Anti-Semitism was the most outstanding aspect of Nazi racial discrimination, according to the study of “Fascism in Action,” prepared by the Library of Congress at the request of Rep. Wright Patman, Democrat of Texas, and released here today.
A comparative study of fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan, the 206-page volume states that National Socialism “developed an elaborate racial theory, but in practical operation the race most discriminated against was the Semitic.” The survey dismisses anti-Semitism as “never a significant aspect of Italian fascism, though some attempt was made in later years to imitate Nazi policies.”
The study cites the historical steps of the Nazis against the Jews, beginning with their removal from public office in 1933, removal of exceptions for veterans in 1935, and disqualification of Gentiles married to Jewish wives by an act of 1937.
The exclusion of Jews from all professions “affected with a public interest” is listed as the next step, this including “virtually all of the trained professions, Moreover, through the system of licensing in guild and professional association, Jews as well as politically unreliable persons were excluded from the cultural professions,” the report says.
The deprivation of citizenship and political rights, prohibition of sexual intercourse between Jews and Aryans, and definition of the term “Jew” come next in the list of discriminatory laws. The method of expulsion of Jews from trade and industry, “systematic destruction of Jewish property” and imprisonment in concentration camps are further cited.
The structure of Nazi government is analyzed. In the civil service, “Jews, married women, and non-supporters of the Nazi regime were dismissed.” In the courts, “the judiciary was ‘purified’ by the dismissal of Jewish and politically unreliable ## who were unwilling to swear allegiance to the Fuehrer and to subscribe to Nazi ## The “special” discriminatory taxation of Jews is described in some detail.
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.
