All synagogues in Antwerp have either been destroyed or so badly damaged as to be unfit for use in anti-Jewish demonstrations by Leon Degrelle’s Exist storm-troopers, it was learned here today.
The uniformed Rexists attacked the synagogues while services were in progress, it was learned. The Jewish worshippers put up strong resistance, in which they were joined by hundreds of non-Jewish Belgians, and serious street fighting ensued in which scores of people were injured. A number of men who sought to protect the Jews were reported to have been taken into custody when police arrived on the scene and restored order.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
