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Finland Opens Doors to Jewish Refugees from Norway, Denmark

May 12, 1940
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The Finnish Government was reported today to have opened its frontiers to Jewish refugees from Norway and Denmark and to be particularly eager to admit Jewish doctors, dentists, engineers and skilled artisans. Refugees from Norway state that most of the Jewish homes in Bergen were destroyed by bombardment or requisitioned by Nazi soldiers.

At the same time, the secret broadcasting station of the German opposition, “Freedom Station,” reported that the Nazis were introducing anti-Jewish measures in Denmark. The Gestapo has appointed a special commission to prepare introduction of racial laws in Scandinavian territories, the broadcast said.

Meanwhile, the Nazi occupation authorities have already forbidden Danish Jews to engage in banking and the jewelry business. Prohibition of mixed marriages and segregation of Jewish from non-Jewish children are expected shortly.

Thus far the Nazis have not yet permitted youths training in Denmark for agricultural settlement in Palestine to leave the country. Letters received by relatives in Holland indicate that the youths expect the training farms to be allowed to continue functioning.

Despite an avalanche of anti-Jewish incitement by the Nazi-controlled papers in Denmark, the Danes are rejecting the propaganda as they are everything else advocated by the Nazis. It is reported that the relationship between Danes and Jews has never been better.

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