A Cabined committee in Bohemia-Moravia has completed the drafting of an anti-Jewish law, it was reported today from Prague, and the bill will be discussed by the complete Cabinet on Friday. The measure is reported to contain 40 paragraphs and provide for the virtual exclusion of Jews from public life and the professions.
Czech newspapers were conducting an inspired anti-Jewish campaign to prepare the population for the law. Most Czechs, however, remained apathetic to the anti-Semitic drive.
Meanwhile, it was reported that an agreement was reached between the Czech National Church and the Jewish Religious Communities whereby a number of synagogues in the protectorate will be transferred to the Church gratis, with a proviso that the Jews remaining may use the premises for Sabbath services on Saturday, while the Christians will be use it on Sundays.
A number of Jewish technicians have been accepted by the Gestapo in Prague for jobs in German. The Jewish engineers and chemists were offered the positions when they applied at the Gestapo for emigration permits. Upon reminding the Gestapo that they were Jews, the technicians were told: “We know but that makes no difference.”
The Gestapo informed these Jews about the proposed salaries and cities of employment — Hamburg predominating — and gave them three days to consider the offer. Those who accepted were allowed to live in hotels where Jews are ordinarily not admitted and were given other privileges.
Ant-Jewish excesses continue to be reported from Slovakia. Jews are constantly attacked in cafes, cinemas and on the streets of Bratislava. More than 60 Jews have been arrested on the streets and imprisoned without any reasons. In Goellmitz, a synagogue was razed by a fire set by Hlinka Guards.
The German Party press bureau in Bratislava reported that a group of 12 Germans who detained Jewish passers-by and ordered them to Jewish quarters were dispersed by police using batons and revolvers. Five members of the German party were reportedly arrested, being released later on the party’s intervention. The report, captioned “Attacks by Bratislava Police,” concluded with a protest against the police action.
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.
