PLIGHT OF JEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23954, 1 November 1939, Page 7

PLIGHT OF JEWS

INDIGNITIES SUFFERED CONDITIONS IN CAMPS INDESCRIBABLE HORRORS (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct. 30. The White Paper dealing with the Nazis’ treatment of their opponents contains a report from the ConsulGeneral at Cologne (Mr Beel). Writing on November 14, he says the antiJewish manifestations on the 11th were very thorough and systematic. He reported: “ There is nervousness amongst the middle-class Germans who, in general, disapprove, but they dare not voice that disapproval. One German woman who did so in a tramcar which runs past my door, was arrested at the first stopping place. I have been more shocked by the cold-blooded manner in which the action was taken than by anything else. Yet I am inclined to think the Fuhrer knows his Germans. Amongst the masses who have nothing at' stake there is observed a certain amount of schadenfreude (joy at the misfortunes of another).” The Consul-General at Frankfurt-on-Main (Mr Smallbones), writing on December 14, relates in detail what happened to a well-educated Jew who was in the trenches in the last war, and had a good business at Frankfurt. His statement corresponds with those of others seized and humiliated during the pogrom. A typical passage in this recital of the indignities suffered before his removal to Buchenwald reads: “ The German guard troops and police now had sport with their charges. They made them kneel down, cross their hands behind their backs, and lean forward until they touched the ground with their foreheads. Those who could not perform this feat were assisted by the guards, who kicked them in the back of the neck. Others were made to run round the building. Some were sick. “At Buchenwald, flogging was ordered for trifling offences, such as not jumping to attention quickly. A rabbi was flogged because he refused to sign his name on the Sabbath. He was then threatened with a second flogging. His spirit was too weak, and he signed. Some died stretched between poles. Those who survived were kicked - back into a shed. Some went mad. They were then chained up and a sack tied round their heads to stifle their shouts.” Indescribable Horrors The Consul-general at Munich (Mr Carvell), reporting on January 5, 1939, on conditions at Dachau, where, according to some estimates. 14,000 Jews were confined, says: "The first day of captivity was apparently one of indescribable horrors, since no released prisoner has been able or willing to speak about it.” Referring to the routine of the camp, he- says prisoners were made to do a great deal of marching ar.d physical exercises and kept standing to attention in thin suits and answering repeated roll calls. Generally speaking, the prisoners were on their feet almost continuously from 5 a.m. until 7 o’clock at night. “Accounts of brutalities are too consistent to have been fabrications. Prisoners have been buffeted and kicked, even beaten and bastinadoed with steel birches.” The Consul from Dresden (Mr Shepherd), reporting on February 2, 1939, on conditions at Buchenwald. says that to the authorities in charge there were two classes, alive or dead, and no consideration was paid to the old or the sick. Revolting Conditions One of the most impressive documents in the White Paper is the calm recital of revolting conditions at Buchenwald by a former prisoner. This was communicated to the Foreign Office on February 18, and its concluding passages indicate that the regular police force, to whom he reported on his release, were shocked at the conduct of this concentration camp, the name of which, he says, strikes terror in the hearts of the people of Germany. The ex-prisoner, who was closely questioned by a group of regular police, says: “ Remembering the threats that had accompanied my departure from the camp. I at first refused to answer. They showed me their identity documents to allay my suspicions, and again urged me to tell them what the conditions at Buchenwald were really like, and they would see that no harm came to me. When I told them things I could see they were so shocked that they could not _ help interrupting me. Such conditions, they said, were revolting and a scandal. Dr Frick and Herr Himmler were responsible, and no one else. They were at pains to impress upon me that they ’ had no control whatsoever over concentration camps, where, in fact, German Guard troops had supreme and exclusive authority.” AUSTRALIAN FORCES THE SECOND DRAFT SYDNEY, Oct. 31. New South Wales has now filled its quota of recruits for the second A.1.F., but recruiting will be continued to provide reserves. The Prime Minister, Mr R. C Menzies, in a national broadcast to soldiers in Australian camps, said the second A.I.F. would probably have to go abroad unless there was a radical alteration in the European situation, or unless developments made such a step inadvisable.