A top-down image of a colorful Ludo board game in progress with distinct colored pieces placed on a patterned board, and a single white die near the center.
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Juden Raus (1938)

ByMichail

Juden Raus!

Juden Raus! is a board game that was created by Günther & Co., a game manufacturer based in Dresden, Germany, in 1936. The game was advertised as “entertaining, instructive and solidly constructed”. The game’s equipment includes a pair of dice, a game board, and several game piece figurines with large pointed hats meant to represent Jews. The game’s themes reflect racial hatred, forced deportations, and confiscation of Jewish property. The board shows a walled town, through which players move to round up Jews and deposit them outside the city walls, where a slogan reads “Auf nach Palästina!” (English: “Off to Palestine!”). The winner is the first to remove six people.Although the game was not endorsed by the Nazis (it was seen to trivialize Nazi policies) and contains no Nazi insignia, the casual, cheery tone used in the text accompanying the game reveals how socially acceptable bigotry and antisemitism was at the time. The game was a commercial board game rather than a Nazi propaganda effort. However, it was documented as a “considerable commercial success,” with possibly a million copies of it being sold.

Why is Juden Raus! Popular?

Juden Raus! is significant because it reflects the antisemitic attitudes and policies of Nazi Germany. The game’s themes reflect racial hatred, forced deportations, and confiscation of Jewish property. The game is also significant because it shows how socially acceptable bigotry and antisemitism was at the time. The game is infamous and has become something of a minor legend in the board game community.

Game Components of Juden Raus

  • Game Board:** Depicts a walled town with collection points outside the city walls
  • Game Pieces:** Figurines with large pointed hats representing Jews, and possibly pieces depicting German police officers
  • Dice:** Used for determining movement
  • Text and Imagery:** Crude antisemitic stereotypes and slogans like “Auf nach Palästina!” (Off to Palestine!)

    How To Setup Juden Raus

    To set up the game, players place their pieces within the walled town on the game board. Each player has a set of dice and the objective is clear from the start: collect and deport the Jewish figures.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Roll-and-Move:** Players roll dice to determine how many spaces they can move.
  • Collection:** Players aim to collect six Jewish figures and move them to the collection points outside the city walls.
  • Objective:** The first player to deport six Jewish figures wins the game.
  • Additional Mechanics:** The game includes slogans and instructions that reflect racial hatred and forced deportations.

    Player Experience

    Playing **Juden Raus** is a sobering experience, highlighting how deeply antisemitism was ingrained in German society during the 1930s. The game’s casual, cheery tone contrasts starkly with its sinister themes, making it a chilling reminder of the banality of evil. Despite its commercial nature, the game was criticized by the SS for trivializing Nazi policies.

    Pros

  • Historical Significance:** It serves as a powerful educational tool about the depths of antisemitism during the Nazi era.
  • Rare Artifact:** Only a few copies exist, making it a unique historical artifact.

    Cons

  • Antisemitic Content:** The game promotes crude antisemitic stereotypes and imagery.
  • Trivialization of Atrocities:** It trivializes the systematic persecution and deportation of Jews.
  • Limited Acceptance:** Even within Nazi Germany, the game was not well-received due to its trivialization of Nazi policies.

    Personal Thoughts on Juden Raus

    **Juden Raus** is not a game for entertainment; it is a historical relic that serves as a stark warning about the dangers of racism and the trivialization of atrocities. It is a reminder of how hate can be normalized and commercialized, and it should be studied and displayed with caution and context, primarily in educational and historical settings. This game is certainly not for casual gamers but rather for those interested in understanding the darker aspects of human history and the propaganda mechanisms of the Nazi regime.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl