Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Five Million Jews “eliminated” in Europe by Germany, Nazi Newspapers Estimate

May 28, 1944
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

German newspapers reaching here today carry a survey on the number of Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe showing that approximately five million Jews have been “eliminated” by the Germans in all German-controlled areas of the European continent.

A statement preceding the survey says that “there is no longer any Jewish problem existing in the German Reich and even in other sections of Europe.” The Jews have suffered “heavy losses” in Poland, the statement emphasizes, adding that “such Jewish centers as Warsaw and Lublin have been completely neutralized.”

“By action taken up till the present time, five million Jews have been eliminated in various countries of Europe,” the statement reads. “There are still about 500,000 Jews to be dealt with in Hungary.”

Hungarian newspapers arriving here today report that by the end of this month not a single Jew will be left in the city of Budapest. Under an order issued on May 22, the city must be made “judenrein” within eight days with all Jews removed into the ghettos in the suburb known as “Little Budapest.”

Budapest newspapers report that many Jews are intentionally damaging their houses prior to leaving for the ghetto. They reveal that the Jewish body which the Hungarian Government has formed to carry out its orders concerning Jews is composed of State Councillor Samuel Stern, most prominent Jewish leader in Hungary and president of the Budapest Jewish community, Chief Rabbi Bela Berend, Rabbi Samuel Kahan Frenkel, Dr. Jozef Nagy of the Budapest Jewish hospital, Dr. Janes Gabor, Ando Torok, Erno Peto and other Jewish community leaders.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement