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Nazis Arrest Non-jewish Youths in Holland for Displaying Sympathy for Jews

May 26, 1942
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The Nazi-controlled Amsterdam radio announced tonight that new anti-Jewish measures would soon be introduced, including banning Jews from public transportation services, as a wave of sympathy for the Jews was reported sweeping Holland.

Clamping down on Dutch demonstrations of pro-Jewish sympathies, the Nazi authorities have arrested many non-Jewish youths in Amsterdam and other cities who donned yellow stars to evidence their solidarity with the Jews, the German organ, Deutsche Zeitun in den Niederlanden, announced. They will be subjected for a period of time to the regulations covering Jews.

Among the regulations to be applied to these non-Jews, the German organ said, will be ouster from employment in the public services, a ban on visits to cafes, cinemas, parks and bathing resorts. Those repeating the offense “will be punished with greater severity,” the Deutsche Zeitung said, threatening internment in concentration camps.

The Nazi paper, De Misthoorn, denounced residents of the town of Weesp, near Amsterdam, who had demonstrated friendship for the Jews when all Jewish inhabitants were expelled recently. “A purification process took place in Weesp on April 29,” the Nazi paper said,” which means that the town is now free of the desert nomads.”

“At one P.M.,” the Nazi paper continues, “the Jews made their last appearance in the town, and they were seen off by the inhabitants. These Weespenaars, who are for the most part very Christian, degraded themselves by carrying the Jews’ luggage. On a tunnel wall a large placard was posted saying, “Au Revoir.” We even saw a Christian school teacher named Bouhuys crying like a child. Recently this Bouhuys twice entered a classroom showing a Jewish star and saying, “Children, all Jews must wear this. Weespenaars also should do as the Amsterdammers, who raise their hats when meeting a Jew with a star.”

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