Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Rabbi Objects to Televised Interview of Nazi War Criminal

June 11, 1959
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Rabbi Abraham Feinberg of Holy Blossom Temple today accused Trans-Canada’s CBC television chain of making “a televised hero” of General Kurt Meyer, a convicted war criminal who now heads a movement of 150, 000 former SS men.

Gen. Meyer appeared in a televised interview on the CBC “News Magazine” series filmed in Meyer’s home in West Germany. Larry Duffy, producer of the series, said the interview was one part of a half-hour story on nationalism in West Germany.” Duffy added that the Meyer interview was suggested by Dr. Van Dam, chairman of the Central Jewish Council of West Germany, who also took part in the interview.

Gen. Meyer was sentenced to death for shooting 18 Canadian prisoners of war in the Normandy landings but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. The sentence then was reduced to 14 years of which Meyer served nine years before being released for “good conduct.” After serving time in a Canadian penitentiary, he returned to West Germany to become sales manager of a brewery.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement