A significant verdict on the question of intermarriage has been handed down by a German Federal Court in which it is indicated that formal divorce is a requisite before an “Aryan” may renounce his marital obligations to his “non-Aryan” partner.
Attention of legal circles was focussed on the case today when the verdict drew favorable comment in the current issue of the bi-monthly Deutsche Juristen-Zeitung.
The Federal Court had rejected an appeal by an “Aryan” husband against a judgment by a lower court which favored his Jewish wife. In the higher court’s verdict, it was ruled that marriage between Jews and Germans, although no longer allowed, impose upon the “Aryan” partner the duties of faithfulness and support.
“Whoever decided to marry a person of alien race, ” the court declared, “undertook a life contract and as long as he has not been divorced he is not entitled to renounce his obligations because he is feeling the effect of racial inequality. On the contrary, the partners in such a marriage should show greater consideration for each other despite racial differences.”
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.
