U.S. Authorities in Bavaria Comply with Chief Rabbi’s Request for Investigation

A German magistrate today began an investigation of the affairs of Bavarian Chief Rabbi Aaron Ohrenstein to see if he was involved in the alleged fraudulent dealings of Dr. Philip Auerbach, former head of the Bavarian Restitution Office. However, before the inquiry had gone very far during its first day, the matter was taken over by the American authorities because Rabbi Ohrenstein, who had requested the investigation to clear himself of “rumors” which he said were destroying his reputation, is not a German citizen.

Dr. Julius Spanier, who is both chairman of the Jewish Community Council of Munich and a member of the Bavarian Senate, has charged that Dr. Ohrenstein was involved in the forgery of documents to establish the validity of claims filed with the Restitution Office. Dr. Spanier, who has called a meeting of the council for next week to expel Dr. Ohrenstein, a member of the body, has himself come under fire of the opposition groups within the community. These groups say that he is attempting to defeat the opposition, with whom Rabbi Ohrenstein is associated by charging the Rabbi with a crime. A Jewish delegation will visit George N. Shuster, American Commissioner for Bavaria, Thursday, in connection with the Ohrenstein investigation.

Meanwhile, Josef Mueller, Bavarian Minister of Justice, told a press conference today that the investigation of Rabbi Ohrenstein is part of the Auerbach affair. He asserted that “new and complex” frauds involving the former restitution director are being discovered “every week.” The German authorities recently arrested a number of poor Jews who received small welfare allowances from Auerbach’s office without having validated claims.

Jewish spokesmen here today stated that an American commission investigating restitution progress in Bavaria would find that neither Dr. Auerbach nor his successor, Dr. Franz Zdralek, have obeyed the restitution law in respect to making payments to persons eligible for restitution who live outside of Germany. They pointed out that the Bavarian Government has not yet allocated funds for this purpose, despite the fact that some 50,000 claims were filed before the deadline by former German residents who suffered at the hands of the Nazis.

They also point out that even the claims of persecutees who are still in Germany are being settled at a very slow rate and for a small fraction of the amount claimed. Since Dr. Zdralek took office several months ago, they say, only 300 cases have been settle–none of which included the claims of Jews. Sixty policemen are still assigned to the investigation of the Restitution Office and continue to immobilize the office’s files.

Meanwhile, Dr. Spanier, who in addition to being the head of Munich’s Jewish community is also a member of the Bavarian Senate, attacked Dr. Philip Auerbach in a speech in the Senate. Dr. Spanier pointed out that he had warned various members of the government as long as two years ago against Dr. Auerbach’s activities, but “nobody would listen.” Dr. Spanier also asked that the Bonn Government make funds available for the payment of compensation to victims of Nazism.