Iraqi Farhud
Baghdad’s Jewish community, dating back to Babylonian times, faced a devastating pogrom in June 1941. Approximately 180 Jews died in violence fueled by Nazi propaganda and rising Arab nationalism during World War II. Hundreds of Jewish homes and businesses were looted or destroyed in attacks that shattered centuries of coexistence. German Arabic-language radio broadcasts had inflamed local antisemitism for years. This violence marked the beginning of the end for Iraq’s ancient Jewish population, showing how quickly established communities can become vulnerable.
