Thousands of Rumanian Jews faced loss of livelihood today as a result of a decree, made public here last night, forbidding all Jews to join the totalitarian Party of the Nation.
The decree followed on the heels of formation of the pro-Nazi party by King Carol, swinging Rumania into line with the Rome-Berlin axis, with one of its basic tenets limiting to party members the right to hold public office, serve as an executive in any commercial or industrial enterprise, or practice a profession.
The measure, which had been expected, places new disabilities upon uncounted thousands of Rumania’s 800,000 Jews, some 225,000 of whom have already suffered a severe economic setback by virtue of their having been deprived of citizenship under the Citizenship Revision Law.
Meanwhile, members of the violently anti-Semitic Iron Guard, many of whom had been in jail since the Iron Guardist assassination of Premier Armand Calinescu in September, 1939, began to join the Government party, in which the terrorist organization is assigned an important role. First of the Iron Guardists to join the party were Ion Zelea Codreanu, brother of the slain Iron Guard leader, and a brother-in-law.
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.
