Anti-jewish Drive Gains in Slovakia; Thousands Robbed, Jailed

Jews are being robbed, blackmailed and beaten by Hlinka Guards in a wave of anti-Semitic excesses throughout Slovakia, according to reports reaching Prague today. Thousands have been arrested and imprisoned for weeks at a time, it was said. They are kept 30 and 40 to a cell, often with so little space that they cannot sit or lie down. No reasons are given for the arrests and many have been, seized without even being questioned.

A large number of Jews are desperately trying to leave the German-“protected” State, leaving behind all their belongings. Several of them succeeded in reaching Prague. Hundreds of others are wandering in the mountains near the Slovak-Polish frontier, but have been barred from Poland by reinforced border guards.

The Jewish situation is better in the cities where a majority of the population is Czech, but on the other hand is more desperate in the predominantly German areas. All banks and post offices have made out lists of “Aryan” depositors to prevent Jews from drawing on their accounts. The maximum which Jews may withdraw is 1,500 kronen weekly, and then only on money deposited before March 15.

Difficulties are made for Jews desiring to emigrate. Long queues wait before police stations and Gestapo headquarters to obtain passports and emigration permits. Often Jews are told at the end of a day’s waiting that no more applicants will be received that day. The press campaign against Jews continues to be intensified. “Aryanization” of Jewish businesses is proceeding apace.

The majority of the Czech population shows no enthusiasm for the anti-Jewish campaign, but keeps silent on this as on other measures introduced by the Germans in their country.