For forty-eight hours the Jews of Bereshty, a town near Galatz, were living in an atmosphere of terror and fear as a result of the invasion of large groups of armed members of the anti-Semitic organization, the Archangel Michael League, an investigation completed today by the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency shows. Official documents, which were obtained from the authorities in Bereshty, indicate that the action of the local police saved the Jewish population from serious attacks and pillage, an action which the Jews of Bereshty are gratefully acknowledging.
The members of the anti-Semitic organization came to Bereshty ostensibly in connection with last week’s bazaar. The documents show that when the Archangel Michael members reached Bereshty their arrival was signalized by the firing of several shots in the air near a local church while the authorities left them unmolested. The following morning large crowds of peasants arrived to attend the bazaar.
The Archangel Michael legionnaires then marched through the streets of Bereshty waving their weapons and shouting, “Kill the Jews” and “long live Codreanu.” Panic-stricken, the Jews hastily closed their shops and barricaded themselves in their homes. The legionnaires then began attacking Jewish houses. Among those whom the anti-Semites laid hands on was Marcus Kramer, former president of the Bereshty Jewish community.
In the evening the anti-Semites made ready for further attacks on the Jews The mayor of Bereshty tried to preven# their march from the meeting place to the Jewish quarter. His efforts were in vain for instead of paying any attention to his pleas the marchers began firing into the air. Aware of the seriousness of the situation. the local police chief recruited additional gendarmes. Until 2 A. M. the police remained on guard and their watchfulness compelled the anti-Semites to retreat and leave Bereshty. They then headed for Genesht, a neighboring town, but they were met by a police detachment which inclined them to give up their announced plans of firing all Jewish houses in the Bereshty region
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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.
