Summary of "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" Episode
History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories
Release Date: July 14, 2025

In this compelling episode of History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories, host Rob Attar delves into one of the most pernicious and enduring antisemitic conspiracies: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Joined by Professor Pamela Nadell, Director of the Jewish Studies Program at American University, the discussion unravels the origins, dissemination, and lasting impact of this fabricated document that has fueled hatred and violence against Jews for over a century.

1. Introduction to the Protocols

Rob Attar opens the episode by introducing the topic, emphasizing the deep-seated and destructive nature of the Protocols:

"Theories can take us to some pretty dark places and few more so than the story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion."
[00:31]

Professor Pamela Nadell provides a concise definition:

"The Protocols of the Elders of Zion... imagines an international conspiracy orchestrated by a secret cabal of Jews who are bent on controlling the world."
[01:05]

2. Origins and Creation

The discussion traces the origins of the Protocols, revealing them as a blatant fabrication:

• Publication History: First serialized in a St. Petersburg newspaper in 1903, shortly after the Kishinev pogrom, a violent attack against Jews where 49 were murdered and hundreds injured.
  [03:05]

• Source Material: The Protocols were plagiarized from Maurice Joly's 1864 political satire, "Dialogue in Hell between Machiavelli and Montesquieu," which criticized Napoleon III without any mention of Jews.
  [04:10]

Professor Nadell emphasizes the fraudulent nature:

"It's what we would call today something that was plagiarized."
[05:30]

3. Early Reception and Spread

Initially, the Protocols garnered little attention in Russia. However, the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 served as a catalyst for their widespread dissemination:

• Exile and Propagation: Russian nationalists who fled to Europe and the United States carried the Protocols with them, amplifying their reach.
  [05:38]

• Connection to Bolshevism: Antisemites falsely linked Jews to the Bolshevik movement, despite Jews being a small minority involved in the revolution.
  [06:35]

4. Henry Ford's Role in Popularizing the Protocols

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Henry Ford, the American industrialist, and his contribution to spreading antisemitic ideas:

• Dearborn Independent: In 1920, Ford launched a 91-week series titled "The International Jew," directly republishing parts of the Protocols under headlines like "The International Jew: The World's Foremost Problem."
  [08:25]

• Motivations: While Ford's exact reasons remain unclear, theories include influence from antisemitic educational materials like the McGuffey Readers, personal vendettas, and strategic sensationalism to boost newspaper circulation.
  [11:06]

Rob Attar summarizes Ford's impact:

"The series does exactly what the Protocols did... they are the power behind many a throne."
[10:57]

5. The Protocols and Nazism

The episode explores the influence of the Protocols on Nazi ideology:

• Hitler’s Adoption: Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf echoes themes from the Protocols, such as Jews controlling international finance and aiming to destroy civilization.
  [19:48]

• Admiration for Ford: Hitler admired Henry Ford for his antisemitic stance, indicating a direct line of influence from Ford's publications to Nazi propaganda.
  [20:25]

6. Post-World War II Persistence

Despite being thoroughly debunked, the Protocols persisted after WWII:

• Continued Publication: Organizations like the Christian Nationalist Crusade republished the Protocols, keeping the mythology alive.
  [21:26]

• Global Spread: The Protocols have been disseminated worldwide, including adaptations in the Arab world, Japan, and even found within some corners of the United States government.
  [22:15]

Professor Nadell highlights ongoing availability:

"Today, while it may not be so easy to find an actual hard copy... you can certainly find them everywhere on the web."
[22:15]

7. Modern-Day Antisemitism and the Protocols

The conversation shifts to the current state of antisemitism and how the Protocols continue to influence it:

• Terminology Evolution: Terms like "globalist" and references to figures like George Soros perpetuate the same conspiratorial thinking as the Protocols.
  [27:29]

• Bipartisan Usage: Both right and left-wing groups exploit these old conspiracy theories to serve contemporary political agendas.
  [25:27]

Rob Attar reflects on the resilience of these myths:

"The ideas that underlie both Soros and globalist... are the same as those in the Protocols."
[27:29]

8. Challenges in Combating the Protocols

Addressing why the Protocols remain pervasive despite widespread debunking:

• Resistance to Historical Facts: Antisemites disregard historical evidence, choosing instead to trust media figures who propagate these myths.
  [26:18]

• Modern Platforms: The internet and social media have provided new avenues for spreading the Protocols, making it harder to contain their influence.
  [26:18]

Professor Nadell underscores the difficulty:

"There is no evidence that the Jews do the things that they say in the Protocols... yet they continue to believe them."
[14:22]

9. Concluding Insights

The episode closes with a reflection on the lasting damage of the Protocols:

• Real-World Impact: From fueling the Holocaust to contemporary antisemitic violence, the Protocols have had devastating consequences.
  [27:44]

• Ongoing Vigilance: Historians and educators face the challenge of combating these myths in an increasingly digital and polarized world.
  [26:18]

Professor Nadell emphasizes the severity:

"This is the conspiracy theory that helped fuel the Holocaust."
[27:44]

Final Remarks

The episode concludes with a teaser for the next installment, which will explore conspiracy theories surrounding the Knights Templar. Produced by Jack Bateman, this episode underscores the importance of historical awareness in debunking harmful myths and combating persistent antisemitism.

Notable Quotes:

• Rob Attar:

  "The theories can take us to some pretty dark places and few more so than the story of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion."
  [00:31]

• Professor Pamela Nadell:

  "The Protocols are a fiction... they have been proven to be an outright forgery, an outright fiction."
  [14:22]

• Rob Attar:

  "This is the conspiracy theory that helped fuel the Holocaust."
  [27:44]

This episode serves as a stark reminder of how fabricated narratives can perpetuate hatred and justify atrocities. By dissecting the origins and enduring legacy of the Protocols, History's Greatest Conspiracy Theories not only educates listeners about a specific conspiracy but also highlights the broader dangers of misinformation and bigotry.