Army Aimits Anti-semitism Growing in Bavaria; Official Cites Anti-jewish Incidents

The U.S. Military Government in Bavaria today denied charges by the Bavarian Commissioner for Political Persecutees, Dr. Philip Auerbach, that anti-Semitism “using the same tactics as in 1933” was steadily increasing in Bavaria, but a spokesman admitted that “manifestations of anti-Semitism are more common today than several months ago.”

The spokesman, however, denied specific cases of anti-Jewish discrimination cited by Dr. Auerbach, who declared yesterday that Nazis were given priorities over Jews in housing, that former persecutees were being deprived of their furniture which was turned over to Nazis, that German tradesmen refused to sell food to persecutees, that Jews were forcibly ejected from streetcars, that Nazis were given jobs as custodians of Jewish property, and that the American Military Government was employing German girls imbued with Nazi ideology.

Dr. Auerbach also charged that “should authority pass into German hands, the situation in Germany would in ten years revert to what it was in 1933.” He revealed that he has written a letter to Bavarian President Dr. Hans Ehard, asking him to inform Auerbach of the steps taken to prevent “further scandalous incidents and favoring of Nazis.”

He insisted that immediate measures be taken by the American authorities in Bavaria to stop anti-Semitic manifestations and suggested the establishment of special courts to handle anti-Semitic incidents “so that the Germans will know the occupation forces protect the persecutees.” He also asked that a representative of the persecutees be sent to Moscow to attend the conference which will draw up the peace treaty with Germany.

Officials working with displaced Jews today expressed concern with the announcement yesterday by the War Department that rations for certain Jewish DP groups are to be reduced from 2,200 calories daily to 2,000. They pointed out that while the reduction affects only non-workers, who represent about one-quarter of the displaced Jews, the psychological effect will be to make the DP’s feel that they are gradually being abandoned.

Rabbi Philip Bernstein, adviser to the U.S. armed forces on Jewish affairs, today defended the Army’s attempt to assist the DP’s in a reply to a statement made yesterday in Berlin by Rabbi Barnett Brickner, who is here on a U.J.A. mission, that animals in the zoo receive more food than displaced Jews in the American and British zones of Germany. Although the situation leaves much to be desired, the Army is doing everything possible to help the DP’s, Bernstein said.