informed sources said today that 400 Jewish physicians from Austria have been drafted for service as “doctors’ assistants” in the army medical corps because of its understaffed condition.
At the same time, it was rumored that Jewish youths and veterans are being conscripted for service in unidentified branches of the army. such conscription, it is pointed out here, was provided by the Reich military law of 1935 which specified that Jews were to be barred from serving in the army in peace time but special regulations on them would be enacted in the event of war.
no direct move to draft Jews has hitherto been made in the old Reich, although Jews specifically were not exempt during the recent registration of germans who had served during the World War as officers and physicians. Half of the 4,000 Jewish doctors and 2,000 officers who served in the world war are still living in Germany. in addition, thousands of Jews remain on the army lists as “substitute reserve group 2,” to which special regulations apply in case of war.
Vienna Gauleiter Odilo Globocznik decreed today that no unemployed Jew can expect state aid unless he works for it with pick and shovel. Only aged and infirm Jews in some instances will be permitted to draw their usual unemployment insurance. the decree virtually signifies the drafting of Jewish manpower for the building of roads and canals in Austria.
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.
