References to the pre-World War II Jewish community of Czechoslovakia has been almost completely banned in publications dealing with the nation’s general literary and local histories, and in major comprehensive reference books published during the last 25 years, it was reported by the London-based, International Council of Jews from Czechoslovakia.
An order placed last year by the Council with a prominent West German bookseller specializing in Central and East European books, requesting material from Czechoslovakia containing material about its Jewish community, has been returned to the Council with the comment:
“In the case of publications that have appeared in the late 1950’s and now, there is no trace of a reference to Jews of any substance, nor do indices of such publications provide a lead for this specific subject.”
The Council had ordered a number of standard works covering the period of the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and local histories of towns which in the pre-war period of Bohemia, Moravia, Slovakia and Carpatho-Russia had a substantial Jewish population and a number of Jewish institutions.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
