German Jewry today was faced with a most perplexing dilemma by the announcement of Propaganda Minister Paul Joseph Goebbels that a gigantic campaign will be opened immediately to induce all Germans to vote yes in the “free plebiscite” to be held on Aug. 19, to ratify Adolf Hitler’s seizure of the Reichspresident’s office and its combination with the office of Chancellor.
Propaganda Minister Goebbels announced that all who abstain from voting in the “free plebiscite” will be rounded up by special Nazi squads, since a 100 per cent poll is desired.
Jews, therefore, will hardly be able to refrain from voting unless it is announced that Jewish votes are not desired, a step which observers believe possible. Every Jewish citizen of Germany therefore will be compelled to vote for Hitler, especially in the smaller towns and villages, where the Jews are closely watched by local Nazi organizations.
The plebiscite campaign between now and Aug. 19 opens an avenue for a renewal of the anti-Semitic propaganda which featured all previous Nazi election campaigns.
The Propaganda Minister also announced that every device will be used for covering the country in the plebiscite campaign, including 200,000 loud speakers distributed all over Germany, leaflets, meetings and the use of the storm troopers and the Hitler youth organizations to carry the Nazi “message” to every part of Germany.
In some quarters a prediction was made that Hitler will shortly place himself on the throne of the Reich, vacant since 1918, when the Kaiser fled the country. As the basis for this forecast, it was explained that the ballot will mention no restriction on the Nazi chieftain’s terms as unchallenged ruler.
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.
