-41.111114111.11.1FIPF
'41/1.1.101111100W
4
Purely ConWtatciry: Expose of Sinister World War II Lie
Truth Triumphs Over Bernadotte Fabrication
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
mIncrrz p1Y1 ninn ruin nn$
"The truth shall sprout forth from the earth,
and righteousness shall shine forth from Heaven.
—Ps. 85.11.
An SS General's Expose: 'Bernadotte Refused to
Take the Jews'
Time is a great healer. In its exposes of truth
and reality, it has its shocking elements. The shock we
have received in the expose of the true character of
Bernadotte marks one of
the most serious indictments we
have ever read about a man who
;!was pictured as a saint. While the
expose — in an article by H. R.
Trevor-Roper in Atlantic Monthly
- Magazine entitled "Kersten, Him-
inler, and Count Bernadotte"—in
no sense justifies Bernadotte's as-
sassination, it nevertheless throws
light on the motivation of t h e
crime: apparently there was con-
siderable justification to the claim
of the unknown assassins that
;&,..:"..tkwn. Bernadotte had evil designs. Tre-
vor-Roper's revelations prove it.
Bernadotte
-
It is necessary that the background of the author
of this revelation should be known in order that we
should have a complete understanding of the author-
itativeness of the facts which undoubtedly will shock
those who read them. Editors of Atlantic Monthly,
whose reliability is not to be questioned, write tinder
the heading "Vindication":
"Historian and scholar now teaching at Christ
Church, Oxford, H. R. Trevor-Roper has emerged as
the foremost British authority] on the closing
months of the Nazi regime, a reputation well earned
by his book, 'The Last Days of Hitler.' In the ar-
ticle which follows, he throws the spotlight on the
mystery man, Felix Kersten, who was for a time
Himmler's. personal doctor and whom members of
the Dutch government recently nominated for the
Nobel Prize."
Now to the story about this man Kersten whose
name might have been besmirched, due to the un-
savory role that was played by Count Bernadotte, but
whose honor has been saved by justice-loving people.
Trevor-Roper tells us that Dr. Kersten "was Himm-
ler's personal doctor, 'the magic Buddha,' as Himm-
ler introduced him to Count Ciano, 'who cures
everything by massage.' For five years during the
war he attended the court of that famous ogre of our
time. Now he has been officially recognized—by a
government that was itself a victim of Nazi aggression
—as one of the great benefactors of mankind."
And so, thanks to members of the Dutch govern-
ment who nominated this "magic Buddha" for the
Nobel Peace Prize, truth has triumphed—and the
triumph is accompanied by an expose of a man who
might have gone down in history as a martyr.
It was in March of 1939, the Trevor-Roper story
relates, that Wr. Kersten's patient, Dr. August Diehn,
president of the German Potassium Syndicate, asked
him for a favor: to examine "an interesting patient,"
Himmler. Kersten acceded to the request and found
that the Nazi "suffered from intestinal spasm s,
causing great pain, sometimes unconsciousness." He
had been given narcotics and injections, without
effect, but Dr. Kersten's manual treatment showed
the astonishing result of bringing relief from pain in
five minutes.
The doctor refused to remain in Germany and
merely retained Himmler as one of his German pa-
tients. But when the war broke out and Holland—
where Kersten made his home—was invaded by the
Nazis, Kersten chose freedom when the alternative
offered him was either the court or the concentration
camp, and "he became the personal medical adviser
to the Grand Inquisitor of the Third Reich."
. From this point on, the man who became to Himm-
ler "my good Dr. Kersten," was able to command
"great liberties" and to induce the Inquisitor to listen
"calmly to the most outrageous requests." Kersten was
able to "manipulate the conscience and the decisions
as well as the stomach of that terrible; impersonal,
inhuman, but naive, mystical, credulous. tyrant of the
New Order."
Kersten began to rescue people. Here is a por-
tion of the Trevor-Roper story:
"The Finnish Legation used him to rescue Nor-
wegian and Danish prisoners; the World Jewish
Congress credits him with the rescue of 60,000 Jews;
particularly he devoted himself to the interests of
the Dutch. Thus in 1941. Hitler proposed to trans-
port up to three million 'irreconcilable' Dutchmen
to Polish Galicia and referred the matter to Himm-
ler. Fortunately Himmler Was at that time in a
low state of health and particularly dependent on
Kersten. Consequently the move was postponed
till after the war. Himmler afterwards regretted
his weakness in this matter. The Fuehrer's decision,
he sadly admitted, had been right; its postpone-
ment 'was all the fault of my wretched health, and
-
my good Dr. Kersten'."
The story in all its details is a long one. Kersten
became an agent of Christian Guenther, Sweden's
foreign minister, in Swedish humanitarian work in
Germany.. Sweden's intervention took on international
significance in 1944-45, when Germany's defeat seemed
imminent. Hitler had given orders that the concen-
tration camps be destroyed and the prisoners slaugh-
tered as the German armies retreated. The execution
depended on Himmler and once again Kersten was
called upon to use his influence with the brute. Himm-
ler was reasonable and it was arranged that "a
leakage of prisoners" be allowed to proceed to Sweden.
And this is where Bernadotte comes in: as the hun-
dreds of Swedish Red Cross omnibuses which were to
gather the prisoners for their transfer, were mar-.
•shaled, under the command of Colonel Bjoerck, Ker-
sten, at the request of Guenther, introduced Himmler
to the vice-president of the Swedish Red Cross, Count
Folke Bernadotte.
Bernadotte was simply "an agent,"—"a transport
officer no more." Kersten himself was concerned not
only with Scandinavians, he was in touch with Guen-
- Cher, "but moreover with the Stockholm branch of
the World Jewish Organization and, in agreement with
Guenther, was planning the delivery of Jewish pris-
oners to Sweden." And now comes the surprise: writes
Trevor-Roper:
"He (Kersten) was therefore surprised, in
March, 1945, on mentioning this to Himmler, to be
suddenly told, 'Count Bernadotte understands the
Jewish peril; he refuses to take any Jews to SWeden;
and now you. speak for them and say that Sweden
will tiace. them! Which of you am I to believe?'
Kersten replied that Bernadotte had, no authority
to make terms: he was only a transport officer,
`Yes,' replied Himmler sadly, 'I know that. Still I
am glad to see that in Sweden there are men who
understand the necessity of our fight against World
Jewry!
"Kersten remonstrated with Bernadotte, but
Bernadotte refused either to take the Jews or to
deliver a letter to the World Jewish Organization
in Stockholm. He advised Kersten to drop the Jews
altogether, 'unless you want difficulties for your-
self and your family in Sweden.' Alarmed at these
developments, Kersten himself flew to Sweden next
day and reported them to Guenther. Guenther dis-
missed it as a misunderstanding. 'Sweden's bounda-
ries are open,' he said, 'to all victims of Nazi per-
secution.' Thus Bernadotte was overruled; the
work went forward; and on April 21, Kersten's
457 Absentee Ballots Cast by Jews
In Monday's Election Considered 'High'
Report to Congressmen
Labels Zionists as 'Reds'
WASHINGTON, (JTA) — A
92-page report, which attempts
to link major Jewish organiza-
tions with Communism, was dis-
tributed to members of Congress
by California State Senator
Jack B. Tenney. Tenney was
formerly chairman of the Com-
mittee on Un-American Activi-
ties of the State of California.
Tenney's compilation, entitled
"Zion's Fifth Column," is a care-
fully contrived appeal to anti-
Jewish incitement. The report
lists virtually all leading Jewish
organizations and religious per-
sonalities. Labels attached to
copies received by Congressmen
claimed the work was "prepared
especially for Congress" and said
additional copies might be or-
dered from the "Christian Na-
tionalist Crusade." The leader
of t h e Christian Nationalist
Crusade is Gerald L. K. Smith.
Tenney states he is not anti-
Jewish because he approves of
the anti-Zionist views of the
American Council . for Judaism.
"There is an amazing similar-
ity," he writes, "in Nazi and
A total of 457 absentee bal- is intended to extend the voting
lots were cast by Jewish citizens frandhise to Jews who ordinari-
who were given the right to ly would not vote on a religious .
vote in absentia .by a late reso- holiday.
lution passed by the State Leg-
In hailing the speedy action
with which the bill was passed
islature.
Community circles considered and signed, Leib commended the
the number surprisingly high, two senators who worked for its
since Jewish voters had only one passage and Gov. Williams "for
day in which to obtain absentee preserving the privilege of vot-
ing to a large segment of the
ballots.
The bill, a bi-partisan measure population."
The bill, which will apply to
introduced by Sen. Charles Blon-
dy, Democrat, and Rep. Colman, all future conflicts of election
Republican, was signed into law day and religious holidays, was
urged by the Jewish Community
only last Wednesday.
With the City Hall closed for Council. News of its passing oc-
Good Friday and the Sabbath curred too late to be included in
preventing observant Jews from last week's columns of The Jew-
obtaining • ballats on Saturday, Jewish News. Its adoption was
the only day to receive absentee urged in a Jewish News edi-
torial.
ballots was Thursday.
The signing of the new law by
Gov. Williams was witnessed by Adas Shalom Cub Scouts
Samuel W. Leib, unsuccessful Plan Carnival for Sunday
candidate for the Circuit Court,
Cub Scout Pack 515, sponsored
and Sen. Blondy. Leib was giv-
en the pen used by the Governor by the Adas Shalom Men's Club,
will hold its annual carnival at
to sign the bill.
The measure extends absentee 2:30 p.m., Sunday, in the syna-
ballot rights to anyone whose gogue. Prizes, booths • and .re-
religious tenets prevent him freshments are planned for .,the
from voting on election day, and f.Afternoom The public is. invited. Zionist totalitarian concepts."
work for the Jews culminated in one of the most
ironical incidents in the whole war: the secret
meeting, at Kersten's house at Hartzwalde, between
Himmler, the archpersecutor of the Jews, and Nor-
bert Masur, the president of the World Jewish Or-
ganization in Stockholm, whom Kersten had per-
sonally brought from Sweden. That astonishing
interview has been described elsewhere, by Masur
himself; yet it is tempting to repeat the words with
which Himmler greeted this unusual guest: 'Wel-
come Herr Masur. It is time you Jews and we
Nazis buried the hatchet!' Thus the last details
were arranged; 3500 Jews were taken to Sweden;
and Count Bernadotte, for rescuing them, was aft-
erwards presented by a rabbi in Stockholm with a'
laudatory scroll. Nevertheless Himmler did not for-
get the curious incident of Bernadotte's original
refusal. 'Think of it,' he told an SS general after-
wards, 'what a surprise! Count Bernadotte refused
to take the Jews! You see how the Nordic peoples
think! They understand the Jewish problem. How-
ever, I have promised my good Dr. Kersten, and I
must keep my promise: Count Bernadotte must
take the Jews whether he likes it or not. Besides, _
I have now fixed all the details with Herr Masur. "
This reads like a fairy tale, like a most fantastic
story. Yet, we have been given the facts! Himmler
proved more honorable than Bernadotte!
Trevor-Roper has earned the thanks of all truth-
loving people for his expose in which he continues
to show that in the books "by and about Bernadotte,
the name of Kersten (the real rescuer of the Nazi
victims) is never mentioned." The author of the
revelation about Bernadotte states that there are at:-
fidavits by Germans, Swedes and Jews to prove Ker-
sten's true role, nevertheless, no sooner did the war
end, then Bernadotte appeared before the world "as
the 'prince of Peace,' the Saviour, and, after his death,
the martyr of humanity." He was overwhelmed with
degrees and honors and decorations and appeared
before the world as the man who conceived and exe-
cuted the great relief plan.
All this has happened, "partly," writes Trevor-
Roper, "unintentionally." But, who knew the facts?
trevor-Roper answers the question as follows:
"A few Swedes—but Bernadotte had got in first
in. Sweden, and why should they publicly challenge
that formidable claim? A few Germans—but why
should they advertise the fact that they had been
Himmler's counselors? A few Jews—but Bernadotte
was murdered by Jews and a sense of guilt inhibits
them from further censure.. All these have given
private testimony, but publicly they have not
spoken out."
Is there need for further inhibitions? Had the
Jews who knew spoken on time, perhaps the world
would have recognized that in Jerusalem there may
have been a few who knew the truth. We do not and
can not condone their act, but we now understand fax
better the fear that motivated assassination.
What has happened to Felix Kersten? Here are
Trevor-Roper's concluding sentences in his truth-
revealing Atlantic Monthly article:
"In August, 1950, Felix Kersten received from
Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands the insignia
of a Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau;
in 1952 the Dutch nominated him as their candi-
date for the Nobel Peace Prize. I am sorry that no
prize is to be awarded: it would have been a happy
symbol of the triumph of truth if Kersten had
been honored not only in Holland but even, where
he also deserved it, in Scandinavia."
At least, we shall not forget this name: Felix
Kersten. Just as we shall not forget the fraud con-
nected with the name Folke Bernadotte who also was
mentioned for the Nobel Prize. Some must have
learned the truth about Bernadotte on time to pre-
vent such an international injustice.
Mechanical Trades Division Makes
Increased Gifts to Allied Drive
The mechanical trades division of the Allied Jewish Campaign
held its advance gifts dinner at the home of Nathan R. Epstein,
chairman of the division. Participants included: (left to right).
LESTER MILLER, co-chairman of factory scrap dealers; REUBEN
AXELROD, vice-chairman of gas, oil and tires; ROBERT TRE-
PECK, co-chairman of gas, oil and tires; NATHAN KOLB, divi-
sion vice-chairman; MARTIN CITRIN; BENJAMIN LAIKIN, •
the executive committee of textiles, bags, bottles, barrels, waste
materials and wiping cloths; ABE KASLE, pre-campaign coun- -
selor; MORRIS ZACK, division vice-chairman; and SAMUEL
ZELDES, associate chairman; HARRY ARONOW, co-chairman of
metals; JERRY BIELFIELD, associate chairman; EMIL T. STERN,
pre-campaign cabinet; HAROLD KUKES, co-chairman of ma-
chinery and manufacturing; HARVEY H. GOLDMAN, co-char
man of the campaign; TED CURTIS and BUD BIELFIELD. •
Pledges at the dinner showed an increase of about 20% over
those made by the same persons last year.
2
—
THE JEWISH' NEWS
Friday, April 10, 1953