Jewish economic circles expressed fear tonight that the appointment of Air Minister Hermann Goering as virtual economic dictator of Germany foreshadowed difficult days for the remaining Jews in industry and commerce.
They based their uneasiness on Nazi press comment on Chancellor Hitler’s appointment, particularly the statement in Hitler’s Voelkischer Beobachter, chief Nazi organ, that “Goering will now get rid of certain groups in our economic system.”
Editorials in the Voelkischer Beobachter and the Essener National Zeitung left no doubt that Dr. Hjalmar Schacht, Minister of Economics and Finance, had been completely shelved and was no longer in a position to issue orders against Nazi molestation of Jews in commerce.
The National Zeitung stressed that Goering would soon begin issuing economic decrees, while the Beobachter stated editorially that Dr. Schacht would have no authority to question the new decrees.
“There will not be any internal fight between portfolio holders,” said the Beobachter. “There is only one supreme authority on all economic questions and that is Party Member Goering.”
The National Zeitung said that the execution of Hitler’s four-year plan for German economic independence could not be trusted to a mere minister or economic expert, but had to be placed in the hands of a person” who has standing not only in the state but in the party.”
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.
