Nazi Officials in Poland Sell “aryan Certificates” to Jews

Bribery among Nazi officials in occupied Poland has reached a point where for 125 zlotys, nominally $25, any Jew can buy a certificate exempting him from compulsory labor, while for 500 zlotys he can secure a certificate exempting him from wearing the yellow Mogen David, it is reported in an article in the November issue of the monthly magazine Free World which was published today.

Assuring that it “can guarantee the truth of this story, but to safeguard the underground movement we purposely refrain from giving details,” the article reveals that when the Governor of Warsaw discovered that many Jews were not wearing compulsory arm-bands, and was informed of the reason, he stated that a perfectly legal and official certificate would be granted to any Jew who cared to pay 600 zlotys.

“In Cracow, for 1,200 zlotys, certificates of pure Aryan origin can be obtained,” the article continues. “Payment in local currency is accepted but Jews willing to pay in United States dollars have a definite priority. Sometimes Gestapo men cheat the customers, especially over the exemption from requisition of goods in Jewish shops. On payment of 40 percent of the value of the ## goods, one Gestapo man marked the document involved with a rubber stamp in red ink. Two days later another Gestapo man seized the goods anew; the redstamp in seems, was no good – a black rubber stamp was required. Of course, the second Gestapo man was willing to affix a black stamp – for the payment of the regular 40 percent.” The article names Herr Wegener, chief of the passport division of the Government General in Cracow as one of the Nazi officials who “has made a lot of money by changing Jews into Aryans.”