Paul M. Krueger

Nazi Germany issues the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service banning Jews and political dissidents from civil service posts.

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ㅤThe Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service, enacted by the Nazi regime in Germany on April 7, 1933, was an early and significant piece of anti-Semitic and racist legislation. Following closely after Hitler’s rise to power and the Enabling Act, its main goal was to create a “national” and “professional” civil service by dismissing specific groups of tenured civil servants. Primarily targeting individuals of non-Aryan origin, especially those of Jewish descent, the law mandated their retirement. Furthermore, members of the Communist Party and related organizations were to be terminated. The legislation also barred Jews, non-Aryans, and political opponents from holding key positions in education, the judiciary, and government.

ㅤWhile initially aiming for the dismissal of all non-Aryan civil servants, later amendments introduced exemptions for World War I veterans, those employed since August 1914, and individuals who had lost family members in the war. Nevertheless, the law had a profound impact, marking a crucial turning point for German Jewry and leading to the resignation and emigration of prominent figures like Albert Einstein. Beyond targeting non-Aryans, the legislation also sought to remove individuals deemed politically unreliable. The law formally defined Aryan lineage, distinguishing it from non-Aryan, and included provisions for compulsory retirement and the need to prove Aryan ancestry, with subsequent ordinances further implementing and expanding these regulations.