Landsberg Camp for Displaced Jews Under Curfew After Riot; Jews on Hunger Strike

Twenty displaced Jews went today on a hunger strike at the Landsberg camp in protest against the arrest of a Jewish DP who participated in the battle yesterday in Landsberg between displaced Jews and Germans, during which one German was killed and about twenty wounded.

As soon as the displaced Jews learned of the arrest of one of their number, nineteen others appeared at the camp jail and asked to be arrested. The twenty then announced they would go on a hunger strike until all were released.

A sundown curfew was imposed on the camp today by American military authorities. Additional American troops were stationed there, and all roads leading from the camp were blocked by armored cars and jeeps.

The clash between the displaced Jews and the Germans yesterday lasted for about four hours, the Landsberg military governor reported today. The exact cause of the fracas has not yet been established, and an investigation is being conducted by the military authorities and UNRRA officials. A.C. Glassgold, UNRRA director of the camp, said today that the riot started when two Jewish guards at the camp disappeared mysteriously on Saturday night. A rumor spread that the guards had been kidnapped by the Germans. Later another was circulated that six Jews had been kidnapped and killed by Germans.

Aroused by these rumors, several hundred Jews rushed from the camp into Landsberg and started attacking Germans who were en route to polling places to vote in county elections. They halted a bus and burned it, after ordering the occupants to get out.

The disturbance developed into a pitched battle with the Germans and the Jews using knives, clubs and stones. Eighteen Germans were sent to a hospital after American troops succeeded in restoring order. One German died from his wounds, but no Jew is reported to have been injured.