The report that Paul Josef Goebbels, head of the Hitler party in Berlin, editor of “Der Angriff” and the worst Jew baiter in the Nazi party will be appointed president of the Police Department of Berlin, coupled with sporadic attacks upon the Jews, has contrived to considerably increase the tension of the Jewish population, living in great anxiety since Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor.
Several cases of attack on Jews by Nazi Storm Troopers, drunk with victory, have been reported to the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith. A Jewish funeral procession was abused by the Nazis; the windows of a book store owned by a Jew, Gonzer, were smashed; Nazi Storm Troops riding in city trains, shouted abuse at the Jews: “Out with the Jews!” they cried. These incidents are regarded as symptomatic of the present mood of the Nazis.
An effort to introduce some semblance of calm was made by spokesmen for the Central Union at a press conference today. The Central Union leaders declared that seven members of the cabinet are not Nazis and thus outweigh three enemies of the Jews whom the cabinet does contain. Even the Nazis will hesitate before carrying out actual excesses against the Jews, the Central Union holds, because they will consider the impression created abroad, particularly on Mussolini who opposes anti-Semitism.
The Central Union leaders admit that the situation is more serious in Prussia than elsewhere in view of the fact that Captain Hermann Goering, the Nazi leader in favor of extreme measures against the Jews, has been appointed Minister of Interior with control of the police.
In Prussia therefore, discrimination against the Jews, including non citizens and Staatenlose, is awaited.
The Central Union has established the closest contact with the Jewish population throughout Germany including the isolated districts and the quarters populated by East European Jews in an effort to calm the population, it was revealed.
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