Jewish Cattle Traders in the German Countryside, 1919–1939

"Stefanie Fischer's book is a model of creative and nuanced history writing. Relying on an impressive body of hitherto unknown primary sources, Fischer shows that midst in the exploding violent Antisemitism of the Third Reich trust relationships between Jewish cattle dealers and non-Jewish customers never ceased. Her book is a milestone in the historiography of Jewish life in the German countryside, an enormously stimulating study—a must-read for all students of modern German history, Jewish history, and Holocaust history."

~Thomas Kühne, Strassler Professor of Holocaust History at Clark University

"Persuasively argued and based on meticulous research this book is a must-read for anyone interested in Jewish history, the history of Antisemitism and the economic history of twentieth- century Germany. Unlike most studies, it focuses on a rural area and provides the first in-depth analysis of relations between Jewish cattle traders and their clients, mostly Christian peasants. Combining a mastery of a wide range of sources with great theoretical sophistication, the book offers a thought-provoking analysis of how bonds of trust are made and unmade, how prejudices and violence are checked and unleashed. It is a major achievement that will shape scholarship for years to come."

~Till van Rahden, Université de Montréal

"Stefanie Fischer's scholarship is both striking and convincing. She insightfully shows the everyday life in Nazi Germany as well as the will to survive. By operating with the category of trust she has introduced a key term to historiography. This is a highly innovative, outstanding study of Jewish life in the Third Reich."

~Michael Wildt, Humboldt University of Berlin

"Stefanie Fischer's study sheds light on a little known aspect of German-Jewish and German history, the story of rural Jewish cattle dealers, including their business and social relationships with their customers and neighbors. Using archival sources as well as interviews with the children of Jews and non-Jews, she demonstrates how these relationships worked, but also how they deteriorated and could include violence after 1932. This is an important analysis of economic and social history that offers penetrating insights into the relationships in the German countryside."

~Marion Kaplan, Skirball Professor of Modern Jewish History, New York University

"Jewish Cattle Traders in the German Countryside, 1919–1939 offers much more than the history of the destruction of the Jewish cattle dealers in one specific region. By using archival material from various different archives, family estates as well as interviews, Stefanie Fischer's research draws a very complex picture of the interaction between Jews and non-Jews in the countryside. The result is a piece of historiography which will set new standards."

~Wolfgang Benz, Emeritus Director of the Center for Research on Antisemitism, Technical University of Berlin