Dr. Achim Gercke, Reichs-Commissar of Racial Affairs, today outlined the status of of the Jew in the composition of New Germany.
During a private interview the bureau chief pointed out what already has taken place, what are the racial problems created by the current crisis and the solution of those problems. He declared that Jews would not be granted national minority rights, that effective measures would be adopted to prevent intermarriage between Germans and Jews, that all elections are to be abolished, thus making it unnecessary not only for Jews but also other sects to go to the polls on election day, and that Jews desiring to leave Germany would be encouraged rather than hampered.
“Our movement,” said Dr. Gercke, “is merely one of race purification. We are striving to slough off the alien blood, which during the last two hundred years, has seeped into our veins. “We are seeking to become Germans again rather than a nondescript polyglot people. During the next few generations we hope to breed back into the race the sinew and sturdy mentality of our forefathers.”
POOR ARYANS UNAWARE
Dr. Gercke stated that the present move of the administration is an effort to bring Germany’s formerly lax immigration laws to a par with those of other countries.
“The purpose of all immigration laws is to exclude undesirable elements which might harm or utterly destroy the cultural composition of a country. For more than 150 years,” Dr. Gercke said, “Jews have been filtering into Germany. We innocently afforded the vanguard of this migration power equal to that of our own citizens. They assumed as much authority as possible, and before we realized it they were in a position to bring into the country and make citizens thousands of other undesirables. When our national revolution came about the one percent Jewish population of Germany were economic and political tyrants over ninety percent of the Germans.”
Dr. Gercke differentiated between the power of America to absorb Jews and that of Germany. “The German civilization has been solidified through 2,000 years of progress,” he explained. “America is still in the molten state and can readily absorb cosmopolitan influences. The perceptions and psychology of the Jews are so different from those solid, mature appreciations of the Germans that there is no possibility of merging the two.
JEWISH STRAIN “MALIGNANT”
“At present we are attempting to find a modus vivendi—a method of maintaining—the Jews without enabling them to destroy our race.
“We certainly shall not hamper their departure from this country. On the contrary we shall be glad to be rid of them, for their inferiority is daily being bred into our racial strain. Statistics show that Jewish mental ailments are more malignant and more widespread than those of Germans. The rate of diabetes is higher in Jews than in Germans. And, whereas for healthy propagation of the race 4.5 children in each family is considered normal, Jewish marriages produce an average of 0.9, while mixed marriages are even less productive. We consider this fact a reflection on the Jewish lack of virility.
“We intend freeing ourselves from the Jews,” Dr. Gercke said, “by considering them as undesirables. While they will be fully protected by the government, they will not be allowed to wield political or governmental powers or to exercise jurisdiction over Germans. We do not intend to attack them or any group; nor have we attacked them. Those put out of office will receive their pensions.
WAR ON INTERMARRIAGE
“Under the new policy of the government, Jews certainly will not be allowed to become citizens of Germany. Nor will the children of Jews here be allowed to become citizens.
“To prevent the introduction into Germany of helpless children of mixed marriages, who will be destined to grow up with limited rights, we shall shortly enter into an eugenic campaign for the purification of the race. As yet we do not contemplate legislation against mixed marriages; but we shall educate Germans against intermarriage by pointing out the restrictions under which their children will have to live.
“As far as Jewish representation in national affairs goes, there will be none. Voting will henceforth be unnecessary inasmuch as we shall have a Republic on a Cooperative Basis, that is, our government will be elected and directed by chambers drawn from economic interests of the country. From now on there will be no parties other than the incumbent National Socialist. Hence there will be no voting.”
WILL SHOW SOME THE EXIT
When asked what would be done with almost 500,000 Jews still resident in Germany, whose presence would automatically present a threat to complete purification of the race, Dr. Gercke responded, “We shall tolerate them and afford them protection. But we shall erect barriers to their marriage with German folk.
“If these people desire to go to Palestine or other parts of the world, we shall be glad to give them whatever support is required. Jews with Nansen passports or Jews without any citizenship whatsoever can not, of course, go elsewhere. We shall treat them the same as other Jews and afford them the same protection.
“The question of allowing Jews to take their property out of the country is now being considered by the government. A few hours ago Dr. Weidner, who is in charge of Jewish emigration affairs, stopped in to tell me of a plan that is gaining serious consideration by the Reich. According to this plan, as soon as Germany is able to meet its private obligations to foreign lenders in accordance with the Versailles Treaty and stipulations of various other economic agreements, the full amount of Jewish money left in German banks will be turned over to the owners, who in the meantime may go abroad. The money will meanwhile be at their disposal in Germany.”
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.
