“Jewish Camps” in Munich Directed by Committee of Internees Under U.S. Army Supervision

All "Jewish camps" in the Munich area, which is in the American zone, are being directed by the newly-formed "Central Committee for Jewish Liberatees in Germany," under the supervision of the military authorities, according to Jacob Griffel, a representative of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States, who has just returned here from a visit to camps in Germany.

Griffel told a JTA correspondent that about 15,000 Jews from practically every country in Europe are in the camps in the Munich region. These have been specially constructed by the U.S. Army to receive Jews liberated from the Nazi camps. The largest of the new camps is Feldefen, which has a population of 5,000, mainly from Hungary and Rumania. Feldefen was a former Hitler Youth home. The commander of the camp is Lieut. Harry Smit, a Jew. Griffel said that Lieut. Smith is doing everything in his power to make the internees life as pleasant as possible. A library, motion picture theatre and kindergarten have been established.

Jews liberated from the Dachau camp Griffel disclosed, are either quartered in the nearby towns or in barracks at the camp, awaiting an opportunity to emigrate. Another few hundred Jews, mostly from Poland, are living at Schleisheim, he said. All these who are ill have been assembled at a hospital at Saint Tetilien, a Munich suburb, which is being operated by the new central committee of the internees, which is headed by a Dr. Gruenberg of Lithuania.

The internees in the hospital and in all the camps have, at least, two things in common, said Griffel. They lack clothes and they want to emigrate.