The National Socialist Hago, organization which conducted the anti-Jewish boycott, has been officially revived under the name of Federal Department for Trading and Artisanship.
A communique from Robert Ley, head of the German Labor Front, stated that the organization had been granted wide powers from Reichsfuehrer Hitler’s deputy, Rudolph Hess, and made clear that it would become an important cog in the machine for ousting the Jews from the economic life of the Reich.
The announcement was widely interpreted as heralding a campaign to oust the Jews from commerce despite repeated orders from Minister of Economics Hjalmar Schacht that Jews were not to be molested in industry and trade until their status was defined by law.
The organization will establish headquarters in every state at the Nazi Party headquarters and will open branches in every district and special sections in towns and villages. The department will work hand in hand with the Labor Front, the announcement said.
Extension of the Hago’s powers was taken to indicate that the authorities intend to extend the Nuremberg anti-Jewish legislation to the field of commerce as soon as practicable, but probably not before the conclusion of the Olympic games. The possibility remains, however, that the Nazis may not even wait until then.
Reports from the provinces told of widespread increase in agitation for an anti-Jewish boycott. In many cities, Nazis have been officially informed of an obligation to read Julius Streicher’s lurid anti-Semitic paper, Der Stuermer” in order to become acquainted with the Jewish question.”
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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.
