Gestapo Bans Use of Fire Brigades for Synagogue Blazes in Bohemia

The Gestapo has issued a secret order to fire brigades throughout Bohemia-Moravia, according to advices from Prague today, not to answer calls if fires break out in synagogues or buildings of Jewish communal institutions, but to give service only in localizing the blazes.

Meanwhile, several prominent Jews in Maerisch-Ostrau, including Dr. Eisner, president of the local Jewish community, were arrested during a religious service in the house of a certain Krieger for the latter’s son, who had died in Palestine. Gestapo agents arrived at the moment when the 70-year-old Krieger was reciting Kaddish for his son and seized all those present.

Election of the presidium of the Jewish community of Bruenn took place in the presence of a special Gestapo agent. Dr. Sonnenfeld was elected president and his election was conformed by the Gestapo.

Meanwhile, destitution among the Jewish population was reported increasing daily, with at least 6,000 Jews depending for their maintenance upon welfare organizations which are spending 100,000 kronen weekly for relief.

Because of lack of funds, the relief was said to be entirely insufficient. Among persons receiving relief were 2,500 refugees from the Sudeten areas and 1,500 from Germany and Austria. A Jewish soup kitchen will be opened this week, if permission from the Gestapo is obtained, to supply needy Jews who are excluded from the lists of general welfare organizations.

Under the caption, “Czech anti-Semitism,” the Narodni Politika, organ of the Czech Fascists, tries to prove that anti-Semitism is not an alien influence but a Czech national movement. It recalls boastfully that Prague was the scene of the biggest progrom in the Middle Ages. “Masaryk and Benes,” the paper states, “suppressed anti-Semitism, but the brakes are removed now and with German help Czech anti-Semitism will continue its good work.”