ABSTRACT
The antisemitism controversy began in November 1879 with Heinrich von Treitschke’s article in the Preussische Jahrbücher descrying the Jews failure to integrate into German society. Treitschke was a significant voice for the antisemitic movement because he was considered the most authoritative German historian of his generation. This chapter then considers some of the first Jewish reactions to Treitschke’s article: articles by Seligman Meyer, Ludwig Philippson, Manuel Joel, and Heinrich Graetz. Treitschke was attacked as a secret antisemite whose evasiveness concealed his hostile sentiments. The chapter concludes by considering the vicious dispute between Treitschke, Graetz, and his reformist colleagues.
