The charge that the Austrian Government is encouraging anti-Semitism and is deliberately attempting to legalize the confiscations of Jewish property during the Nazi regime is made here by the newspaper “Arboiter Zeitung” in an article reprinted by the official organ of the Vienna Jewish Community.
“It is shameful,” the article says “to witness how Austria treats the surviving Jews and how the government is stubbornly attempting to legalize the robbery, looting, blackmailing, theft and other crimes committed against the Jews during the seven years of Nazi barbarism. The postponement of the promulgation of law to provide compensation for confiscated Jewish property constitutes nothing but legalization of the crimes.
“The government is badly advised–and we believe deliberately so — since in a country of more than six million it would be a small matter to give back what rightfully belongs to about 4,000 persons. To do so, however, there must exist an honest determination to act against the hundreds and thousands of Nazis who are still in high positions. Should the government act as the world expects it to, every one of the 4,000 Jews would become a propagandist for a democratic and free Austria, but the government seems to desire the contrary.
“Encouraged by the government’s attitude, anti-Semitism is beginning to lift its head once again in Vienna and throughout Austria, openly and impertinently. The incidents which occurred on Sunday, March 24, between the Jewish sports club “Hakoah” and the sports club of the police, are typical. Part of the spectators provoked as wild an anti-Semitic demonstration as might have occurred in March, 1938. The world can imagine what would happen if the four occupation powers were not in Vienna. In that case, not one of the 4,000 Jews would be able to appear in the streets.”
ACCUSE AUSTRIANS OF APPROVING NAZI MISTREATMENT OF JEWS
The article claims that the Austrian press has been presenting a false picture to the world concerning the situation of the Jews in the country and their treatment by the government. Emphasizing that Austrian anti-Semitism “has always been most aggressive,” it continues.”
“It is not true that the Austrians, when they saw how the Nazis treated the Jews, rejected the Nazi methods by an overwhelming majority. The contrary is true. The overwhelming majority of the Austrian people approved of, and joined in, the Nazi methods. It is not true that many persecuted Jews found shelter with Austrians; the contrary is true. It is a historic fact that out of 200,000 Viennese Jews, not even 200 were saved by hiding with friendly Austrians.”
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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.
