Eviction of Berlin Jews Pressed; Food Rations Curtailed

Although all able-bodied Jews in Berlin have been drafted for work and the few remaining synagogues requisitioned for military purposes, Jews continue to receive only meager food rations and evictions are continuing, according to a report smuggled out of the German capital by an informant for whose reliability competent quarters here vouch.

Jews are employed mainly in industries essential to the war effort. Jewish workers in such industries as the Goerz and Zeiss-Ikon optical works and Julius Berger and Philipp Helzmann building concerns are forced to wear yellow armbands. Formerly wealthy persons are employed in petty jobs. The former owner of a well-known moving firm is employed in a Berlin ash-carting service, earning 18 marks weekly, which is transferred to a blocked account that can only be disposed of under restrictions.

Since October, Jews have been evicted from the western suburbs of Tleglitz, Friedenau, Dahlem and Grunewald, and since November also from Charlottenburg and Wilmersdorf districts, formerly densely inhabited by the Jewish upper middle class. The planned accomodation of the evicted in dilapidated buildings of the Yorkstrasse and Grossgoerschen-strasse slums has proved unfeasible and the Jews are housed in specially-erected huts.

The food situation, which is bad generally, is worse for the Jews according to the report. The weekly ration of a working Jew is two and a half pounds of bread a quarter pound of butter, a half -pound of meat, less than a half pound of sausage and four pounds of potatoes. The monthly ration is one pound of sugar, half pound of jam and three eggs. Sale of vegetables, fruit, fish, poultry, rice and chocolate to Jews is forbidden.

Most shops display “Jews Not Admitted” signs, especially firms formerly patronized by Jews. Because of restricted shopping hours, Jewish housewives are unable to obtain even the small rations.

All Jews have been deprived of telephones, except physicians and legal advisers.