Morale of Jews in Germany Steadily Deteriorating; All Want to Leave Country

The morale of the Jews in Germany–both German Jews and displaced Jews–is deteriorating from week to week, a survey by this correspondent in various camps in the U.S. zone and in Berlin establishes. Without exception they all say that they want to leave Germany.

The problem of the remaining Jews in Germany is really twofold. There is the problem of those German Jews who miraculously outlived Hitler and who are now living in Jewish communities, especially in the larger cities. The other problem is that of the Jews from eastern Europe who today live chiefly in camps for displaced persons.

While the exact figures for each group are not available, the best estimate is that there are 15,000 German Jews and approximately 35,000 Jews from eastern Europe now in the U.S. zone. The conditions confronting the German Jews are generally better than those faced by the easterners. Jews in Berlin and Frankfurt, for instance, who form the bulk of the German Jews, are again living in communities organized as Gemsindes, and are in a position to be helped by the military authorities and the Jewish agencies. Some have had homes returned to them that were stolen by the Nazis, and others are helped by such agencies as the American Joint Distribution Committee, which subsidizes the needy.

DISPLACED JEWS STILL SUFFERING FROM MALNUTRITION

But the plight of the easterners is much more difficult and, furthermore, the problem has been complicated during recent months by the influx of Polish Jews who have now settled at special camps as infiltrees. Almost all of them live in camps where physical conditions can, at best, be described as no more than tolerable. Food is generally terrible. Meals for an average day consist of bread and coffee for breakfast, an unrecognizable stew for lunch, and more bread and coffee for dinner. The diet varies slightly from week to week.

It is true that many displaced Jews have gained weight because of the preponderance of start by foods, but nutritionally these men and women are starved and their resistance to sickness is low. Children who are allowed some powdered milk, generally appear three or four years younger than they are.

JEWS IN BERLIN CAMP OVERWHELMINGLY FAVOR PALESTINE EMIGRATION

A report by UNRRA officials of the Dupel camp for displaced Jews in the American sector of Berlin reveals that the overwhelming number of the refugees in the camp wish to emigrate to Palestine. The conclusions are based not upon a special poll, but on the original forms filled out when the displaced Jews arrived at the camp.

Leaders of the Jewish community in the city are working overtime in an effort to compile the results of a questionnaire on emigration desires circulated among Jewish residents over the weekend, which will be submitted to the Anglo-American inquiry committee.