The period for registration of Jewish property in Bohemia Moravia ended today, according to reports from Prague. In recent days hundreds of Jews had lined up, from the early hours of the morning, at the Czech National Bank to declare property and valuables. Even silver pins worth ten cents were subject to declaration.
The number of declarations was estimated by the Prague press at 100,000 While Jewish wealth in the “Protectorate” was once estimated at 14 billion kronen, it had fallen to seven billions and was estimated today at no more than three billions, the equivalent of $120,000,000.
Despite great efforts by Nazis and Czech Fascists, the anti Semitic movement is making little progress among the Czech population. It is common knowledge that anti-Jewish measures in the “Protectorate” are taken only under pressure and orders of the Germans while the Czech people consider the racial campaign as part of their own subjugation. The Czechs openly declare that racialism will be abolished as soon as their independence is restored.
Characteristic of the situation is the fact that only two Czech anti-Semitic groups exist the Fascist Vlajka group and the Czech “Aryan” Culture Association both together having no more than a few hundred members. In order to create the impression that Czechs are racial anti-Semites, Czech newspapers publish all announcements of both anti-Semitic groups. Thus, it is announced that the Culture Association demands immediate introduction of separate tram cars and buses for Jews and that Jews be expelled from the Czech Touring Club.
Vlajka, organ of the Czech Fascists, complains that the Czechs still do not realize why anti Jewish measures are “necessary” and demands that lectures on the “Jewish problem” be made a permanent feature of the Czech radio program.
Despite the “Aryanization” of the Sokol (Czech athletic) Union, decreed many months ago, numerous branches are continuing to refuse to expel Jewish members.
The Pardubitz synagogue has been expropriated by the municipality and converted into a covered market.
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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.
