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Reich Starts Purge of Jewish Lawyers in Austria; 500 to Be Affected

The long-expected purge of Jews in the Austrian legal profession started today when notices of suspension were sent to Jewish lawyers by the Reichs Ministry of Justice. The attorneys were given three weeks to wind up pending cases and to turn over their clientele to “Aryan” lawyers. It is expected that at least 500 Jewish […]

June 9, 1938
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The long-expected purge of Jews in the Austrian legal profession started today when notices of suspension were sent to Jewish lawyers by the Reichs Ministry of Justice. The attorneys were given three weeks to wind up pending cases and to turn over their clientele to "Aryan" lawyers. It is expected that at least 500 Jewish attorneys will lose their means of livelihood.

Occasional arrests, particularly in the Jewish quarter, continued during the two days of the Shevuoth holiday which ended Monday night. A group of Jews were taken into custody near the Great Synagogue. Some worshippers were arrested while leaving the synagogue after "Yiskor" (prayer for the dead) and were taken away by the police.

In the tenth district, ten to fifteen Jewish women were assembled by storm troopers yesterday and were made to wash benches and windows of a tennis court office. This was the first resurgence of the campaign of enforced washing in several weeks.

Tuerkenschanz Park was entirely barred to Jews. Giant signs reading, "Jews Enter at Their Own Risk," were posted in front of the park’s five entrances, two of them bearing painted skulls and crossbones. At the same time, on the popular Elizabeth Promenade along the Danube Canal every tenth bench was marked "For Jews," and storm troopers patrolled to see that the admonition was obeyed. Jews attempting during the holidays to enter the famed Vienna Woods were stopped at the Grizing Wood entrance and ordered back.

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