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Move to “ghettoize” Berlin Seen in Park Bench Segregation

August 20, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date

THE FIRST OFFICIAL MOVE TO “GHETTO-IZE” BERLIN APPEARED TODAY IN THE FORM OF A STENCILED INSCRIPTION ON 92 PARK BENCHES IN TEUTOBURGER PLATZ IN THE NORTHEASTERN PRENZLAUERBURG DISTRICT: “JEWS PROHIBITED.” EIGHT BENCHES REMAINING WERE RESERVED FOR JEWS.

APPLICATION OF A SIMILAR RESTRICTION IN OTHER BERLIN PARKS AND SQUARES WAS URGED IN DER. ANGRIFF, ORGAN OF PROPAGANDA MINISTER PAUL JOSEPH GOEBBELS.

JEWS WERE FORBIDDEN TO CHANGE THEIR NAMES, IN A DECREE ISSUED BY MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR WILHELM FRICK. APPLICATIONS FOR NAME CHANGES WILL BE GRANTED, UNDER THE DECREE, TO PERSONS OF “ARYAN” BLOOD OR WITH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF JEWISH ANCESTRY BUT IF THE APPLICANT IS JEWISH OR HALF JEWISH, THE REQUEST WILL BE REFUSED.

ANOTHER DECREE BY DR. FRICK RESTRICTED THE PATRONAGE OF JEWISH BOOK SHOPS TO JEWS AND FORBADE THE SHOPS FROM SELLING WORKS OF GERMAN “ARYAN” WRITERS. JEWISH BOOKSELLERS MAY CARRY ONLY THE WRITINGS OF JEWS AND FOREIGNERS, DR. FRICK DECREED, AND MUST DISPLAY A POSTER ANNOUNCING THEIR JEWISH OWNERSHIP AND SELL ONLY TO CUSTOMERS PRODUCING DOCUMENTS CERTIFYING THAT THEY ARE JEWS.

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