A West German official who cited the killing of Jews in gas chambers as an example of improperly applied efficiency was censured last week by the Ministry of Defense. The outraged Jewish community wants him fired.
Heinz Galinski, chairman of the Jewish community in West Berlin, called on Defense Minister Manfred Woerner to immediately dismiss Dr. Rainer Reinhart, who is vice president of the Munich-based Bavarian Regional Civilian Administration of the armed forces, known as Wehrberich 6.
A ministry spokesman said Saturday that the matter is under study, but did not indicate whether further action is contemplated. Earlier, a ministry official called Reinhart’s example “deplorable.”
In a publication used by officials of his administration as well as by troops, Reinhart hailed the principle of efficiency, but said it was not always proper to apply. As an example, he said that while it was more economical to exterminate Jews by gas than to kill them individually, it certainly was not the right thing to do.
Reinhart’s article appeared in an official publication of his administration called Unterichtsblaetter.
A spokesman for the Defense Ministry admitted that the ministry and the army ordered thousands of copies of the leaflet, but said their circulation has been stopped.
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.
