Anti-Semitism is increasing in Germany but the anti-Semites are still a minority Erich Lueth, originator of the “Peace with Israel” movement in West Germany, today told newsmen here. Mr. Lueth, who is press officer for the city of Hamburg, is visiting Britain as a member of a German press delegation invited here by the Foreign Office.
Tracing the origins of his movement, Mr. Lueth recalled that he began his personal campaign shortly after reading a statement by Israeli Premier David Ben Gurion that Israel would not follow the Western Powers’ lead in seeking an end to the war with Germany because the Germans had shown no signs of making amends to the Jews nor had they demonstrated any change of heart toward the Jews. Lueth said he was deeply impressed by this point and when Chancellor Konrad Adenauer failed to make any public statement recognizing this complaint he wrote an article expressing his feeling that the Germans should attempt a reconciliation with the Jews.
Although he had difficulty in getting the article published, Mr. Lueth said, once it appeared in a Berlin newspaper he received letters from many Germans in all parts of the country. The cause was also espoused by German radio stations and some newspapers. He reported that the “peace with Israel” campaign has the support of student groups and prominent Protestant and Catholic church leaders in Germany. He concluded that the most important accomplishment of the campaign had been to “break the silence” in Germany over the wrongs done the Jews.
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.
