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Report Reich Will Temper Recent Decrees

December 11, 1938
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The Nazi Government will temper the harshness of recently-passed anti-Semitic decrees in applying the measures and grant Jews a number of relative “privileges,” it was learned today from authorized German sources.

For example, the recent measures taken by Berlin police chief Count Wolf Heinrich von Helldorf, forbidding Jews to circulate on certain specially-designated capital streets, will not be extended to other Reich cities. Furthermore it was believed von Helldorf will issue no further anti-Jewish measures at present. It was also stated that the Government is not envisaging any measure compelling Jews to wear a special insignia designating their race.

In addition, Jewish proprietors of villas or large apartments will be permitted to give lodgings to fellow-Jews evicted from apartments by “Aryan” real-estate owners. As Jews will no longer be able to purchase wares in Jewish-owned shops after Jan. 1, 1939 — the deadline set by the Nazi authorities for the taking over of all Jewish shops — German businessmen will be allowed to sell to them. Likewise they will be permitted to frequent cafes, hotels and restaurants, with the exception of those reserved for Nazi organizations. Jews have been barred from frequenting cafes, restaurants and theatres since the murder of Ernst Vom Rath in Paris set off the great wave of anti-Semitic persecution.

Especially significant were reports that Nazi authorities were reported studying creation of labor camps for all indigent able-bodied Jews. It was generally believed that Germany’s 700,000 Jews will have left the Reich in five years.

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