The underground press in Norway today carries vigorous protests against the deportation yesterday from Oslo to an unknown destination of more than 1,000 Jews who were crowded into a Nazi steamer. Among the deportees were refugees from central Europe such as Dr. Joseph Jarosi of Prague and Dr. Epstein, both of whom taught at Oslo University, and many doctors, artists and other intellectuals.
Reports reaching here today tell of heartbreaking scenes as the Jews – including old men and women, children and sick persons, were jammed into a 9,000-ton German steamer. Further deportations are expected, according to these reports. Yesterday’s action is the culmination of a wave of anti-Jewish terror in Norway which resulted in the arrest of practically every male Jew in the country and the confiscation of virtually all property belonging to Jews. Some 200 to 300 Jews succeeded in fleeing to Sweden.
The Oslo report states that early yesterday morning Gestapo agents and Quisling storm-troopers rounded up Jewish women and children and sick and old Jews who had not been arrested and ordered them to take along whatever belongings they could get into a small valise. The deportees were then taken to the ship. There they were joined by 500 Jewish men brought from the Tonsberg concentration camp.
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