The fate of Germany’s Jews and that of the Nazi war criminals now being shown clemency was contrasted by Moritz Goldschmidt, chairman of the Jewish Community Council of Cologne. Goldschmidt was speaking at the unveiling of a monument to the victims of fascism, erected by the municipality of Wesselingon, where only one Jew survived in a town which once had a flourishing Jewish community.
Stressing that the Jews are not a “people of vengeance,” Goldschmidt said that nevertheless, “it is shameful for Germany that clemency is being asked today for people proven guilty of the murder of thousands. We demand punishment for these crimes,” he added. Wreaths were laid at the foot of the monument by representatives of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of the West German Government, of the German trade union movement and local officials.
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.