Danzig Pogroms

Following its western neighbor into violence against Jews, the Free City of Danzig was the site of a night of terror. A widespread riot occurred against Jews in the city with many shops destroyed and synagogues desecrated and burned.

Unlike in Germany, there were protests against the violence by those in power. The League of Nations Commisioner, Dr. Burkhardt of Switzerland, lodged complaints against the pogroms but he was barely heard.

Danzig Jews included in atonement

The recent Kristallnacht pogroms in German and Austria led to a bill to be paid by the Jews. Yesterday, it was announced that this will now include Danzig Jews. The amount is 1 Billion reichsmark.

Jewish Protests against Kristallnacht

Last night, in four large cities of the USSR, there were rallies in protest of the pogroms of last month in Germany and Austria as well as growing violence against Jews in France and Poland.

The Rallies were held in Odessa, Kiev, Leningrad and Moscow itself. The Soviet Police did not interfere with the protests.

Jews taken out of Economic Order

In recent days, the Nazi Party has made things even worse for Jews in Germany and Austria.

On November 21st, German Jews with assets over 5,000 Reichsmarks are required to pay a 20% tax on their registered assets with the Reich treasury. At this point, there are likely few Jews who have that much in assets left.

Two days later, November 23rd, an Administrative order came down that dissolved all Jewish own plants and businesses. The Nazis didn't even bother to transfer the properties to non-Jewish owners. They were just ended. All Jewish owned firms ceased to exist.

With many Jews left with no way to work, no money to support themselves and their families, they are rendered destitute in a land where they are despised, beaten, raped and murdered.

No word yet on the 30,000 to 100,ooo Jews that were arrested during Kristallnacht a fortnight ago.

Catholic Priest takes on Jews in Radio Broadcast

Father Charles Coughlin of Michigan has a radio broadcast and he is using it. His broadcasts have increasingly favored Hitler and Mussolini.

Now, two weeks after the pogroms of Germany and Austria, Father Coughlin has been making anti-semitic remarks in his broadcast. In the most recent, November 20th, he said "Jewish persecution only followed after Christians first were persecuted." This was a reference to the many Christians killed by Russian Marxists during the Russian Revolution. He has also said that the Nazi Party is essential to hold the Soviet threat in check.

The Roman Catholic Church has yet to comment.

German Jewish Visas extended

In reaction to Kristallnacht, the US State Department has decided to extend the visas of German Jews in the United States. This will affect an estimated 15,000 people who have been here for varied lengths of time. This was announced yesterday only eight days since the violence ended and four days since the recall of US Ambassador to Germany, Hugh Wilson.

Political Asylum may also be an option for many of these Germans who may be unable to return to their homes.

American Virgin islands make offer to Jews

Today, the American Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Ocean made an offer to German and Austrian Jews. They offered up their islands as safe havens from discrimination and the increasingly absurd and draconian laws against Jews. The tropical paradise would be a welcome respite from the poor conditions they find themselves in now.

Jewish leaders ask Chamberlain to save Jewish children

British Jewish Leaders have petitioned the British Prime Minister to take on Jewish children from Germany and Austria. In the wake of the horrendous events of Kristallnacht, what the pogroms of November 9th are being 10th are being called. There is a fear that the children will suffer inhumane fates at the hands of the Nazis.

Among other measures, they requested that the British government permit the temporary admission of Jewish children who would later re-emigrate. The Jewish community promised to pay guarantees for the refugee children.

In light of Kristallnacht and the public outrage against the Nazi Party, the Prime Minister has assured the British Jewish Community that he would take their concerns and proposal to the cabinet for discussion today.

British sever Diplomatic relations with Germany

After the recent widespread pogroms throughout Germany and Austria that led to massive amounts of damage to Jews and Jewish property, the British Empire has severed diplomatic ties to the German nation.

This comes only six weeks after brokering a deal with France and Italy to bring the Sudetenland under Nazi control.

International Reaction to Pogroms

The recent spate of violence in Germany and Austria against Jews there have provoked some criticism elsewhere in the world.

The United States will be recalling its ambassador. President Roosevelt stated that he could "scarcely believe that such things could occur in a twentieth-century civilization". As an expression of the condemnation by the people and Government of the United States, the President ordered Ambassador Hugh Wilson to return from Germany at once.

No word yet on whether diplomatic ties will be severed. France has said it will ending any diplomatic connection with Germany in protest.

There has been talk among some politicians to declare war on Germany just for the atrocities it inflicted upon its own people. In addition, there has been an increase in German Jews trying to flee their homeland.

Jews forced to repay Reich

Yesterday, the German Government ordered the Jewish population of the Reich to pay possibly as much as 1 billion Reichsmark for the damages incurred during Kristallnacht.

Reichskristallnacht

Totals from the destructive progoms against German and Austrian Jews are now known. These may be adjusted slightly but all indications are that these are the figures. Some have been released by Minister Reinhard Heydrich and so come from the Nazi authority.

According to Minister Heydrich, 191 Synagogues were destroyed (constituting nearly all Germany had), with 76 completely demolished; 100,000 Jews were arrested; three foreigners were arrested; 174 people were arrested for looting Jewish shops; and 815 Jewish businesses were destroyed.

It is believed that 7500 Jewish stores and businesses were destroyed by violent Germans. The event has begun to be called Kristallnacht, Reichskristallnacht or Reichspogromnacht.

At this time there may have been a total of 91 deaths due to mob violence. It is unclear how many of these were Jews but it is believed to be all. Many Jews were beaten to death with other Jews being forced to watch on.

Synagogues were not merely damaged and burned but also looted with much of ceremonial treasures stolen and destroyed. Many Temples even had their mezuzot taken from the doorways.

Jewish cemeteries were not spared violence. Tombstones were uprooted and graves violated. Fires were lit, and prayer books, scrolls, artwork and philosophy texts were thrown upon them, and precious buildings were either burned or smashed until unrecognisable. Even the ancestors and the dead were not spared violence and the peace of being dearly departed.

Goebbels ascribed the events to the "healthy instincts" of the German people. He went on to explain: "The German people are anti-Semitic. It has no desire to have its rights restricted or to be provoked in the future by parasites of the Jewish race."

Events in only recently annexed Austria were no less horrendous. Of the entire Kristallnacht only the pogrom in Vienna was completely successful. Most of Vienna's 94 synagogues and prayer-houses were partially or totally destroyed. People were subjected to all manner of humiliations, including being forced to scrub the pavements whilst being tormented by their fellow Austrians, some of whom had been their friends and neighbors.

Thousands were arrested throughout the riots with no word on what the charges are (many were arrested under the pretence of protection as the Nazis call it) or when they will be released. Countless Jews commit suicide during the pogrom as well.

Internationally, the reaction to the extreme violence has been shock. Many foreign papers have printed accounts of the series of events and destruction of Jewish temples.

Riots against German & Austiran Jews subside

Mob law ruled in Berlin throughout the afternoon and evening and hordes of hooligans indulged in an orgy of destruction. There have several anti-Jewish outbreaks in Germany during the last five years, but never anything as nauseating as this. Racial hatred and hysteria seemed to have taken complete hold of otherwise decent people. Even fashionably dressed women were clapping their hands and screaming with glee, while respectable middle-class mothers held up their babies to see the "fun".

Much Jewish property was damaged and destroyed throughout the violence which has now come to an end after Propaganda minister Joseph Geobbels requested it, though it sounds more like an order. They have been accounts of several deaths during the riots. Figures of the actual destruction is still being accumulated. It mat be some days before the total figures are known, including the dead, injured and arrested.

Riots in Germany & Austria

Violence erupted in the late hours last night. The riots and violence was in response to the murder of Nazi Ernst vom Rath in Paris at the hands of German-born Polish Jew Herschel Grynszpan. Rath lost his life last night at a hospital in Paris even with Chancellor Hitler's own personal physician Dr. Brandt tending to his recovery.

Last night was also the fifteenth anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch which the Nazis look back fondly as an important day in the formation and evolution of their controversial political party.

Destruction of Jewish property has been widespread. Many synagogues, large and small, have been damaged and burned by angry German people. Using sledgehammers many shops windows have been shattered leaving glass shards and pieces all over the streets.

Jewish homes have been ransacked all throughout Germany and Austria. Although violence against Jews has not been explicitly condoned by the authorities, there have been cases of Jews being beaten or assaulted. In an interesting twist, foreign Jews have generally been left alone.

The Riots continue. The Police is not interfering with the mobs but many men are being arrested nontheless. A unsubstantiated rumor is the men are Jews being rounded up for further deportations.