Repatriation of Baltic Germans Has Adverse Effect on Jews

Repatriation of Germans from the Baltic countries has, paradoxically, struck a severe blow to Jews there, according to advices reaching here today.

Hardest hit are many Jewish firms in Riga, Latvia, who had sold merchandise on credit to the local German population. Collection of the debts is impossible, since the Germans are being rushed out of the country in unseemly haste.

At the same time, wealthier Jews in the Baltic lands are in dread of Communist occupation before the war is ended. Sandwiched between Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany, these Jews have no way to emigrate while there is still time. The only route theoretically still open to them is to the Scandinavian countries, but escape there is virtually impossible since no visas are being issued to the citizens of Baltic countries by the Scandinavian consulates.