Of public interest in the public prints in recent weeks has been a discussion pro and con on the suggestion made by Dr. Max Naumann, leader of a small group of so-called National German Jews, an ultra-patriotic body, that Jews join the Nazi movement.
This suggestion has been taken up by some Nazis, whose viewpoint has been published in the “Deutsche Allegemeine Zeitung,” regarded as the organ of Chancellor Franz von Papen.
Notice is also taken of this suggestion by Dr. Ludwig Hollaender, Director of the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith, who writes in the organ of the Union, the “C.-V. Zeitung,” that Jews cannot join the Nazi movement, even though a proportion of its members are not anti-Semitic so long as its authoritative leaders advocate an anti-Semitic policy.
Among the letters published by the “Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung” is one signed by a member of the Nazi party, Clemens Marx, who writes as follows in support of Dr. Naumann’s suggestion :
“It must be made clear that a large section of the National Socialists are not anti-Semites. The great achievements of the Jews are fully recognized. I can confirm my own experience that many National Socialists count Jews among their best friends.
“There is another thing, however, which must also be made clear—that much of the harm done to Germany and the German cause is due to the actions of people who are Semitic. At the same time, Mr. Naumann’s suggestion may open a new road. It would put a stop to the internecine warfare among us Germans, and if he succeeds, and those other Jews, who, thank God, are in a minority, realize also that they live in Germany, earn German money and are protected by Germans, and they act in a way that is in accordance with the interests and the welfare of Germany, then anti-Semitism will surely be restricted to only a small number of fanatics.”
There is a second letter, however, by another Nazi named Ernest Weipler, repudiating any idea of Jews being allowed to join the Nazi Party.
The first essential, he writes, is that a Jew cannot be a German citizen. He must be placed under alien laws. If Germany is not able to provide for her own people, then the aliens must go out. The Jews in Germany should, therefore, be warned to pack up and clear out.
We do not overlook the fact that there are people in the Nazi movement
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
