EXODUS OF JEWS STILL GOES ON

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 October 1950, Page 8

EXODUS OF JEWS STILL GOES ON

People Are Against Jewish Race (By JACK HENRY, Reuters Correspondent in Frankfurt). Germany’s Jewish Community, which numbered about 540,000 before Nazi persecution reduced it to its present estimated 25,000, is expected to become even smaller as more Jews emigrate. Authorities dealing with Jewish questions estimate that only 50 per cent, of German Jews—apart from Jewish displaced persons—intend to remain in the country which caused World Jewry its worst disaster in almost 6000 years of persecutions. About one quarter of the Jews still living in West Germany—there are hardly any in East Germany—are considering emigrating. The rest appear undecided. Since the collapse of the Nazi regime there have been occasional outbursts of violent anti-Jewish hate, but anti-Jewish feeling has not assumed a definite organised form and the number of individuals directly affected would appear, according to authoritative accounts, to be comparatively small. REBIRTH OF RACIAL THEORIES Some observers believe that reviving Nationalism, eagerness to shed responsibility for the war and the prevalent belief that “National honour” can be restored by justifying some of the actions of the Nazi Reich, may create a favourable atmosphere for a rebirth of racial theories. Although Nationalism has usually been associated anti-semitism in this country, West Germany’s post-war Nationalist ana neo-Nationalist parties have not so far openly embraced it. “There is no longer a Jewish problem, so why discuss it?’’ is their argument. “JUSTIFICATIONS” The traditional economic and political ‘ justifications” for anti-semitism, that the Jews are “rich,” influential l n politics, newspapers, films and so on, are no longer important factors. Jewish influence in Government and politics today is virtually nil. As one West German publication, the information letter of the “Frankfurter Hefte,” put it, “anti-semitism in Germany today is nurtured on regurgitations from the past and on the few crumbs of malice, it can elicit from the prevailing feeling against displaced persons. These < are strengthened by beliefs held by some that Germany’s present plight is due to Jewish influence in the United States. As a matter of fact United States Jewry has now replaced the ost juden (East European Jews) in the German anti-semitic faction.” Public opinion polls taken since 1945 reflect the general attitude of “Aryan” Germans towards Jews. The earliest one, taken in 1945, showed that about 20 per cent, of the population agreed with Nazi Jewish policies, 61 per cent, rejected it and 19 per cent, believed that it went ‘‘too far.” In 1946, reports showed that 22 per cent, gave unqualified support to the Hitler policies, an additional 39 per cent, had “racial prejudices,” while only 29 per cent, rejected racialism. According to an American High Commission public opinion survey just published here, 4 per cent, of U.S. zone Germans in March 1948 believed that “some races are inferior,” but by September 1949 this figure had dropped to 34 per cent. The percentage of people who thought the opposite rose from 46 to 56. BANNED IN GERMANY In theory, anti-semitism is banned in Germany. The basic law of the West German Federal Republic as well as the provincial constitutions not only contain provisions granting full equality regardless of race, religion or politics, but also provide penalties for violations. The West German Chancellor, Dr. Konrad Adenauer, and other leading members of his Government and the Opposition, particularly the Socialist leader, Dr. Kurt Schumacher, have regularly condemned antisemitism. Both the Catholic and the Protestant Churches, particularly in the past year, have vigorously condemned anti-Jewish survivals of the Nazi regime and emphasised the Christian population’s responsibility towards its Jewish fellow-citizens. Some newspapers have been specially active in exposing incidents of racial and religious discrimination. Radio 1 stations in all parts of West Germany' have frequently broadcast programmes against anti-semitism. The surviving Jews in Germany live in about 100 gemeinden (communities), the largest being Berlin with about 7000; Frankfurt-on-Main withi 1800; Hamburg with 1300; Munich with 1000; Stuttgart with 1000 and Duesseldorf with 1000. The gemeinde, centre of organised Jewish activity, is incorporated under German Law as a public corporation and enjoys official status. It maintains contact with the provincial ministers of education and represents the religious interests of Jews in relations with the Federal Government. 1