Geave Economic Distress in German Jewry: Serious Report from Breslau.

The economic distress in Breslau and throughout Silesia and the Eastern parts of Germany has hit the local Jewish population particularly hard, the “Juedisches Wochenblatt” reports. Old established banking houses, numerous industrial and commercial firms of the highest integrity which have been for decades in Jewish hands have crashed. Veteran businessmen, who were once men of wealth, have lost everything and to-day have not even the means of earning a bare livelihood. Industrious employees have no idea where they are to get their next meal. The Jewish community in Breslau is making strenuous efforts to alleviate this distress and to maintain its welfare and educational institutions. Antisemitism is also a great danger, as is shown by the fact that in the last Roichstag elections in September the Hitlerists obtained in the Breslau district 24 out of every 100 votes cast. Hitlerism is going ahead with its sinister campaign.

In order to obtain an idea of the real gravity of the political and economic situation of the Jewish population in this area, the paper proceeds, the President of the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith, Dr. Julius Brodnitz, Dr. Alfred Viener, the Syndikus of the Central Union, and Herr Max Eisenkraemor, its Financial Director, spent a few days in Breslau recently. Dr. Viener painted a gloomy picture for us of the general situation in the country based on the reports received by the Berlin head office from the various communities. Dr. Brodnitz told us that he was alive to the economic needs of the present moment, but he warned us not to throw up our hands in despair and become victims of the crisis mentality.

The President of the Breslau Jewish Community, Councillor Peiser, described to Dr. Brodnitz and Dr. Wiener the alarming economic situation of the Jews in Breslau and Silesia, and appealed through them to the Prussian Federation of Jewish Communities not to shut its eyes to the dangerous position of Silesian Jewry, but to take steps to send them immediate aid. Dr. Brodnitz assured him that the Central Union followed with great interest every effort made in the economic field to alleviate the economic suffering, but he explained that it was not the purpose of the Central Union to participate in such activities. The work, of the Central Union was to fight against incitement and boycott, and according to its Constitution, for equal political and economic rights.