American military authorities have closed the U.S. zone of Germany to Jews fleeing Eastern Europe, it was revealed here today by Bronislaw Teichholtz, director of the Committee for Transient Jews. He also disclosed that the Russians have prohibited the passage of transports of Jews across the Slovak-Hungarian border.
Teichholtz said that he had been informed by the Displaced Persons Division of the U.S. forces in Austria that as of April 1, transports from Vienna to DP camps at Salzburg and Linz in the American zone are prohibited. No explanation was given except that the order had come from higher levels.
Despite all obstacles, an average of 700 Jews arrives here weekly, and with agrees from the city barred, it is impossible for the Jewish community to house them. Consequently, the U.S. military authorities have set up additional facilities to accommodate the 2,000 refugees now in the city.
The Jews had been receiving an average of 2,500 calories daily, but as of last week, their rations were out to 1,100 daily, which is far below subsistence level. The daily menu consists of one cup of coffee, two bowls of thin soup and less than one ounce of bread. The JDC is supplementing this diet to the best of its ability, but the refugees are going hungry.
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.
