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Nazis Reported Split on Jewish Policy; Majority Held Opposing New Pogroms

August 31, 1939
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German officials were reported here today to be split on the policy to be adopted toward the Reich Jews in view of the war crisis.

Berlin advices said the dominant Nazi faction was eager to use the Jews in national services, opposed anti-Jewish violence as injuring Nazi prestige abroad, especially in the United States, and as being a dangerous precedent for general disturbances.

The other faction was said to favor pogroms in order to show contempt for foreign opinion and to divert the explosive feelings of the population.

No popular feeling against the Jews was noticeable in Berlin, but it was feared that the anti-war sentiment, which was widespread in the Reich, might lead to anti-Jewish excesses for lack of other outlets. It was said that if anti-Jewish disorders broke out, foreign Jews might not be spared.

A number of Jewish would-be emigrants were reported to be stranded on the German side of the frontier despite possession of emigration permits and transit visas. It was said that Jews were being turned back at the borders, while non-Jews were not being halted.

German Jews intending to emigrate to the United States and Canada were turned back at the Netherlands frontier when they were unable to prove to officials satisfaction that they would leave this country within 24 hours. Even Jews producing tickets for ocean liners leaving Netherlands and Belgian ports within the next few days were halted.

Newspapers published English language announcements that Americans would be deported to the countries from which they came here unless they left within “a limited number of days.”

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