Leopold von Mildenstein's description of the Arab population in Palestine during his visit in 1933 reveals a perspective influenced by the prevailing prejudices of his time, including some rooted in Nazi ideology:

• Physical and Social Observations: He described the physical condition of some Arab women and children in a derogatory manner, noting the lack of veiling among older women and the hygiene of the children. His comments about the "Arab scents" and the bumpy ride suggest discomfort or disdain for the conditions he encountered.

• Use of Stereotypes: Interestingly, Mildenstein used stereotypes often applied to Jews by antisemites to describe the Arabs he met. He noted the supposed greed of Arab porters in Haifa, the presence of filthy beggars in Jerusalem's Old City, and portrayed the rural Arab population (Fellachen) as living in primitive conditions with homes made from sand-filled gasoline cans. This reflects a tendency to attribute negative traits to groups he considered "other" or inferior, in line with the racial and cultural biases of Nazi ideology.

This account not only shows Mildenstein's personal biases but also how Nazi ideology could project its own prejudices onto different ethnic groups, sometimes using similar derogatory frameworks regardless of the actual cultural or social differences between Jews and Arabs. His observations serve as an example of how racial and cultural stereotypes were employed to justify and propagate a worldview where certain groups were seen as inherently inferior or backwards.

Yes, Leopold von Mildenstein's perspective on Arabs in comparison to Zionist Jews during his visit to Palestine in 1933 aligns with the broader Nazi racial hierarchy. Here's how this view reflects Nazi ideology:

• Racial Hierarchy: Nazi racial theory placed the so-called "Aryan race" at the top, with various other races deemed inferior. Jews were often at the bottom of this hierarchy due to their supposed role in undermining Aryan society. However, within the context of Nazi racial pseudoscience, not all Jews were treated with the same level of hostility in every aspect. Zionists, who were seen as promoting Jewish emigration from Germany, were sometimes viewed with a different lens, especially early in the Nazi regime when policies focused on expulsion rather than extermination.

• Zionist Exceptionalism: Mildenstein's interest in Zionism was partly because it suited Nazi goals of encouraging Jews to leave Germany. Zionists were seen as aiding this policy by promoting Jewish settlement in Palestine. From this perspective, Zionists could be considered "useful" or "constructive" for Nazi purposes, contrasting with the general anti-Semitic views towards Jews.

• Arabs and Non-Aryan Peoples: In Nazi racial theory, Arabs, like other non-Aryan peoples (including Slavs, Romani, and others), were often considered inferior. While early Nazi policies under Hitler aimed at not antagonizing Britain, which controlled Palestine, there was no ideological affinity with Arabs. Instead, they were part of a broader group of peoples deemed racially inferior, although not the primary target of Nazi racial hatred like Jews.

• Political and Strategic Considerations: The Nazis' approach to Arabs was influenced by geopolitical strategy rather than racial theory alone. For instance, during WWII, the Nazis made efforts to win over Arab leaders against their British and French rivals, but this was more about exploiting anti-colonial sentiments than a genuine appreciation of Arabs.

• Cultural and Racial Stereotypes: Mildenstein's descriptions of Arabs with terms that echoed anti-Semitic stereotypes (like dirtiness, backwardness) were not uncommon in Nazi propaganda, where racial and cultural inferiority were conflated. This shows how the Nazis applied their racial biases broadly but with different intensities towards different groups based on political expediency.

Therefore, Mildenstein's view of Arabs as less worthy than Zionist Jews indeed reflects elements of the Nazi racial hierarchy. However, this hierarchy was complex and changed with the political needs of the Third Reich. The Nazis were capable of pragmatic alliances or temporary support for groups they deemed racially inferior if it served their broader geopolitical goals, especially before their policies hardened into the "Final Solution" during WWII.