The success of the Hitlerites in Germany may create a dangerous situation for German Jewry, yet the latter are not despondent, since all the parties which stand for a Republican Germany and for the preservation of the Weimar Constitution are fighting the anti-Semitic National-Socialists, whose aim is to establish a Fascist dictatorship in Germany. And in spite of the recent growth of anti-Semitism in Germany, German Jews are as patriotically devoted as ever to their country.
These were some of the statements made yesterday by Ernest Wallach, well-known German-Jewish leader and vice-president of the Central Association of German citizens of Jewish faith, to a representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. As soon as some semblance of calm is restored in Germany Herr Wallach feels the rational public will realize how medieval and absurd is the charge that the Jews are responsible for all German ills, and the campaign against the Jews will in a large measure subside. Meanwhile an organization of Jews whose membership is more than 60,000, backed by the German Republican parties, is carrying on the battle against Hitlerite anti-Semitism all through Germany.
PEOPLE CATCHING AT STRAW
Those who follow Hitler, Herr Wallach points out, are drowning people catching at any straw. “The unprecedented economic need has driven the people to seek relief in the ranks of the radical parties. The oppressive burdens placed upon Germany by the forced peace of Versailles, first through the Dawes plan and then through the Young plan, followed the immeasurable burden of the inflation.
“After the inflation had done its harm, there came the burdens of extraordinary interest obligations which must be ascribed to the pernicious workings of the Versailles treaty. On top of all this, the general stagnation of the world market had its effect upon German industry and civilization, so that the middle classes were forced to the very brink of extinction.
“This weary people, torn from its roots in commerce, and more than these, the unemployed masses, whose numbers are over three millions, swelled the September vote of the National-Socialist Party, which, in the magic name of the Third Republic, painted with flaring colors the picture of a bright business future.”
YOUTH THRONGING RANKS
It is indicative of the desperate state of the German people, says Herr Wallach, that they have shut their eyes to the knowledge that the National-Socialist party gives them no definite word about how these promises will be fulfilled. “Blindly, and in spite of all reason, they follow the Hackenkreuz flag,” he says. “Above all, it is the youth which seeing no future for itself in crowded Germany, throngs the ranks of the radicals.”
Herr Wallach then described the means of mass-propaganda used by the National-Socialists. “In spite of everything it would have been difficult for the National-Socialists, even with the rosiest program, and the most eloquent promises, to move the masses. But the party understood how to take advantage of the incomparably bad financial situation. Their aptitude in propaganda was matched only by their lack of scruple. Seizing psychologically upon a weakness capable of popular exploitation, the party made a scapegoat of the Jews. Thus there is a welling up of Jew-hatred in Germany today that is not at all comparabale to pre-war anti-Semitism. Then, only a certain middle-class stratum was anti-Semitic. But the National-Socialist anti-Semitism springs from all classes and includes people of all professions and beliefs. And even though all of the citizens who voted the National-Socialist ticket cannot be described as anti-Semites, they are nevertheless being continually influenced by anti-Semitic propaganda, while the recognized leaders of the party are sworn to pursue the anti-Semitic program.”
3 POINTS IN PROPAGANDA
Herr Wallach notes three essential points in the Hitlerite propaganda.
“First is the rejection of parliamentary forms and the continual insulting of leading government officials. Every objective critic knows how difficult it must be for the German people to throw off the militaristic and bureaucratic forms of government, and turn to a democratic state. Yet in spite of everything it is evident that the German Republic has accomplished much in the way of the German nation’s recovery since 1919.
“The second point in the National-Socialist program is the emphasis of a Fascist form of militarism that finds great popularity with the youth of Germany, which has been deprived of an opportunity of a military career by the peace treaty.
“The third important point in its program are the falsehoods which it deliberately spreads in a suggestive form and to an extent hitherto unheard of in German political history. The Hitlerites paint a completely false picture of the State and its work; lies, which because they are continually repeated, are bound to have a far-reaching evil effect.”
Asked what effect the victory of the National-Socialists, who recently elected 107 deputies to the Reichstag, is bound to have upon Germany Jewry, Herr Wallach said:
DANGER TO JEWRY SERIOUS
“The growth of the National-Socialist movement has, as we see, only part of its basis on anti-Semitism. Nevertheless there must be no understatement of the serious danger to the Jewish population. Unfortunately the National-Socialist party cannot renounce its origin, which was that of hatred toward the Jewish citizens. Its party members in parliament are avowed anti-Semites, basing their hatred not on religious but on racial grounds. If this party should ever
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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.
