Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Stuermer Renews Ritual Murder Charge

April 24, 1940
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

The usual “ritual murder” story which the German anti-Semitic weekly Der Stuermer carries every Passover week is published in the current issue, copies of which reached Paris today. This time, however, the story is accompanied by a threat of wholesale vengeance upon “the whole Jewish people.”

Under a big red headline, “Ritual Murder in Bohemia,” the newspaper features on its first page the story of the alleged “mysterious death” of a 19-year-old non-Jewish girl, Marie Faicova, in the Czech town of Welhartitz on March 19, 1938. All the disproved accusations of former “ritual murder” campaigns are repeated by the Stuermer and the Czech authorities are accused of not having investigated the case because of the influence of the girl’s Jewish employer.

“The murder of the girl Faicova,” the article warns, “has not yet been revenged. But it will be revenged. The revenge will involve the whole Jewish people.”

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement