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Continued Attacks on Jews in University and Streets: Rector Obtains Word of Honour from Antisemitic

November 9, 1931
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In view of the continued antisemitic violence, the Jewish students have organised a self-defence, which appeared to-day in the University building in order to beat back any further attacks made on Jewish students, says a communique issued to-day by the Club of Jewish Deputies, following a visit of Jewish student representatives to the offices of the Club.

The Self-Defence was organised only for the purpose of beating back actual violence and therefore no heed was taken of insults and abuse from the National Democratic students.

Afterwards, the National Lemocratic students fell upon the Jewish students in the University Hall, but the Rector soon appeared on the scene, and called upon both sides to maintain order, threatening that otherwise he would suspend the autonomy of the University, so that the polices could enter the University building to deal with the rioters. He proposed that both sides should appoint delegations which should go into the questions in dispute and try to arrange a peaceful settlement. The antisemitic students gave the Rector their word of honour that there would be no further violence, and accepting their word, the Rector withdrew, asking all the students to leave the hall.

A few minutes after, however, the Jewish Self-Defence heard cries for help from Jewish students who had been attacked by National Democratic students, heedless of the word of honour they had just given the Rector. When the Rector came back and reminded them of their promise, the National Democratic students attacked him as well, and the Jewish Self-Defence had to protect him.

This morning, National Democratic students also attacked Jewish students at the College of Agriculture.

Jewish students have also been attacked this morning at the Commercial College and the Polytechnic.

The Rector has in consequence suspended the lectures for one day, and has issued a warning that if any further disturbances occur, the courses at these Colleges will be closed down completely.

It is stated that the Rector has announced that if the disturbances continue, the University will be closed indefinitely, and when it is reopened, there will have to be new enrolments, and those students who were guilty of participation in the disturbances will be refused readmission.

The Polish Jewish daily “Nasz Przeglad” states that the National Democratic students marched again late last night through the Jewish streets without any resistance, and the Jewish people in the streets ran away.

The greater part of the Saxon Park was closed to-day, and stronger police patrols were out in the Jewish quarter in the neighbourhood of the Eisentorplatz, because of the fighting which took place there yesterday. At present everything is quiet in the Jewish streets.

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