The report of Prof. Carl Burckhardt, former High Commissioner for Danzig, to the League of Nations on developments in Danzig prior to the outbreak of the war states that premature protests created “prejudice” against “non-Aryans” in the Free City. After stating that anti-Jewish laws in Danzig had been delayed and many Jews were able to emigrate between May, 1937, and November, 1938, under favorable circumstances, Prof. Burckhardt declares:
“It must be noted, however, that real prejudice was caused, as far as non-Aryans in the Free City were concerned, by comments of the world press…Several times the High Commissioner was told by Forster (Albert Forster, Danzig Nazi leader) that he would anyhow be accused by world opinion and that if he, on the other hand, would resist pressure by the Party, nobody would thank him.”
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.