Twenty-five Jewish students were wounded, a number seriously, in riots which broke out last night at the University of Warsaw, led by anti-Semitic students.
The riots were launched in the lecture halls themselves when anti-Semitic students suddenly ordered all the students to rise and observe the first anniversary of the death of Sanislaw Waclawski, a Christian student killed in Vilna during the events connected with the anti-Semitic excesses in that city.
Shouting: “Revenge yourselves on the Jews. They are responsible for Waclawski’s death;” the anti-Semites fell upon the Jewish students and brutally beat them up. Even the feminine members of the Jewish student body were not spared. A number of them were thrown out of the buildings and trampled under foot on the steps of the University.
Among the Jewish students more seriously injured are Simon Budzyner, son of a Senator from Lodz, member of the Agudath Israel, which is friendly to the government; Jakob Braude, likewise a son of a former Senator from Lodz, who is a member of the Zionist party, Irenea Burzycka.
Attempts to protect the Jews were made by the Socialist and pro-govern- ment students, but without avail as the attackers turned on them as well.
After some time the rector of the University was able to re-establish order.
Attempts of the anti-Semites to demonstrate in the streets were prevented by the police.
The University of Warsaw in all its departments was closed for a period of three days.
Renewal of the riots is expected today inasmuch as a memorial demonstration for Waclawski has been arranged and a number of students have arrived from Vilna for this purpose. Placards announcing the memorial have been placed on the campus of the university and carry the legend: “The Jews have murdered Waclawski.”
The demonstration will be preceded by church services, following which the students will march through the city.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.