April 1, 1933, SA members standing outside of a Jewish-owned store in Berlin during the boycott against Jewish businesses

The boycott of April 1, 1933 against the Jews was the first nationwide act carried out by the Nazis against Germany’s Jews after rising to power some two months beforehand. The boycott was announced as a Nazi response to the “horrible propaganda” spread by world Jewry against the Nazi regime. Groups of uniformed Nazis, some armed with rifles, stood outside of Jewish-owned businesses and tried to prevent customers from entering. During the boycott there were many cases of looting and some Jewish storeowners were physically harmed as well. However, since the boycott only lasted for one day, its influence was relatively limited. In addition, it took place on a Saturday, when many of the Jewish storeowners would not have opened for business even if the boycott had not been carried out.

The boycott was the first step in the process of destabilizing the economic foundations of German Jewry. A week after the boycott the first national laws were passed against the Jews, aimed at removing the Jews from the public service. Later on most German Jews were removed from their jobs and occupations.

Yad Vashem Photo Archives 4613/298