Recent events in Germany lend an ironic touch to the recollection of the methods used by Germany during the World War to gain the allegiance of Polish Jews to the Teutonic cause by representing Germany as a nation friendly to the Jew.
At the beginning of the World War, after Germany had begun its occupation of Poland, German planes dropped over Polish towns proclamations in Yiddish and Hebrew-calling upon Jews to acknowledge their real friends, the Germans, and repudiate the hated Russians. The proclamation read:
“To the Jews of Poland
“The heroic armies of the great mid-European governments, Germany and Austria-Hungary, have entered Poland. The mighty march of our armies have forced the despotic Russian government to retreat. Our flags bring to you rights and freedom: equal citizenship rights, freedom of belief, freedom to work undisturbed in all branches of economic and cultural life in your own spirit.
“Too long have you suffered under the iron Moscovite yoke. We come to you as friends. The barbaric, alien government is at an end. Do not allow yourselves, as you have had many times before, to be fooled by flattering promises.
“Did not the Czar in 1905 promise equal rights for Jews, and did he not substantiate that promise with a royal manifesto? But how did he fulfill that promise which he made before the whole world?
“Remember the daily expulsions of Jewish masses from their settled places! Remember Kishenev, Homel, Bialistok and the many hundreds of other pogroms!
“Remember the Beilis affair when the barbaric government itself spread the terrible lie of ritual murder by Jews! That is how the Czar kept the royal promise he gave under pressure.
“It is now your holy duty to gather all your might to cooperate with us for your freedom. All your powers: your young generation, your communities, your organizations must rise as one man to aid in the holy cause. We hope that you will prove your understanding and loyalty.
“Apply with the greatest confidence to the commandants of our military in the places that are nearest to you. Help bring the victory of freedom and justice.”
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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.
