Reich Minister of Economics Kurt Schmitt issued another order yesterday to all state governments and commercial associations insisting on the immediate suppression of the Christmas campaign against the Jewish firms. He declared that the government had promised Jewish merchants that they would be able to conduct their Christmas sales in freedom, and that acting on this promise, Jewish merchants had bought up large stocks of merchandise, which if unsold, will cause great loss to the creditors.
Dr. Schmitt ordered local governments throughout Germany to see to it that Jewish firms are not hampered. He also declared that local authorities must allow the Jewish firms to decorate their windows with trees and religious decorations.
“I prohibit this shameful practice of threatening the population against buying Christmas presents in Jewish shops,” the order concluded.
In a lengthy editorial commenting on Dr. Schmitt’s orders, the Berliner Tageblatt declared that the Minister was compelled to issue the order because the campaign against the Jewish shops is increasing, particularly in the provinces, and that this explains the necessity for addressing the state governments. The Reich Minister has no executive power, the editorial states, and can not suppress the anti-Jewish discriminations himself. He can only instruct the state governments to execute his orders.
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.
