New Books in Jewish Studies Paula Oppermann, "Thunder Cross: Fascist Antisemitism in Twentieth-Century Latvia" (U Wisconsin Press, 2025)
Oct 29, 2025
Paula Oppermann, a Holocaust historian and researcher at the Historische Kommission, Berlin, discusses her book on the Pērkonkrusts, Latvia’s prominent right-wing party from the 1930s. She explores the party's radical antisemitism, influences from 19th-century nationalism, and public perception, revealing how the movement adapted and persisted despite political changes. Oppermann delves into the tragic events of the 1932 pogrom and the group’s collaboration during the Holocaust, shedding light on the enduring legacy of Latvian fascism and its complex relationship with antisemitism.
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Anti‑Semitism Rooted In Ethnic Nationalism
- Anti-Semitism in Latvia grew from ethnic nationalism and was mainstreamed by respected public figures and media.
- Early nationalist discourse framed Jews as a distinct, disloyal group and later associated them with Bolshevism.
Campus Fraternities Fueled Public Anti‑Jewish Violence
- Universities and student fraternities amplified anti‑Jewish agitation through riots, quotas, and public harassment.
- The 1922 campus expulsions mirror wider European student anti‑Semitic waves and spread transnational influence.
Propaganda Centered On Jewish Scapegoating
- The Ugunskrust magazine focused heavily on Jews and mixed class and Bolshevik tropes to vilify them.
- Quantitative analysis shows articles about Jews outnumbered those about Baltic Germans, contrary to some prior claims.
