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Austrian Catholic Organ Attacks Jews; Lauds Hitler’s “solution”

April 10, 1938
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The first outright attack against Jews since Anschluss, by a Catholic churchman, appears in the current issue of “Catholic Action” and is reprinted in all newspapers today as plebiscite propaganda. The article was written by Pastor Breckle of Trinity Church, a Catholic leader who was previously reputed to be friendly toward the Jews.

The pastor writes: “When Der Fuehrer refuses to permit mixture with a once select people, it is not a hardship he is imposing, but a holy work. Many friends have asked me how I, as a pastor and a believer in Christian love, can approve the expulsion of the Jews. To them I have replied that replacement of Jews has always been according to the will of our God. Nobody called the Jews to the countries of Europe. They came as uninvited guests and pushed themselves so strongly to the forefront of all public professions, not always by excellent performances, that the least one can say is there came to exist a gross disproportion. The situation demanded a change and while no one dared to attack the delicate matter the Jewish question remained unsolved. Now the Fuehrer is solving the matter radically and extensively, but in a free and humane way for both parties, as well for the ‘Aryans’ as for the Jews.”

The well-known cellist, Jakob Feuermann, it was revealed today, was among Jews forced by Nazis to wash streets for six hours. His hands suffered badly, forcing him to discontinue playing for a week.

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