Between the Lines

Will the Jews be taken into the German army during the proclaimed conscription?

This question is now intriguing not only the Jews of Germany but Jews all over the world. It is in the answer to this question that the key to the official status of the Jews in Germany lies. If they are taken into the army, then it means that, after all, they are still considered trustworthy citizens of the Reich. If the proclaimed conscription excepts Jews, this will mean that the Nazi government does not trust the Jewish population. In the long run, it may mean that if Germany goes into war the Jews will be segregated or perhaps even exiled from certain zones.

HINDENBURG, SCHLEICHER, HITLER

The “Aryan” paragraph now in force against the Jews in Germany has so far not been officially applied in the army. This is because President Hindenburg constantly insisted that the army must have nothing to do with politics. It is also because of the strong opposition which General Schleicher displayed against introducing Nazi theories into the Reichswehr when he was head of the German army.

But President Hindenburg is dead now, and General Schleicher was executed by the Nazis during the purge of June 30. The master of the German army today is Herr Hitler, and Hitler’s views on the “Aryan” paragraph are quite well known.

13,000 WAR-FALLEN JEWS

During the last world war the Jews of Germany, being one per cent of the entire population, participated in the army to an extent much greater than their proportion warranted. Not less than 13,000 Jews fell on the German front as war heroes. This fact has been appreciated even by the Nazis, who, in introducing the “Aryan” paragraph against Jews, have made exceptions for those who fought in the world war.

This gives German Jewry the hope that when the conscription takes place no discriminations will be practiced against Jews and that young Jewish citizens will also be among those conscripted. This hope is nurtured not because the Jews are so militaristically inclined, but simply because their entire citizenship rights will now depend upon the question of whether or not they are to be conscripted as equal citizens of the country.

A VAGUE HOPE

One need not be very pessimistic to predict that this hope will hardly materialize. Though there is no “Aryan” paragraph for the army, German soldiers are prohibited by an official decree from marrying girls of Jewish descent, which is the best indication as to the sentiments of the Nazi rulers with regard to Jewish participation in the German army.

There are now a number of semi-military organizations in Germany to which Jews are definitely not admitted. The Jews in Germany are even barred from the citizens’ groups which are being trained to protect themselves in case of air raids. General Goering, the Air Minister, when asked why Jewish citizens are not invited to participate in these drills, made it quite clear that he does not care what happens to the Jews during the gas attacks from the air. He also made it clear that Jews cannot be members of automobile clubs or of any other clubs which might play direct or indirect roles in the next war.

ILLUSIONS UNDER GOERING

Under such circumstances, it is difficult to believe that Jews will be among the new conscripts to the German army. With President Hindenburg dead and General Schleicher shot as a traitor to the Nazi cause, there is no such strong person in Germany who would defend the independence of the German army from the Nazi teachings. The head of the German army today is Hitler himself. The strong man in the German army will probably be, from today, none other than Goering. Any hope about their not applying the “Aryan” paragraph to the army is a mere illusion.