Jewish-American soldiers didn’t just fight Nazis in WWII — they endured anti-Semitism

Jewish Telegraphic Agency ^ | April 5, 2018 11:56am | Curt Schleier

[PA Engineer]

GI Jews: Jewish Americans in World War II” begins as many Holocaust documentaries do, with a history of the rise of Hitler and Nazism in Germany mixed with what is now standard archival footage of Brownshirts and Kristallnacht. Throw in interviews with some Jewish celebrities — in this case, Carl Reiner and his friend Mel Brooks wearing his old Army jacket — and it has all the workings of a typical PBS documentary.

But the film, which premieres April 11, on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, quickly takes an unexpected turn. Jewish-American soldiers, the viewer learns, weren’t only fighting Nazis during the war — they had to battle the anti-Semitic prejudice of many of their fellow soldiers.

All told, some 550,000 Jews served in World War II. A few had experienced anti-Semitism at home already in the form of “Gentiles Only” signs, for example, which were found at some public facilities across the country.

[justiceseeker93]

The posted article states that the documentary premieres on April 11. Would anyone know where it will be shown?

[jjotto]

PBS

[Cronos]

Sure. when I was in my teens I read BattleCry, Mila 18, Exodus, QB VII and The Haj

I thoroughly enjoyed them and Battle Cry was my favorite book for years (I've replaced it with "The Code of the Woosters" - I prefer happier fare now)

What has ticked me off is his playing with history. When I moved to Poland 8 years ago I had a little knowledge of the country - mostly incidental knowledge. Since then I read a lot of history books, went to different sites, met a lot of people in Poland, Israel, Germany, France and England who had experienced the war.

in the case of Polish-Jewish history he exaggerated the situation, to put it mildly. When I read Władysław Szpilman (the hero of the Pianist) or Juliusz Tuwim or Janusz Korczak namely Jews who actually lived in Poland I read something else

He was angry with theholocaust (as he had every right and was correct to be), but his writings ended up demonising ordinary Poles.

[SJackson]

A tangentially relevant article you might find interesting.

The Dog Tag Dilemma

It should also be noted that no religion is always an option. During Desert storm many units "suggested" Jewish military not self identify. Dick Cheney ended use of the "suggestion" reiterating it was not DOD policy. As to identification, I recall several nominal Jews who wouldn't attend services for that reason

[PA Engineer]

Thanks for the ping and link. It was relevant.