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Date: May 17, 2025
Introduction
The "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" is one of the most infamous Anti-Jewish hoaxes in history, a fabricated document that falsely claims a Jewish conspiracy to control the world. Despite being debunked over a century ago, this lie continues to fuel hatred. In this blog, we’ll dive into the origins of this forgery, highlight a shocking admission from Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels himself, and arm you with the facts to refute this myth once and for all.
The Origins of a Lie
First published in 1903 in Imperial Russia, the Protocols were presented as the minutes of a secret meeting of Jewish leaders plotting global domination. In reality, the document was a fabrication by the Russian secret police (Okhrana) to incite anti-Jewish violence during a time of political unrest. The text was largely plagiarized from a 1864 French satire by Maurice Joly, Dialogue in Hell Between Machiavelli and Montesquieu, which had nothing to do with Jews, and Hermann Goedsche’s 1868 novel Biarritz. By 1921, journalist Philip Graves exposed this plagiarism in The Times (London), proving the Protocols were a fraud. Courts in Switzerland (1935) and South Africa (1934) later banned its distribution, labeling it “ridiculous nonsense.”
Yet, the Protocols spread like wildfire, translated into multiple languages and embraced by Anti-Jewish groups worldwide. In Nazi Germany, the document became a cornerstone of propaganda, used to justify horrific persecution, including the Holocaust. But here’s a critical fact even some Nazis couldn’t ignore: the Protocols were a forgery, and one of their top leaders knew it.
Joseph Goebbels’ Admission: Even Nazis Knew It Was Fake
Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, privately admitted the Protocols were not genuine. In his diary, he wrote, “I believe that The Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion are a forgery… [However,] I believe in the intrinsic but not the factual truth of the Protocols.” This chilling statement reveals the cynical truth: Goebbels and other Nazis didn’t care about the document’s authenticity. They used it as a tool to spread hatred, regardless of its falsity. This admission is documented in Steven Jacobs and Mark Weitzman’s book Dismantling the Big Lie: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (2003, Simon Wiesenthal Center), a must-read for understanding how this hoax was weaponized.
Goebbels’ acknowledgment is a powerful weapon against anyone who tries to defend the Protocols. If one of the architects of Nazi propaganda admitted it was a forgery, how can modern extremists claim it holds any truth? This alone dismantles their narrative, exposing their reliance on lies to fuel hate against Jews.
Debunking the Protocols: Key Facts to Know
To counter the Protocols and those who still peddle its myths, here are essential points to remember:
For a deeper dive, check out the Holocaust Encyclopedia’s article “An Antisemitic Conspiracy: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” or Dismantling the Big Lie by Jacobs and Weitzman, both rigorously researched and accessible.
Why This Matters Today
While the Protocols may seem like a relic of the past, their legacy lives on in modern conspiracy theories, from “Zionist Occupation Government” (ZOG) myths to vague claims of “globalist” control. By understanding the Protocols’ history and the Nazis’ own doubts about their authenticity, we can better recognize and challenge these narratives today.
Call to Action
Don’t let lies like the Protocols go unchallenged. Share this blog, read the sources, and call out Anti-Jewish myths when you see them. If someone brings up the Protocols, hit them with Goebbels’ own words: even he knew it was a forgery.
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