Panic Among Jews in Denmark and Norway; Half of Norwegian Jewish Population Arrested

Panic prevails among the Jews in Denmark and Norway as a result of intensified anti-Jewish measures taken by the Nazi authorities, under the pretext of extending the “safety regulations” in the two occupied countries.

A report reaching here today from Copenhagen states that the Swedish consulate there is besieged with Jews pleading for visas. Very few Swedish visas are issued, however. Some Jews have tried to reach Sweden in small boats, but were turned back by German naval patrols.

In an effort to prevent Jews from escaping from Denmark, the Nazi authorities have issued an order prohibiting Jews to leave the country. Nazi newspapers in Denmark have started a furious propaganda campaign, charging that Jews are chiefly responsible for the present strained relations between Denmark and Germany. Many Jews in Copenhagen are liquidating their businesses and have their belongings packed, ready to leave for Sweden immediately if they can succeed in securing Swedish visas. They are determined to violate the Nazi order prohibiting Jewish emigration, since they are certain that the Jews of Denmark will soon face the same fate as Jews in other Nazi-held countries.

DEPORTATION OF ALL JEWS FROM NORWAY EXPECTED

A report from Norway reveals that almost half of the entire Jewish population there has either been imprisoned or interned by the Nazi occupational authorities. Of the approximately 1,500 Jews in the country, less than 800 are still free, the report says. The mass arrest of Jews in Norway is believed to be only a prelude to the deportation of all Jews from the country.

It was established here today that the announcement made over the Nazi-controlled Oslo radio that the chief rabbi of Copenhagen and five leading members of the executive of the Jewish Community have fled to Sweden is without foundation. The Jewish spiritual and lay leaders of Denmark are remaining at their posts in Copenhagen, anxiously watching the situation. They rely on the King and on their Government to protect Danish Jewry from further and more drastic anti-Jewish measures by the Nazi occupational authorities.

At the same time it was learned here that in Norway the Nazi authorities, in addition to arresting Chief Rabbi Samuel, as well as ten of the most prominent Jewish leaders in Oslo on charges of espionage, have also arrested many leading Jews in Trondheim and other Norwegian towns on the same framed-up charges. The property of all arrested Jews has been confiscated by the German authorities.