Jews in Prague Fear Increased Terror Under New Nazi “protector”

Jews in the Czech Protectorate are alarmed over the arrival in Prague of Reinhard Heydrich, notorious Gestapo leader, as newly appointed German Protector of Bohemis and Moravia, it was reported here today. Heydrich, who is second in command to Himmler in the Gestapo, is known as being personally responsible for the Gestapo cruelties to Jews in Germany and was instrumental in torturing to death Dr. Otto Hirsch, leader of the Reich svereinigung of the Jews in the Reich.

The arrest of Premier Elies of the Protectorate by Heydrich yesterday has increased the fear of Jewish leaders in Prague. The arrested Premier was among the Czech leaders who opposed the introduction of the Nuremberg Laws into the Protectorate.

Expecting intensified anti-Jewish action, the Jewish community in Prague today announced the opening of a special consultation office to advise Jews on the intricacies of the Nuremberg Laws which were proclaimed under pressure from Berlin against the will of the Czech government. The office will be located on Josefstadtergasse in Prague and will give advice by mail to Jews in the provincial towns.

Measures have also been announced by the Jewish community in Prague to prevent possible anti-Jewish provocations during Yom Kippur now that the Protectorate is under Heydrich’s administration. Entrance into the synagogues on Yom Kippur will be strictly checked, the announcement says.

Meanwhile an order was issued in Prague today by the office of German Protector prohibiting Jewish firms managed by “Aryan” trustees from paying insurance premiums for the Jewish owners of the enterprises. “The payments of insurance premiums must be made by the Jewish owners from their own resources,” the order says.