German firms not having any Jewish employees are now receiving from Nazi headquarters official certificates testifying that they are “pure Aryans”. The certificates, which resemble business licenses, are usually displayed in a prominent place in the offices or stores of the company.
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has secured one of these certificates issued to the Olex gasoline concern which is located in the Martin Luther strasse. The certificate reads as follows:
“The economic-political department of the National Socialist party headquarters testifies that the Olex company has fired all non-Aryan leading employes and is henceforth to be considered Aryan. All authorities may patronize Olex unhesitatingly.”
On the strength of this certificate, Olex has circularized its stations, ordering that while a copy of this certificate is to be kept in each station, nevertheless it is not to be displayed prominently because “we undoubtedly have also many Jewish and other thinking customers who might feel offended if the certificate is prominently displayed.”
The certificate is intended for customers doubting the Aryanism of the firm, according to the instructions to the station managers.
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.
