Polish and German Jews between Hitler's rise to power and the outbreak of the Second World War

German Jews, who had attained civil equality as early as the late 19th century and whose economic condition was relatively good, had rendered help to Polish Jews suffering from antisemitism and had waged a relentless struggle for their rights. With the Nazi rise to power in 1933, the roles of the two communities were reversed; now the Polish Jews, who had gained civil rights in 1919, had more freedom of action than their German brethren, and could wage a struggle both in Poland against growing antisemitism there, and in the world arena on behalf of German Jews. Dwells on the controversy over the distribution of immigration certificates by the Jewish Agency, since the demand of German Jews for entry permits to Palestine grew drastically after 1933. Dwells, also, on the key role of Polish Jews in the anti-Nazi economic boycott in 1933-35. The boycott brought about a clash of interests between Polish Jews and German Jews who feared a Nazi backlash, and a controversy with the Zionist movement concerning the Transfer Agreement.