America, land of the free, was the scene yesterday of a reunion between an anti-Nazi lawyer and a former client, both exiles from Germany, land of the “Aryan” mad. Dr. Kurt Rosenfeld—in this country to testify on law, justice and civil liberty in Germany, on June 27, before a group consisting of Arthur Garfield Hays, Dudley Field Malone, Clarence Darrow, George Z. Medalie, Stanley High and George Gordon Battle—had a pleasant chat with Hans Baer, whom he hadn’t seen since the end of the trial of Baer in 1932 on the charge of killing a Storm Trooper.
Baer, who was acquitted, was forced to leave Hitlerland immediately after the trial. Dr. Rosenfeld had been in Paris since March 15, 1933, editing Impress, a paper circulated throughout Europe giving the true picture of the German scene as Dr. Rosenfeld sees it.
Dr. Rosenfeld, “the Clarence Darrow of Germany,” has the reputation of being the only lawyer ever to place Hitler on a witness stand in a trial. That was during the trial of Walter Abel, journalist who wrote things der Fuehrer disapproved of, and who shortly after Hitler came to power, was found dead in a prison cell.
Dr. Rosenfeld stated there is a crisis in Germany and that civil war is extremely likely. A military dictatorship is probable, he believes, and the Hohenzollerns may be restored. He doesn’t believe they would long endure, however.
The Nazis have lost ground because they have failed to keep a promise to abolish chain and department stores and because peasants are bitter over the restoration of the old inheritance laws.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
