Dr. Theodor Oberlaender, a member of the West German Cabinet, ended a lengthy controversy over his Nazi past by resigning today as Minister for Refugees.
He handed his resignation to Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in another reversal of several stands he has taken since he was first accused of participating in the 1941 massacre of Polish intellectuals and Jews in Lemberg in what was then Nazi-occupied Poland.
Two weeks ago, Chancellor Adenauer’s Christian Democrats and the opposition Social Democrats reached agreement on a formula under which Dr. Oberlaender was to take an indefinite vacation from his post with the understanding he would retire May 1, on a pension. The Social Democrats called off their demands for a Parliamentary probe of the Lemberg charges when that agreement was reached.
Dr. Oberlaender announced late last week that he would not resign and demanded a Parliamentary inquiry “to rehabilitate me completely.” The resignation followed today.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
