Nazi leaflets dropped from German planes over Leningrad calling upon the Russian population to launch a pogrom against the Jews, were scored today in special Soviet broadcast which emphasized that the Jews in Soviet Russia have made important contributions towards the upbuilding of the country in time of peace and towards its defense in the present war.
The population of Leningrad treats the Nazi leaflets “with utter contempt,” the Soviet radio reported. At the same time it pointed out that many Jewish commanders in the Red Army have distinguished themselves in the war on the Soviet-Nazi front, while others fell bravely on the battlefield.
“The Jews of the U.S.S.R. are among the most zealous and patriotic defenders of our country,” the broadcast said. It cited names of Jews whose heroic deeds have become known all over Russia and disclosed that it was a Jew, B. Spitalny, who invented the automatic airplane cannon which the Soviets are now using successfully against the Nazis. It also revealed that another Jew, engineer Y. Saltzman, is responsible for the mass production of a new type of tank.
Pointing out that hundreds of Soviet Jews are known beyond the Soviet frontiers for their important contributions to science and medicine, the broadcast concluded by quoting Maxim Gorki, the famous Russian novelist, who wrote shortly before his death: “I marvel at the spiritual staunchness of the Jewish people, their courageous idealism, boundless faith in the victory of good over evil, and the possibility of happiness on earth.”
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.
