Forms and Transformations of Antisemitism among British Political Elites during World War Two

Great Britain had to deal with a number of issues linked to European Jewry during World War II. Many Jewish refugees, seeking asylum from Nazi persecution, were trying to get to the country, creating the danger of triggering a wave of antisemitism in British society. Furthermore, members of the Government were compelled to react to news of the systematic killing of Jews by the Nazi regime. Nevertheless, anti- Jewish sentiment was present among British political elites even in this difficult situation. The aim of this thesis, therefore, is to examine manifestations of antisemitism among British politicians during World War II and to ascertain whether their antisemitic views could have affected their policy-making and whether this anti- Semitism was somehow specific