The long arm of Julius Streicher has now reached New York. Der Stuermer, the notorious anti-Semitic publication of which Julius Streicher is the editor and which is known for its obscene contents, is now being freely sold in the streets of New York.
At a time when American newspapers are not permitted to be sold on the streets of Berlin; when the Nazi government takes pains to censor every publication from abroad which reaches Germany—at such a time the vicious publication of Streicher is freely permitted to reach the United States through the mails and to be distributed openly.
VIOLATION OF LAW
The distribution of Der Stuermer in New York is a direct violation of the State regulations prohibiting the circulation of obscene literature. Marked not only for its Jew-baiting but also for its lascivious contents, Der Stuermer has been prohibited in many countries. It was confiscated on certain occasions even in Germany.
Despite the fact that every publication in Germany is under direct control of the Ministry of Propaganda, the Nazi government is ashamed to associate itself openly with Der Stuermer. Whenever Der Steurmer is suppressed in a foreign country, the Nazi government is right on the spot with a statement disassociating itself from this vulgar publication.
BARRED FROM MANY LANDS
When Der Stuermer was barred from Czechoslovakia for an insulting attack on President Masaryk, the Nazi rulers hurried to explain that this sheet should not be taken seriously.
When Der Stuermer was publicly condemned in the British Parliament by Sir John Simon for its malicious anti-Jewish pogrom agitation, the explanation given in Berlin was that this paper does not represent the Reich.
When Der Stuermer carried a vicious attack on President Roosevelt, accusing him of being a “tool in the hands of Jews,” the Foreign Office in Berlin explained to American correspondents that Der Stuermer is only a minor provincial weekly.
For a while the Ministry of Propaganda prohibited the sending of Der Stuermer to foreign countries. It was indicated to Julius Streicher that his publication serves very well the purpose of anti-Jewish propaganda within Germany but that it is too vulgar for foreign taste. Ashamed of the contents of this paper, the Nazi government prevented its sale even in Berlin where there are foreign observers.
ANTI-SEMITISM FOR EXPORT
This policy was, however, changed later when Streicher gained more favor in the eyes of Hitler. Not only is Der Stuermer now being openly spread in Berlin, but it is being encouraged for foreign use as anti-Jewish propaganda material.
America has so far been spared the “pleasure” of seeing Der Stuermer on its news stands. Let us hope that the attempt made this week by the Nazis in New York to import this notorious publication here will be properly checked, not only for the sake of the Jewish population of America but also for the sake of the existing American laws against obscene literature.
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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.
