Connection Between Arab Leaders and Nazi Germany

The most prominent figure linking Arab leadership in Palestine to Nazi Germany was Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. His collaboration with the Nazis during World War II amplified anti-Jewish sentiment and drew on ideological parallels between his Islamist-nationalist agenda and Nazi antisemitism. Below are key aspects of this connection:

1.⁠ ⁠Haj Amin al-Husseini’s Nazi Collaboration
- *Background*: Appointed Grand Mufti in 1921, Husseini emerged as a leading Palestinian Arab nationalist, vehemently opposing Zionism and British rule. His role in inciting the 1920, 1921, and 1929 riots established him as a radical figure. During the 1936–1939 Arab Revolt, he led the Arab Higher Committee, advocating violent resistance. [](britannica.com/place/Palestin…)
- Exile and Nazi Alliance:
After being exiled by the British in 1937, Husseini fled to Iraq, where he supported the 1941 pro-Nazi coup. By 1941, he was in Nazi-occupied Europe, meeting Adolf Hitler in Berlin on November 28, 1941. Husseini sought German support to expel Jews from Palestine and prevent the establishment of a Jewish state. In return, he offered Arab support for the Axis powers. [](engelsbergideas.com/notebook/hamas…)
- Propaganda and Recruitment:
Husseini contributed to Nazi propaganda, broadcasting anti-Jewish messages across the Arab world from Berlin. He helped recruit Muslim volunteers for the Waffen-SS, notably the 13th SS Division in the Balkans, which committed atrocities against Jews and others. His rhetoric framed Jews as enemies of Islam, blending Islamist and Nazi antisemitic tropes. [](jcpa.org/article/palest…)
- Post-War Influence: After the war, Husseini escaped prosecution and settled in Egypt, where he was celebrated by Hasan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. His collaboration with al-Banna laid groundwork for later Islamist movements, including Hamas, which emerged as a Muslim Brotherhood offshoot. Husseini’s rejection of the 1947 UN Partition Plan and his call for war against the nascent Jewish state reflected his enduring anti-Jewish stance. [](engelsbergideas.com/notebook/hamas…) 2.⁠ ⁠Ideological Parallels
- Husseini’s antisemitism predated his Nazi ties, rooted in Islamic polemics and nationalist fears of Jewish immigration. His 1937 proclamation demonized Jews as threats to Muslim holy sites, a narrative that echoed Nazi dehumanization of Jews. Historians like Wolfgang Schwanitz and Barry Rubin argue that Husseini’s ideology developed independently but found a natural ally in Nazism, as both sought to eliminate Jewish influence. [](jcpa.org/article/palest…)
- Unlike the Nazis, who viewed Arabs as racially inferior, Husseini framed his alliance as pragmatic, aiming to leverage German military power. However, his propaganda adopted Nazi-style rhetoric, accusing Jews of global conspiracies and justifying violence as a religious duty. (museumoftolerance.com/education/arch…