Reports from various cities indicated today that with few exceptions all German, Polish and “stateless” male Jews aged 18 to 60 were being rounded up for concentration in southern Italy.
Three hundred picket up in early morning raids in Rome are known to have been sent to Salerno. Several hundred others have been jailed pending transport to towns in the vicinity of Salerno.
During the first few days after Italy’s entrance into the war, the procedure was ti make raids shortly after sunrise to catch the victims abed. Indications are that the arrested persons have been well treated and it is understood that they are considered minor political prisoners and are treated accordingly. Information from Salerno reveals that no hardships have been imposed on the internees there. They are free during the day and must report at the barracks at sunset, where they are quartered in bunks six to eight to a room.
The greatest hardship is in the breaking up of families, since in most cases wives and children are left behind in dire poverty. Italian Jewish relief organizations are trying to cope with the situation and it is believed likely that some of the families will be reunited in towns where the men are concentrated.
Meanwhile, arrests of Italian Jews have almost ceased. So far as is known, 400 to 500 have been rounded up in all and these will be concentrated near Aquilla and Matera. Many apparently were arrested because they had previously resided abroad. These include a professor who was sent to Bulgaria by the Italian Government after winning a competition for the post. Others were arrested because of their pre-Fascist political beliefs. Numerous non-Jews are faring similarly.
Generally, the fate of the Jews in Italy following the country’s entry into the conflict can be considered less severe than had been previously believed possible, but it cannot be predicted whether the Government will take more severe measures. A surprising note is that anti-Jewish demonstrations which had been expected following Italy’s entry into the war have not materialized. Instead, a section of the Italian press is extensively reporting waves of anti-Semitic outbursts in occupied France.
It is reported from Berlin that many Jews are leaving for the United States by way of Russia. Travel bureaus in the Nazi capital are selling all-expense-included tickets to Manchukuo with a three-hour stop in Moscow. Trains leave twice weekly. The fare is 534 marks.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
