By
– August 30, 2011
Based on extensive German and some British official archival sources as well as published memoirs and studies, this study examines the life, activities, and ideology of the Palestinian religious-political leader, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husaini, focusing on his years in Nazi Germany and eager collaboration with the Nazi regime, intending to gain German support for his political goals to head the Palestinian state and possibly the entire Arab world. The study includes a rich bibliography and an index.
Following a succinct discussion of previous studies on Husaini, Gensicke examines the evolvement of the position of theMufti of Jerusalem under the British Mandate of Palestine, and the growing political role of Husaini in the Palestinian revolts which eventually caused his escape to Iraq, where he was involved in anti-British activities, culminating in the failed 1941 coup. Husaini then fled through Iran to Italy, where he tried to gain Italian support for his political goals. The bulk of the study is devoted to the Mufti’s years in Germany (1941 – 1945) where he met with senior officials, including Hitler, aiming to achieve his political goals through collaboration with the Nazi regime, emphasizing his support for the Nazis’ anti-Semitic policies, viewing Britain, Judaism, and Bolshevism as the main enemies of Germany, the Arab nation, and the Muslim world. The Mufti was active in Nazi propaganda directed to the Middle East and in attempts to establish Muslim units in the German army.
Gensicke also examines Husaini’s activities following World War II, when Britain and France let him evade trial for war crimes, escape to the Middle East, and continue in his political activities, though with less influence than in the 1930’s. The study is well documented, clearly written and adds much hitherto unknown information on the Mufti’s close collaboration with Fascist Italy and especially Nazi Germany.
Following a succinct discussion of previous studies on Husaini, Gensicke examines the evolvement of the position of theMufti of Jerusalem under the British Mandate of Palestine, and the growing political role of Husaini in the Palestinian revolts which eventually caused his escape to Iraq, where he was involved in anti-British activities, culminating in the failed 1941 coup. Husaini then fled through Iran to Italy, where he tried to gain Italian support for his political goals. The bulk of the study is devoted to the Mufti’s years in Germany (1941 – 1945) where he met with senior officials, including Hitler, aiming to achieve his political goals through collaboration with the Nazi regime, emphasizing his support for the Nazis’ anti-Semitic policies, viewing Britain, Judaism, and Bolshevism as the main enemies of Germany, the Arab nation, and the Muslim world. The Mufti was active in Nazi propaganda directed to the Middle East and in attempts to establish Muslim units in the German army.
Gensicke also examines Husaini’s activities following World War II, when Britain and France let him evade trial for war crimes, escape to the Middle East, and continue in his political activities, though with less influence than in the 1930’s. The study is well documented, clearly written and adds much hitherto unknown information on the Mufti’s close collaboration with Fascist Italy and especially Nazi Germany.
Rachel Simon, a librarian at Princeton University, does research on Jews in the modern Middle East and North Africa, with special reference to Libya, Ottoman Empire, women, and education.
