German-Jewish refugees in Swiss labor camps do not desire to return to their homes in Germany, it was established here today by a poll taken among the refugees by the Swiss authorities. A similar response was elicited fron non-interned refugees.
The Federation of Jewish Communities in Switzerland, as well as the World Jewish Congress, have been conducting a campaign among the Jewish refugees for a long time, persuading them not to return to Germany. The poll taken by the authorities was the subject of lively discussion both among the refugees and in the Swiss press.
A broadcast from Berlin today reported an announcement by Dr. Arthur Werner, the Russian-appointed mayor of the German capital, declaring that a rabbi will shortly be named a member of the municipality’s commission dealing with religious affairs. The broadcast said that the repatriation of German Jews from Theresienstadt is being speeded so as to bring the Jews back to their home towns before the end of this month.
“Municipal authorities in various cities of Germany are organizing auto conveys to bring the Jews back home from Theresienstadt,” the broadcast reported. “Some Jews have been brought to Jena, Erfurt and Chemnitz. About 4,600 are still awaiting repatriation. Of them, more than 2,000 are listed with the Jewish repatriation committee in Berlin.”
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.