The legal position of the Jews in Germany remains unchanged. There have been repeated rumors of disfranchising legislation, but so far nothing definite on this subject has transpired.
At the same time, further restrictions have been enacted against Jewish participation in many forms of employment. A ban has been placed upon even so modest a means of earning a living as selling newspapers in the street. No Jew may be a swimming, dancing or gymnastic instructor. No Jew may be a teacher of the blind.
Anti-Jewish propaganda continues unabated. School textbooks recently issued invariably contain anti-Jewish material. Denunciations continue to be launched against the Jews by Nazi political leaders at mass meetings and in radio speeches.
The importance attributed by the Nazi speakers to the influence of the Jewish boycott has varied according to circumstances. Sometimes, it is said to be negligible in comparison with the general shrinkage of international trade. On other occasions, when an easy means of arousing popular resentment is sought, the whole of Germany’s economic troubles is attributed to the Jewish boycott.
Considerable effort has been devoted by German tourist agencies to attracting foreign visitors, many of whom when given public or semi-public receptions are told that the Jews are a menace not only to Germany but to the world. These visitors are encouraged to recount their experiences on their return home, and thus produce a favorable impression abroad. Judging from complaints in the Nazi press about the inveterate foreign hostilities, this form of propagandist activity has met with only a limited success.
The Jews in Germany are, however, very pessimistic as to what winter may have in store for them. With Nazi Germany on the verge of starvation, the Jews there fear the possibility of having the blame for the starvation put on them.
The ears and the eyes of world Jewry must, therefore, still be concentrated on Germany. The fate of German Jewry depends largely upon #e watchful eye which leading Jewish organizations abroad are keeping.
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.
