and hide their money. This part aimed to teach children that Jewish people are untrustworthy and lazy.

The Jewish Lawyer

This section tells a story about a Jewish lawyer. It claims he took all a farmer's crops and money. The story tries to teach children that a Jewish person will take everything you have. They will not care as long as they get what they want.

The Servant Girl

This section suggests that Jewish men would try to force themselves on German women. It warns that a German woman must never have a relationship with a Jewish man. It claims her body would become "impure." This part reinforced the idea that children should be afraid of Jewish people. It taught that there should be no relationships of any kind with them. This message was similar to the Nuremberg Laws, which were passed shortly before this book was published.

The Jewish Doctor

A Jewish doctor is described as someone who would kill a German to save a Jewish person. Elvira Bauer claims that Jewish people will always go to a bad place after they die. So, the Jewish doctor is trying to stop that. This part was meant to teach children that anything a Jewish person does is bad. It also praises Der Stürmer for its anti-Jewish views. This section also teaches children why they should not buy from Jewish shops. It also explains why there were no Jewish children in schools. The final part of this section shows how wonderful Germany is without Jewish people.

The Führer’s Youth

The last section of the book says that strong German youth should join the Hitler Youth. They should stand together as one nation. On the other hand, Jewish people are told to leave. The book shows pictures of unhappy Jewish people walking under a sign that says "one-way road. Hurry. Hurry. The Jews are our misfortune." The text calls it "what a disgusting picture." This part aimed to teach children that the faster Germany gets rid of Jewish people, the better the country will be. The Nazi Party and Hitler himself believed it was very important to train young Germans for the future. Hitler wanted German youth to be taught about the greatness of the Third Reich. He wanted them to learn how to be a citizen of Germany.

Symbols Used in the Book

Elvira Bauer uses different animals to represent Jewish people throughout the book. The two main animals used are the fox and the crow.

The Fox

In some old stories, the fox represented the devil. In Nazi Germany, foxes were seen as sneaky and clever. This made them fit well into anti-Jewish propaganda. The fox was also thought to carry diseases like rabies. By linking the fox with Jewish people, the book tried to spread the idea that Judaism was a disease. The fox was a very popular symbol in German propaganda. Films like Reynard the Fox and The Jew Animal were made to show this link.

The Crow

The crow was another animal often shown with Jewish people in the book. A crow was sometimes seen as a worker for the Devil. The fact that a crow is shown helping a Jewish person suggests that Jewish people are doing the Devil's work.