More than 6,000 Jewish immigrants have volunteered for the French army through the recruiting station operated by the Association of Jewish War Veterans, it was announced today. The station is registering the volunteers at the rate of 200 per hour. It is expected that practically all able-bodied young men among this city’s 100,000 Jewish immigrants, not including refugees, will be wearing French military uniforms before the week is out.
Jewish women are also clamoring to enlist in any services useful to the French cause. Their number is so large that the Women’s International Zionist Organization, together with the OSE (Jewish health society) and the Federation of Jewish Societies, opened a special office to register all Jewish women who wish to participate in defense activities. At the same time the Federation of Polish Jews started courses in medical and sanitary aid for women interested in engaging in Red Cross work.
Meanwhile, the authorities ordered all aliens to register with the police within five days to determine whether they wish to remain in France or leave the country. Those desiring to leave will be given the facilities to do so, but it can be safely predicted that few foreign Jews will depart as the urge to remain in France and to contribute to French victory and Hitler’s defeat is too great.
The same order provides for registration of German nationals or former German citizens and instructs those required to register to bring with them food for two days and hand luggage, apparently in preparation for isolating those who may fall under the category of real Germans. As a majority of the Jewish refugees from the Reich have already registered for service in the French army, this order is expected to have little effect upon them.
It is taken for granted that aged refugees who could not enlist will not be treated as ordinary German citizens. The same is true with regard to women, who may, however, be asked to leave for the interior of their own free will. Non-refugee holders of German passports may be interned.
The Palestine Office here announced that official steps have been taken to repatriate all Palestinian citizens, all of whom have been asked to register with the office.
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.
