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Hungary Dissolves Zionist Organization, Other Jewish Groups; Suicides Mount

April 18, 1944
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The Zionist Organization of Hungary and various other Jewish groups have been dissolved by order of the Ministry of the Interior of the pro-Nazi puppet government, the German radio announced today. Their dissolution follows by several days the establishment by the authorities of a government-controlled “Central Jewish Council,” which will be responsible for all Jewish affairs. Other reports reaching here today disclose that suicides are mounting among Hungarian Jews faced with arrest, deportation, and, at very least, lose of livelihood.

Meanwhile, the section of the Interior Ministry charged with ousting Jews from the professions has already secured the removal of hundreds of persons and additional dismissals are expected, according to Budapest newspapers received here today. One paper reports that the municipal authorities have postponed announcing appointments of teachers and administrative personnel, which are normally posted in April, “in view of the new stricter racial laws which will result in the elimination of many teachers and other municipal employees.”

Another paper discloses that 130 Jews have been expelled from the Hungarian Press Chamber, while the cases of 166 suspected “non-Aryans” are under examination. This paper carries an editorial demanding that measures be taken to purge the legal profession of Jews and also the medical profession. At present doctors are not subject to the anti-Jewish restrictions.

An indication that the new anti-Jewish measures may not be meeting with wholehearted support from the Hungarian people is seen in an appeal issued by Under-Secretary of the Interior Baky for assistance in uncovering Jews evading the regulations. Baky stressed that it was the “duty” of every Hungarian to denounce Jews who are violating the laws. The Voelkischer Beobachter, official Nazi organ, publishes an attack on “pro-Semitic” Hungarian couturiers, who, it charges, are designing new clothes in shades of yellow which will make it difficult to discern yellow stars on them, thus assisting Jews to avoid being conspicuous in public.

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