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<p>This article explores the various ways in which the German Democratic Republic (GDR) positioned itself in relation to Zionism, and the implications of these stances for its political approach toward the State of Israel during the Cold War. In light of the absence of diplomatic relations between the two states, and under the strong influence of Soviet interests in the Middle East, the GDR developed distinctive policies and rhetorical strategies when dealing with Israel. These were shaped not only by Cold War geopolitics but also by the GDR’s self-definition as an antifascist state, as well as by the broader context of German-Jewish history and the notion of coming to terms with the National Socialist past. Drawing on a range of archival sources, the article presents different perspectives within East German institutions on Zionist ideology, Jewish history, and the existence of the State of Israel. This investigation contributes to a broader historical debate on antisemitism in postwar Germany in general, and in the GDR in particular. By reevaluating the GDR’s political discourse on Israel, the article sheds new light on how historical narratives were constructed in the GDR impacted that East German international diplomacy. It also offers new insights into the complex interplay between East German antifascist ideology, critiques of Zionism, and expressions of antisemitism.</p>

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Antisemitism behind the Wall. The Jewish Dilemma in East Germany during the Cold War

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月18日

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  • Jonathan Kaplan

摘要

This article explores the various ways in which the German Democratic Republic (GDR) positioned itself in relation to Zionism, and the implications of these stances for its political approach toward the State of Israel during the Cold War. In light of the absence of diplomatic relations between the two states, and under the strong influence of Soviet interests in the Middle East, the GDR developed distinctive policies and rhetorical strategies when dealing with Israel. These were shaped not only by Cold War geopolitics but also by the GDR’s self-definition as an antifascist state, as well as by the broader context of German-Jewish history and the notion of coming to terms with the National Socialist past. Drawing on a range of archival sources, the article presents different perspectives within East German institutions on Zionist ideology, Jewish history, and the existence of the State of Israel. This investigation contributes to a broader historical debate on antisemitism in postwar Germany in general, and in the GDR in particular. By reevaluating the GDR’s political discourse on Israel, the article sheds new light on how historical narratives were constructed in the GDR impacted that East German international diplomacy. It also offers new insights into the complex interplay between East German antifascist ideology, critiques of Zionism, and expressions of antisemitism.