Germany Plans to Deport More Than 100 Jewish Refugees

The German police plan to deport the 67 Jewish DP’s whom they arrested here yesterday, and their families, for having “illegally” returned to Germany from Israel without valid entry permits, it was learned here today.

Fourteen of the 67 were tried and sentenced to short jail terms yesterday by a local court and the remainder are expected to be tried today and tomorrow. Another 60-odd women and children, members of the families of the arrested men, were not taken into custody early yesterday morning when the German police raided an Orthodox synagogue in which the DP’s had found shelter.

Efforts are being made here to obtain entry visas to the countries where the DP’s were heading when they returned to Germany from Israel. The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society has supplied the arrested men with legal counsel. If the DP’s are deported, they will be sent to France, Austria or any other country through which they passed en route to Germany.

The “returnees” are, for the most part, refugees who went to Israel several years ago but have been unable to remain in the country either for climatic reasons or because they were unable to adjust themselves to that country’s economy. They view Germany as a temporary haven from which they hope to leave for permanent settlement in other countries.

Last August the German authorities conducted a census and granted legal status to all “returnees” then in Germany, but threatened to deport any who came back after the census without the permission of the Germans. This is the first action to carry out the threat. This group was refused entrance to the DP camp for Jews at Foehrenwald and were permitted to set up temporary shelter in the synagogue and on its grounds.