“A Detroit Jew”, writing from Berlin to the Detroit News, describes the horrors suffered by German Jews and the reasons for their silence.
“When the first reports of riot, murder and mistreatment reached foreign shores from Germany,” he wrote, “the leaders of our new government feared the reputation of this country would be harmed and immediately issued a proclamation commanding every man, woman and child to write their foreign relatives that nothing of the sort happened in order to save Germany’s reputation and put their leader in a better light.
“In reality, much has happened, and as soon as letters are not censored, our foreign brethren will hear enough to make them condemn forever Hitler and his tactics. For the present, we ‘chosen people’, boycotted and ousted, humiliated and made to feel homeless and without equal rights, without a fatherland, and without much hope, are getting tired and weary of hearing the reports that ‘nothing happened here’. Oh no, nothing happened, but for centuries the world will speak of 1933 as the age of medieval darkness.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.