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Warning Against the Jews

Martin Luther · 1546

Martin Luther's 1546 tract, one of his last major writings, expressing hostile and antisemitic views toward Jewish people.

This is one of Luther's own writings, revealing the antisemitic views he held near the end of his life.

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Source: Wikisource

About this source

What it is

This is a written tract by Martin Luther from 1546, one of his final major works before his death. It addresses Jewish people living among Christians and urges harsh treatment of them.

Why it matters

This document is an important source for understanding the darker side of Luther's legacy. It shows that the reformer, celebrated for challenging church authority, also held and promoted deeply prejudiced and harmful views that caused real suffering and were later used to justify persecution.

Look closer

  • Why is it important to study the negative parts of a historical figure's writings, not just their famous achievements?
  • What language does Luther use here, and how does it differ from his earlier writings?
  • How have these views been used historically, and why does that matter today?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Martin Luther on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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