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Ex-nazis Hold Important Positions in German Foreign Office, Jewish Congress Reports

July 31, 1951
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A number of notorious ex-Nazis have been appointed to positions of influence in the new Foreign Office of the West German Republic, the World Jewish Congress revealed today, as the result of an investigation into the organization of West Germany’s Foreign Office and diplomatic corps. Many of these men served in the Nazi Foreign Office under Von Ribbentrop and were trained by him, the survey disclosed.

The investigation, undertaken with the aid of the World Jewish Congress staff in Germany, also revealed that these new officials include men who cooperated in the mass murder of Jews, plundered works of art and committed other crimes. The former Nazis have been appointed not only to secondary posts in the Foreign Office but also to top-level positions.

It has also been learned that the new Foreign Office had intentions of appointing ex-Nazis to the five highest posts in the political department, three of the five top positions in the Bureau of Protocol and the five highest offices in the “Peace Bureau.” In revealing the results of the survey, Dr. Maurice L. Perlzweig, director of the Department of International Affairs of the World Jewish Congress, said the facts constituted another demonstration that the Western Allies decision to and the state of war against Germany was premature.

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