Anti-Semitism is the hatred and discrimination of those of Jewish heritage. It is usually linked to the Holocaust, but Helmut Walser Smith's book The Butcher's Tale shows the rise of anti-Semitism from popular effect. Smith uses newspapers, court decisions, and written accounts to write the history and growth of anti-Semitism in a small German town. The book focuses on how anti-Semitism spread through fear-mongering, class conflict, and also the role of government. On March 11, 1900, in a German town called Konitz, the severed parts of the human body were discovered. Almost immediately, the blame fell on the Jews. As Smith points out, anti-Semitism was in steady decline and anti-Semites were looking for ways to revitalize the movement. This murder was an opportunity for anti-Semites to relaunch their movement. After the identity of the body was discovered to be that of Ernst Winter, the Staatsburgerzeitung, an anti-Semitic newspaper, published several articles focusing on Konitz. Using unverified testimonies from townspeople, he claimed that the murder was a ritual murder carried out by Jews. The use of alarmism was emotional because the newspaper was based in Berlin, so circulation was wide and news of the murder traveled far. A crucial facet of the rise in anti-Semitism is due to anti-Semitic newspapers picking up articles such as the murder of Ernst Winter and using them to promote their cause. One of Smith's sources, the Preuβische Jahrbṻcher, had a printed article written by Heinrich von Treitschke who was a historian; in which one of his quotes was "The Jews are our misfortune." His article was what later caused the German population to turn away from liberalism and...... middle of paper......Wolf Israelski. Using sources like the Staatsburgerzeitung provides a unique perspective because they were reporting as soon as these events were happening. They offer the public's direct opinion and constitute first-hand accounts. In conclusion, helped by newspapers capable of disseminating information throughout the country, the anti-Semitism movement grew. This is largely due to a grassroots effect that grew from small towns and spread across the country. Although the government played a role, for the most part it only reacted to what was happening rather than instigating it. The Butcher's Tale is unique because it shows the bottom-up effect of anti-Semitism versus the subsequent top-down effect that causes what is today known as the Holocaust.BibliographySmith, Helmut Walser. The Butcher's Tale. New York and London: Norton WW Norton & Company. 2002.