Sinti & Roma elements in Germany & Austria

For the past three days, the German and Austrian authorities have been gathering up members of the Sinti and Roma groups. Sinti and Roma are Gypsies and are found living in almost every nation is Europe. Both groups have lived in Germany since the 15th Century.

The German Government took many rights from the Gypsies with "Protection of Blood and Honour" law passed in 1935. This law strips many non-Aryan groups in Germany and, since Anschluss earlier this year, Austria, of civic rights.

Gypsies have historically been nomadic groups all over Europe. The areas of largest populations are in Central and Eastern Europe. Some have countered that the Gypsies are also Aryan, the supposed race of German people.

Dr. Hans F. K. Günther of the University of Berlin has written on the subject in his 1927 book The Racial Elements of European History. Within its pages he discusses Gypsy Aryan origins that corruptions that have occurred dur to breeding with lower classes. All of this is of course the writings of German racialism and has not been wholly substantiated by other learned men.

Other authorities have noted the asocialism and community hygiene problems that the Gypsies present to the Nazi Government.

Many Gypsies have historically been distrusted due to their refusal to live sedentary lifestyles. Gypsies live a nomadic pattern using their skills in crafts and performance to earn money for food. Gypsies are often referred to as criminals, deceivers and thieves.

It is unclear where the Gypsies are going in this relocation.

Japanese land at Anqing

Today, the Japanese landed Naval forces on the Coast at Anqing. The Chinese 11th Army is nearby. More information as it happens.

Flooding of the Yellow River

Reports have been received that the Yellow River (Huang River) near Huayuankou. In the early morning hours of June 9th, local time, many of the local Chinese were caught unawares. The number of dead, missing and injured are unknown at this time. There has been considerable flooding in the area in the past eight years. The local populations are difficult to ascertain as records of the residents have not been effectively kept.

This flood is certainly coming at a bad time for the Japanese. This will impede their efforts at taking control of China.

Latvia and Estonia sign pact with Germany

Germany signed a pact promising non-aggression with the two Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia. The two nations would likely have presented little to no concern to Germany. This is more of a relief to the tiny poor Baltic nations. It is clear to many that a war in Europe is coming but it will not be Germany that brings it to Latvia and Estonia.

Famed Psychologist leaves Austria

Psychoanalyst and Neurologist Siegmund Freud arrived in Paris today via the Orient Express. He left his home in Vienna and Nazi Austria. Dr. Freud and his family including daughter Anna are likely to proceed on to London and establish their home there.

Hungary limits Jewish economics

Hungary, a country that less than twenty years ago, was united with Austria as an Empire, has passed a new law against Jews. Yesterday, a law reduced the amount Jews could contribute to the economy is 20%. This law meets with much skepticism amongst the International Community. It isn't apparent how Hungary's government plans to implement such a measure against its Jewry.

Hitler announces that he will take Czechoslovakia

Hitler has announced that he will "smash Czechoslovakia" before October 1st. It is unclear what the League of Nations will do in response, if anything can be done. Great Britain and France have not responded to Hitler's latest declaration.

Japan arrests Communists

It has been reported that 1300 alleged Communists have been arrested. Japan is appears hopes to rein in any oppositional political parties as its war with mainland Asia increases.

Germany increases building

In response to the messages from Great Britain and France concerning Czechoslovakia, Hitler has ordered for increase in Naval Ship building beyond the Internationally imposed limits. It also appears that Hitler is now even more certain of the course of action he feels Germany must make to protect its Eastern flank from attack.

Nuremberg Laws in effect in Austria

Germany's Nurembeg Laws went into effect yesterday. This means Jews will not have citizenship under Germany and marriages between Jews and non-Jews are voided.

Of particular interest in Austria, any books written by Jews are going to be removed, likely destroyed. In addition, any anti-Nazi literature is meeting the same fate.

Czechoslovakia stirs

Czechoslovakia continues to feel the pressure of its over 3 million Germans clamor for union with Germany. The Sudetenland has become a contentious territory in the western portion of the country. Adolf Hitler of Germany has demanded that the Sudetenland be handed over to Germany.

In reponse, Great Britain and France have rejected these demands. Germany has begun to build up its military installations along its shared border with Czechoslovakia. This apparent aggression has alarmed many with the Chezhoslovakian government. They are now mobilizing in an effort for defense should that need arise.

US Congress votes for rearmament

Despite the amount of time it took for the United States to join in the Great War and its isolationist politics, the Congress has voted to begin rearmament. Navies are particularly slow to build up and the legislature gave its authorization to the Navy to begin expansion.

Chemical Weapons Ban

The League of Nations adopted a resolution today against the use of chemical weapons as used by Japan in its Chinese campaign. The resolution backs up Article 171 of the Treaty of Versailles and Article V of the Treaty in Relation to the Use of Submarines and Noxious Gases in Warfare. It has recently come to attention that the Japanese have used poison gas against the Chinese in Northern China.

Viennese Jews

Earlier today, the Volkischer Beobachter announced that "The Jewish element in Vienna must be eradicated by 1942. Whoever knows the sentiment of the Viennese will not be surprised that four years is much too long a time. National Socialism had to convince the people of Northern Germany that the Jews are dangerous. The opposite is true in Vienna."

99.5% of Austrian Jews live in Vienna. Many have already had to endure humiliation at the hands of the Nazis and their fellow countrymen. Jews were forced to scrub Schuschnigg's political slogans off the sidewalks in Vienna.

Both Jews and Gypsies have had their Austrian citizenships revoked since Anschluss.

London Conference Concludes

The representatives of the French and British Governments concluded their three day conference today. The two nations have historically been hostile but in the face of increasing territorial antagonism by Germany, the two nations have vowed to make tactical decisions with regard to each other.

City of Wuhan suffers more bombing

The Japanese have been bombing the city of Wuhan. It coincides with the Japanese Emporer's birthday today.

The Chinese though seem to be quite prepared and have been bringing Japanese planes down. The Battle continues.

More changes for Jews

The Nazi Party has recently changed conditions for Jews living in Greater Germany. On April 22nd, "Front-Ownership" was banned. This prevents Aryans from owning Jewish businesses for Jews. This is one of the first decrees that affects non-Jews and prohibits them from assisting Jews.

In addition, yesterday it was decreed that Jews are now being required to register their property and wealth with the Government.

Sudetengermans

After Anschluss in Austria last month, its not surprising that German populations in other countries would clamor for some sort of restitution there. The Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia is a contentious piece of property. There are 3,123,000 Germans living within Czechoslovakia. These Germans also are the majority in the Sudetenland.

Sudetendeutsche Partei represents many of these Sudetengermans. They have been accorded less rights than other ethnicities in the Sudetenland. Today, the party released the Karlsbader Programm which outlines an 8-point plan to bring equality to Sudetengermans.

British-Italian Accord

British and Italian representatives have hammered out an agreement about territory. The British Government has considerable assets in the Middle East such as Palestine and Egypt. Many of these are within a very short distance to Italy's African possession, Abyssinia, which was recently obtained.

The two nations have agreed to conflict with each other in that region, at least. In the agreement, Britain recognized Italy's conquest of Ethiopia. Also. Italy promised to withdraw her troops from Spain should that country's bloody and brutal Civil War conclude.

Nazi Party banned in Bulgaria

The Eastern European sovereignty of Bulgaria has been rocky in the past few years. It was only three years ago that Tsar Boris was able to end the military regime in his Tsardom.

After Anschluss last month, many European nations have made note. Bulgaria has also followed in this trend. However, it took a different approach. The National Socialist Party has been banned in Bulgaria today.