The Butcher's Tale: Murder and Anti-Semitism in a German Town

“Argue as much as you like and about whatever you like, but obey!”

Philosopher Immanuel Kant’s characterization of the Prussian political mindset. The Prussian government was “monarchial constitutionalism,” a semi-democratic model of rule. The Kaiser, the chancellor, and the parliament all depended on each other to govern Prussia; yet ultimately the chancellor answered to the Kaiser, not to the parliament. This form of government forms the background to the Wilhelmine period of German history reflected in the book.

“Sometimes, as we know, antisemitism remains abstract. In earlier eras, as well as today, people talked about ‘the Jews.’ In Konitz, however, antisemitism became painfully concrete, as Christians denounced the Jews they knew.”

Smith presents the story of Konitz as a case study of antisemitism in action. The murder of Ernst Winter brought latent antisemitism out into the open, wreaking havoc on the lives of many Jews.

“Because of the nearly complete lack of blood, it is to be assumed that death occurred through loss of blood brought about by a cut throat.”

This is the conclusion of the two medical doctors who conduct the autopsy on Winter’s corpse (his head still missing). Both the doctors are “forensic amateurs.” After the head is discovered, new theories come to light. The fact that blood was drained from the corpse adds fuel to the antisemitic tale of ritual murder, focused on obtaining Christian blood.

“For three months the population has been roused against the Jews with all the weapons of fanaticism. Many really believe that they are doing a good deed and protecting their children from the fate of Winter if they beat a Jew to death.”

Stated by the county official Baron von Zedlitz in a letter to the Prussian minister of the interior reporting the facts on the ground at Konitz. It is a strong statement of the opposing view to the antisemitism of the townspeople. Zedlitz thinks the ritual murder tale “ridiculous” and the people animated by fanaticism.

“It is not to be condoned that a great number of people are, as a result [of the murder], being misguided into harassing Jewish citizens and their religious authorities.”

Georg Deditius, the mayor of Konitz, includes this statement in a public warning to the townspeople in the wake of antisemitic demonstrations. Deditius is, along with Zedlitz and Braun, one of the forces opposed to the antisemitic reactions of the locals.

“For the excited crowds throughout the region looking for someone to punish, all of this—the rumors, the head, the news of Israelski’s arrest—would suffice. They now took matters into their own hands and went after the Jews.”

This quote suggests the violence and irrational nature of mob action. Antisemites in Konitz mistrusted the law forces as being on the side of the Jews and believed they had the right to take the law into their own hands.

“For this money, I still have cautious optimism that among the Jews there will be a traitor.”

The statement of an unidentified state official after a sizable reward is offered by the Prussian state for information about Winter’s murder. The quote expresses the traditional antisemitic belief about Jews being greedy and obsessed with money.

“The Jews are our misfortune.”

An early expression of overt antisemitic sentiment, written by the historian Heinrich von Treitschke in the 1870s. It conveys the extent to which German statesmen would blame Germany’s social ills on the Jews.

“Hruza was murdered by a society that lives among us for the sole object of taking our blood from us.”

The murder of Agnes Hruza was a notable precursor to the Konitz case, and this quote from a prosecutor in the case shows the extent to which the blood myth had permeated law courts and respectable society.

“Whoever Braun arrests is the one who committed the murder.”

Inspector Johann Braun’s reputed motto, expressing his self-confidence as a crime solver. Braun arrives from Berlin with over 30 years’ experience in murder investigation and is opposed to the theory of ritual murder. His inquiries initially focus on Hoffmann.

“The Jews need a Christian butcher on whom to pin their own guilt.”

Part of Hoffmann’s petition proclaiming his innocence of the murder. Hoffmann then implies that the police are being fooled by “Jewish machinations.” The idea that the police were in “the pockets” of the Jews or otherwise biased against the Christians was commonly voiced during the Konitz case.

“You can save an honorable man from prison; the butcher Gustav Hoffmann has been arrested. You can save him.”

Journalist Wilhelm Bruhn reportedly tells this to Masloff during a meeting at a local pub in order to persuade him to testify against Lewy. Bruhn brings about a crucial turning point in the case by bringing Masloff in as a witness, thus deflecting guilt away from Hoffmann.

“Once Abraham brought his only son to sacrifice. How many thousands have been brought to you as sacrifice now.”

These lines come from a Hebrew elegy written at the time of a massacre of Jews in 1298 by a leader named Rintfleisch, who may have been either a knight or a butcher. The massacre was the result of an alleged desecration of the eucharistic host by the Jews. The quote alludes to the story of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son Isaac in Genesis 22. Although rooted in a particular moment of medieval antisemitism, the line could be extended to apply to the global history of antisemitism.

“The people make an image, a few pieces of which they themselves experienced, then they gradually work themselves into the image.”

This quote from Judge Brixus expresses succinctly Smith’s psychological theory of collective narrative as it applies to anti-Jewish denunciations (see Themes). Brixus was a state judge who handled a case of supposed ritual murder in the German city of Xanten, which resulted in widespread anti-Jewish violence.

“Wait until the next time, when we’re both alone, I’m going to make sure that your lights are knocked out for good.”

These words are allegedly spoken by a butcher apprentice of Hoffmann’s to Winter, referring to his seductions of Christian and Jewish girls around town. As a piece of evidence, it is significant in that it seems to point a finger back at the house of Hoffmann rather than at the Jewish community (145). It also corroborates Winter’s rampant sexual activity and suggests this may have been the motive of the murder.

“For it was the rejection of the possibility of human solidarity with strangers—the critical as well as moral presupposition of civil society—that the National Socialist regime made into the foundation for its existence.”

Smith characterizes the events in Konitz as a breakdown in human trust and solidarity, with Christian townsfolk targeting their close neighbors, the Jews, for denunciation. In this the denunciations resemble such other historical phenomena as the witch trials and the totalitarian persecutions of the 20th century. The Nazis further exploited this breakdown in human relationships.

“A consuming fire; he [Yahweh] will destroy them, he will subjugate them before you/so that you can dispossess them.”

Smith cites this biblical quote from Deuteronomy to suggest the symbolic value of fire as it was used to destroy Jews and their homes and synagogues. Archetypally, fire purges what is perceived as bad or evil, purifies, and eliminates religious difference.

“Not the Jews but their Christian neighbors performed the ritual murder.”

Smith poses this “reversal” as the key to understanding the events in Konitz. Christian townspeople accused Jews falsely of committing ritual murder, but their violence and brutality toward the Jews constituted the true ritual act—a reenactment of centuries-old antisemitic hatred.

“There are in fact many upstanding people (who are not antisemites) in our area […]. Of course, they are silent now.”

This statement comes from a liberal newspaper founded by Dr. Paul Petras after the Konitz case dedicated to “impartiality” and being “free from hatred.” It points to the new “normalcy” of antisemitism in the wake of the case, yet also to the existence of people who deviate from that norm.

“Good, home-cooked meals, refreshing drinks, comfortable beds and lodging free of Jews.”

This advertisement appears in The Golden Lion, a local tavern, and expresses the communal complicity and the now casual tone of antisemitism in Konitz after the case concludes.

“Against the task of tracking down the circumstances of the murder, the concern about possible unrest in the population must be put into the background.”

Inspector Lautz makes this statement in an effort to restart the investigation in 1901. He suspects that Hoffmann may have committed the murder and wants to persuade the police to reconsider this possibility, putting aside any possible violent repercussions that may result. The quote shows Lautz’s desire to get at the truth at any cost.

“We are doomed to be forever hailing someone who has just gone around the corner and out of earshot.”

Smith presents this quote from the historian Simon Schama, which speaks to the elusiveness of the historian’s task of finding out things that often can never be known with certainty. Smith evokes this quote in light of the impossibility of ever finding out who really committed the Winter murder.

“With few exceptions, the people are convinced that the suspicion of the Jews is unfounded.”

This statement from a newspaper report is made in 1904, by which time the tide is beginning to shift in the public opinion about the case: “The conviction among Germans that the Jews had murdered Ernst Winter began to ebb” (210). The Kaiser pardons Moritz Lewy, who returns home without incident, a sign that antisemitic passions regarding the case have cooled.