AmilmOkew
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Page Twenty-four
Friday, March 8, 1946
THE JEWISH NEWS
How Jewish Survivors Fare in Europe Today:
Majority Want to Emigrate to Palestine, JTA Finds
The situation of the Jews in Europe, and the problem of Palestine,
has ceased to be a matter of sectarian interest, and has become an inter-
national problem. Manifestations of this fact are the appointment of the
Anglo-American Commission of Inquiry, discussions at UNO committees,
and the many statements issued by statesmen in our country and abroad.
To obtain an up-to-date picture of the position of the Jews in Eastern
and Western Europe, and in Palestine, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
instructed its correspondents to report on the needs of the Jews in each
country, their problems and their hopes.
Germany
Poland
WARSAW (JTA)-Much has
been cabled about the condition
of the Jews in this country. From
some observers and correspond-
ents, a reader in the U. S. would
get the impression that practical-
ly every one of the 80,000 Jews
is en route to points outside the
country. From others, the im-
pression would be gained that
normal Jewish life is beginning
to revive here. The truth, as
usual, lies somewhere in between.
Thousands of Jews have fled.
Thousands want to leave for
Palestine. Other thousands are
undecided, torn between the risk
of emigrating to the unknown
and possible violence here.
But there are many who have
decided to remain here. Among
them are the several thousand
who have settled in towns and
villages in the section of German
Silesia which was ceded to Po-
land. Many have settled on the
land, others have formed small
industrial cooperatives. Also, in
the large towns such as Lodz
Russia
Hungary
By ROBERT GARY
BERLIN (JTA)-The morale of the Jews in Germany-both
German Jews and displaced Jews-is deteriorating from week to
week, a survey in various camps in the U. S. zone and in Berlin
establishes. They all say that they want to leave Germany, and an
UNRRA survey discloses that about 98 percent want to go to
Palestine.
The problem of the Jews in Germany is twofold. There is the
problem of those who miraculously outlived Hitler and who are now
living in Jewish con-ununities, especially in the larger cities. The
other problem is that of the Jews from Eastern Europe who today
live in camps for displaced persons.
The best estimate is that there are 20,000 German Jews, and
approximately 80,000 Jews from Eastern Europe now in Germany
and Austria. Jews in Berlin and Frankfurt, who form the bulk of
the Gerinan Jews, are living in communities organized as Gemein-
des, and are in a position to be helped by military authorities and
Jewish agencies. Some have regained homes that were stolen by
the Nazis, and others are helped by the Joint Distribution Com-
mittee.
The plight of the displaced Jews is much more difficult and,
furthermore, the problem has been complicated durinc, recent
months by the influx of Polish Jews who have now settled
at
b
special camps as infiltrees.
It is true that many DPs have gained weight because of the
preponderance of starchy foods, but nutritionally they are starved
and their resistance to sickness is low. Children, who are allowed
some powdered milk, appear three or four yearS younger than they
are.
The basic relief required by the camp residents is supplied by
the Army or UNRRA, -but the JDC provides supplementary relief.
By ARON HERMAN
there are fair-sized Jewish popu-
lations, although the figures
fluctuate sharply, as some leave
and others arrive from villages
where life is dangerous because
of anti-Semitic, anti-government
bands.
There is a third category: The
approximately 150,000 Jews be-
ing repatriated from the Soviet
Union, several thousand of whom
already have arrived. Once this
repatriation is completed and the
emigration stops, it is estimated
that there will be about 200,000
Jews in Poland-all needing re-
lief and rehabilitation.
The bulk of the help required
must, for the next few years,
come from the Jewish communi-
ties abroad, particularly the U. S.
About $1,000,000 worth of sup-
plies sent by the JDC were re-
ceived in 1945 and substantial
amounts for reconstruction and
relief have been pledged as a
result of the visit last fall of Dr.
Joseph Schwartz, JDC director in
Europe.
By H. LEHRMAN
BUDAPEST (JTA)-One of the
most urgent problems in Europe
is the rescue of Hungarian Jewry.
Pillaged and decimated during
the German occupation, the 200,-
000 surviving Jews of Hungary
are without hope of aid from the
government and with little pos-
sibility of economic self-rehabili-
tation. .
The only solid assistance has
come from the JDC, whose dona-
tions have risen from $250,000
monthly, soon after liberation
last February, to $750,000 cur-
rently. Further monthly contri-
butions of at least $750,000 are
considered imperative to carry
the Jews through until Spring.
Only 22 percent of Hungary's
prewar 925,000 Jewish popula-
tion are alive. Eighty thousand
have returned of the 750,000
who were deported to Polish,
German and Austrian death
camps. Like the returning de-
portees, the Jews who stag-
gered out of the ghetto or from
"aryan" cellars found them-
selves close to destitution.
The new government has made
no provision for the plight of the
Jews. The official view is that
racial discrimination has ceased
to exist, and with it racial
favoritism.
Return of Jewish property has
been retarded by legalistic com-
plications and the government's
desire to avoid irritating the
present tenants.
It is estimated that 120,000
Jews-GO percent of the Jewish
population-require some direct
assistance. The JDC is feeding
80,000 persons three times daily
in 247 public kitchens through-
out the country.
Among the 7,000 surviving
children, there are 3,000 orphans
being cared for by the JDC in
25 homes.
By LEON LENEMAN
MOSCOW (JTA)-The only specifically Jewish relief problem
in the USSR is that of the approximately 150,000 Polish Jewish
refugees, since, in line with Soviet policy, the Jews of the Soviet
Union who require assistance receive help in common with their
fellow-citizens of other faiths. There is no sectarian relief here.
For the Polish Jews, however, the food and clothing parcels
service begun by the JDC during the war has been of great help,
since Russia's economy was severely taxed by the requirements
of the war, and there was little food and practically no clothing
available.
At the moment, the Polish Jews are beginning to be repatriated,
and a vanguard of several thousand already have arrived there and
been resettled. It is planned to have all back in Poland in the near
future, with the exception of those who have decided to make their
homes in the interior of the Soviet Union.
Bulgaria
SOFIA (JTA)-Bulgaria today
has about 45,000 Jews-almost its
prewar Jewish population-and
at least half are actual or poten-
tial applicants for Palestine visas.
As a result of the fact the pro-
Nazi rulers of Bulgaria were . un-
able to sell anti-Semitism to the
Bulgarian people, virtually no
Jews were deported-making it
unique in Nazi-dominated Eu-
rope-and few were killed during
the war.
This rosy picture fades, how-
ever, when an observer turns to
the economic position of the
Jews. As a result of despoliation
by the fascist governments, prac-
tically the entire Jewish com-
munity is ruined and it is esti-
mated that 70 percent are de-
pendent upon relief.
This is the picture that emerges from the survey:
1. Hundreds of thousands of the estimated 1,250,000 Jews in con-
tinental Europe, outside of the Soviet Union, would leave for Palestine
tomorrow, were they given the opportunity; 2. There is little possibility
that all will be able to emigrate to Palestine in the near future; 3. The
rehabilitation work in Palestine, most of which is financed by the United
Palestine Appeal, is assuming unprecedented proportions. Facilities are
being organized to absorb the limited number of Jews now being
admitted and to prepare for those who are anxious to settle in Palestine.
By S. N. MARGOLIS
Efforts are being - made to re-
habilitate them economically
through settlement on the land, a
good deal of which takes the
form of training farms for Jews
who plan, or hope, to go to Pales-
tine, and also through the estab-
lishment of industrial cooper-
atives.
Palestine has not only taken
in close to 1,000 Bulgarian Jews
since the end of the war, through
immigration certificates allotted
by the Jewish Agency, but has
sent food and supplies here. Last
year, the JDC spent $150,000 for
Bulgarian Jews, and has spent
about $90,000 the first two months
of this year. This is in addition
to the relief sent by the Jews in
Palestine.
Romania
By JOS. KLARMAN
BUCHAREST (JTA)-There are 358,000 Jews in Romania. Some
200,000 of these eke out a precarious living, always on the verge of
starvation. Ninety thousand need relief. Onl
y 40,000 are receiving
assistance. That is the picture of the largest Jewish community in
Europe, outside of the Soviet Union.
Few homes and fewer businesses have been returned to
Jews, nor have they received one lei of the billions confiscated
during the heyday of - Pro-Nazi Marshal Antonescu.
Few Jewish employes dismissed under the Pro-Nazi Anti-
Jewish laws have been reinstated.
The government has promulgated measures against anti-Semi-
tism, but a clandestine current of anti-Semitism remains. The gen-
eral tendency is towards emigration to Palestine.
The relief task is monumental. The JDC, for instance, poured
$6,500,000 into Romania from January 1944 to December 1945 to aid
the local Jewish population and 55,000 repatriates from Hungary,
Poland, Germany, Transnistria (the Soviet Ukraine) and other coun-
tries.
This is what the JDC has done, in part: Aided 81 communities
to rebuild and re-equip schools, canteens, synagogues, homes for
the aged, orphanages; helped 20 hospitals rebuild; distributed medi-
caments from the U. S. and the Middle East; organized training
farms for chalutzim, on which 2,000 persons are working; establish-
ed 30 loan banks, which have allotted 1,000,000,000 lei to help small
artisans and traders regain a livelihood; dispatched 45 consignments
of food and medicine to Hungary.
It is estimated that $1,500,000 is needed during the next six
months for direct relief, and another $1,250,000 to extend credits.
France
PARIS (JTA)-The economic
position of the Jews in France
today still leaves much to be de-
sired. How much can be gleaned
from the fact that the JDC, ac-
cording to its representatives
here, is spending approximately
$450,000 monthly.
Practically all Jewish relief
needs in this country not being
met directly by local agencies are
met by the JDC. This means that
the JDC is providing the bulk of
the assistance, since most of the
local agencies are subsidized by
it.
Aus t r i a
By G. HERZOG
VIENNA (JTA)-At least 50
percent of the 4,400 Jews resid-
ing in Vienna wish to emigrate
to Palestine, another 25 percent
desire to settle in overseas coun-
tries, while the remainder are
willing to remain here, a recent-
ly completed survey by the
Jewish Community Council re-
veals.
Among the approximately 9,-
000 Jews living in camps in Aus-
tria, the proportion of those who
wish to emigrate is even greater,
since most of them are Polish and
Hungarian nationals, who want
to go to Palestine.
Few aryanized dwellings have
been returned to their former
owners. Some Jews who received
apartments of fugitive Nazis are
being compelled to return them
unless they are able to present
proof that • the claimants were
card-holding members of the
Nazi party.
Nazis still retain official posts
and hold positions in trade and
commerce, while living in Jewish
houses and operating Jewish-
owned factories and shops.
The 185,000 Jews who
formerly dwelt in Vienna own-
ed about 62,000 houses, but the
Jewish community he been un-
able to secure even 1,000 houses
to care for the 4,000 Jews
living here.
In provincial cities the food
supplies are somewhat better,
and JDC has provided aid to
camps in the American, British
and Freres zones.
Arthur Greenleigh, director
of the organization in France
during 1945, has turned over
his work to Abbot Kaplan, who
said this week, that although
the Jewish problem here is less
critical than in Eastern Europe,
the situation is still extremely
difficult, Only 5,000 of the
125,000 Jews deported by the
Nazis have returned. -
Greece
By PIERRE NATHAN
Of, the 180,000 Jews. now here,
100,000 are French nationals,
while most of the others are for-
eign Jews, the majority Polish.
More than half of the JDC's
monthly budget is allocated to the
Cojasor, the largest Jewish re-
lief agency. This money provides
direct relief to 20,000 persons
monthly.
The child welfare program
includes 42 homes and institu-
tions, caring for about 3,000
children, mostly the orphans
of deportees. Another 3,300 are
with foster parents-many of
them non-Jews. About 2 000
are living with relatives who
receive assistance from wel-
fare agencies.
,
The JDC has set aside approxi-
mately $180,000 as a loan fund
to help businessmen and farmers
replace stolen and destroyed
property, and to encourage new
ventures for those who have lost
everything.
By C. POULOS
ATHENS (JTA)-Less than 2,000 of the 65,000 Greek Jews who
were deported by the Germans have returned to Greece. No more
are expected; the books have been closed. Eight percent of the
prewar Jewish population is left. Of the estimated prewar total of
72,000, slightly more than 9,000 are left. A complete record of the
Greek Jews is available as a result of a conference of 23 Jewish
communities organized in Athens last month by the JDC.
Salonika, which had 60,000 Jews before the war, now has 2,000.
Athens had 4,000 and still has 4,000, except that they are not the
same people. Giannina had 2,000, now 190. Kaval had 3,000, now 48.
Over half of the 4,000 left are destitute. The JDC is taking care
of them. About 1,500 are being housed in eight shelters, one of
which is in an old Athens synagogue. Two shelters in Salonika are
in buildings formerly belonging to the Jewish community, which
the government has turned over to the JDC. With the help of
UNRRA, these places were repaired and furnished.
Of the small number of Jews left in Greece, 1,100 are children.
The JDC has set up a small orphanage in Athens.
Belt6ium
BRUSSELS (JTA) - Although
Belgium is recovering from the
effects of the occupation and war
at a faster pace than most of the
ravaged countries, about one-
third of the 30,000 surviving Jews
are dependent upon relief.
Some direct financial aid has
come from the JDC, which has
made -individual loans totalling
25,000 francs for reconstruction,
and 10,000 francs for other pur-
poses. It also finances the "Aid
to Jewish War Victims," which
supports 1,850 families and 1,500
children. In all, it spent $2,000,-
000 in 1945.
About 3,000 persons already
have registered for emigratiOn,
but many more would, if facili-
ties were available.
Yugoslavia
BELGRADE (JTA)-Yugo-
slavia was the first liberated
country to pass a law outlawing
anti-Semitism, and there is no
doubt that the Jews will have
nothing to fear from anti-Semitesj
nor is there likely to be any in-
fringement of their civil and
political rights.
The economic situation in this.
country is generally bad, and the
position of the Jews reflects thil
fact. The local Jewish committee
could use $100,000 a month.
is receiving about $50,000 from
the JDC.
The emigration problem her
is not acute because there arc
only 14,000 survivors of Yugo•
slavia's prewar Jewish copula
tion of 75,000.