862.4016/1610
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 11.]
Sir: With reference to the anti-Jewish campaign, which has escaped notice for some time, I have the honor to report that the drive to force Jews out of business is proceeding very much in the manner forecast in the Embassy’s despatch No. 2552 of December 21, 1935,91 namely, that as a result of the failure to define the Jews’ economic status by law, Party leaders and organizations are taking the matter into their own hands and appear to be doing what they can to throttle the Jews’ means of existence.
It is learned from a leader in the local Jewish community that in southern Germany the authorities have begun to deprive of their licenses to work many Jewish stateless persons. A great majority of this group consists of Jews who came to Germany from the eastern countries after the War, and it is estimated that if the procedure is carried to its full conclusion, some 8 to 10,000 Jews may thus be forced to give up gainful occupations. The dismissal of Jews and mixed Jews from business and industry is also continuing under pressure from the Labor Front. It is stated that in cases where employers have objected that they cannot dispense with the services of Jewish skilled workers, the Labor Front compels them to accept Aryan apprentices who as soon as they are trained displace the Jewish employees.
As an illustration of the method employed in forcing Jews out of business, a letter addressed by the Labor Front to a Jewish wholesale egg dealer, who incidentally was a former war combatant, may be [Page 198] cited. It would be difficult to conceive a more insulting letter and the reference in it to certain “unwritten laws” is particularly significant. This communication came into the hands of the Commercial Attaché who courteously furnished the following translation:
[Here follows translation of letter, not printed.]
It is learned from an official in a Jewish emigrant office in Berlin that the Soviet authorities appear willing to admit a considerable number of Jewish doctors and that it is hoped to facilitate the migration to Russia of between three and four thousand doctors during the present year. Whether the German authorities on the other hand will permit their departure is perhaps another question, and in this connection mention may be made of a conversation with a certain Jewish doctor of the Embassy’s acquaintance. This doctor stated that he was planning to leave Germany immediately as he had been informed by a friend in the War Ministry that a law was under discussion which would prohibit the emigration of Jewish doctors. The Army’s apparent concern regarding the scarcity of doctors, and its reported intervention with a view to securing Jewish doctors’ continuance in practice, will be recalled from the Embassy’s despatch No. 2550 of December 19, 1935.92
From another well-informed Jewish source it is learned that the Munich authorities have taken up a number of passports belonging to Jews and have canceled their validity for travel abroad, evidently to assure themselves that Jewish emigrants fulfill all the necessary formalities with respect to taxes and exchange procedures before leaving the country. This same informant stated that the German Jews had noticed the outbreak of anti-Semitic campaigns in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and had satisfied themselves that these were being fomented by the Party Auslandsorganisation in Berlin through the Nazi cells in these countries.
An oft-repeated Nazi claim is that the external evidences of the anti-Jewish campaign are being curbed and will completely disappear by the time of the Olympic Games this summer in Berlin. It has already been observed in this connection that many of the red showcases in which Julius Streicher’s Stürmer is displayed now no longer bear the title of this paper but the simple inscription NSDAP; these showcases will probably be used to put on view more edifying literature this summer. Whether or not the Stürmer and other anti-Jewish periodicals of its ilk will be completely suppressed remains to be seen although certain of the more plausible Party officials steadfastly maintain that this step will also ensue. The Nazis are putting great store by the Olympic Games to rehabilitate and enhance the [Page 199] reputation of the “New Germany” and if all goes smoothly, their hopes are likely to be fully justified particularly as it has been observed that foreigners who see only Berlin and the larger towns, who speak no German and have only the usual tourist contacts with the people are inclined to reject as libel press reports respecting such unpleasant occurrences as Jewish persecution which they have previously read in their home papers. Not content evidently that the city’s cleanliness and order will make the customary favorable impression upon the visiting tourist, the Olympic authorities are taking no chances but are understood to have already begun training a corps of some 2000 interpreters who will not only be proficient linguists but will be skillful also in parrying embarrassing questions and in insinuating praise of National Socialism in their small talk.
Respectfully yours,