In an attempt to relieve the critical shortage of manpower, the Italian Government last night announced a drastic labor conscription under which all Jewish men and women between the ages of 18 and 35 will be placed at forced labor.
The Rome Radio, as reported by the Federal Communications Commission, stated that “non-Aryans” who, “among other things, are not liable for military service,” will be drafted “to prevent anybody from evading labor service.
The broadcast added that the Jewish labor conscripts “will be rigorously organized and directed to take up work in areas that will be established by the Ministry of Corporations.” It disclosed that the “total mobilization” will take place on July 1.
At the same time the Rome broadcast stated that non-Jewish men between the ages of 18 to 36, and women between the ages of 18 to 24 would be drafted for compulsory labor service.
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.
