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ilPurely Commentary:

Bernadotte's Unsavory
Role in Rescue Efforts
During Last Days of Nazism

By Philip 1 600 More Jews-
Slomovitz Leave Egypt for

In it the last details were arranged; and two hours later
Himmler told Bernadotte that the Jews were free to go to
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
Sweden-=-`I have promised my good Dr. Kersten and I must
ri)
"The truth shall sprout forth from the earth, and righteous-
to The Jewish News)
keep my promise; besides I have fixed all the details with Herr
—Psalms 85:11
. ness shall shine forth from Heaven."
LONDON, (JTA)—Six hun-
Masite; and Bernadotte duly took them and was presented by
dred Jews — men, women and
' An eminent personality's claim to fame as a man who had
a rabbi in Stockholm with a. laudatory scroll."
a
t..4 rescued the lives of many Jews by negotiation with the Nazis
In a footnote, Trevor-Roper states that "Bernadotte's initial children—left Egypt's port
is
challenged
and
the
Psalmist's
admonition
that
"truth
sprouts
O
refusal to take non-Scandinavian prisoners is confirmed by an Alexandria
aboard
creaky,
old Egyptian'
vessel, the
Mecca,
for
from the ..earth" emerges posthumously to hound his memory.
affidavit by Gottlob Berger, Himmler's chief of staff, of 26th Piraeus, Greece, en route to
Early in 1953, H. R. Trevor-Roper, who acqUired inter- May, 1952."
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Israel, according to a Cairo disc
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,: national acclaim for his expose, "The Last Days of Hitler," set
patch received here.
;4 forth an indictment against Count Folke Bernadotte and exposed
In defense of Bernadotte, Trevor-Roper says there is no
This latest - group brings to
tO him as having been undeserving of the
reason to suppose that - his refusal to take Jews was anti-Semitic,
E44
credit he claimed for the rescue of Jews
since he also refused to take . Polish and French prisoners, but he 22,000' the number of Egyptian
I who had been condemned to by
points •out: "It is important to note that 'Bernadotte seems to Jews who have left Egypt for
the language of anti- Israel since Egypt's ruler, Col.
the Nazis. It. was Felix Kerstc7, Hein
have been understood by Himmler as using -
lo rich Himmler's manual therapist, who
Semitism—which may have been a tactical necessity . . ." primal Abdel Nasser, started
was responsible for influencing the Nazi
Bernadotte, in spite of the facts in the case, refused to prisoning j e w s, confiscating
But Bernadotte,
chief who held the fate of millions in
act merely in the role of an honorable instrument in the rescue their property, and expelling
r-
1.-!4 • his hands to countermand 'the death
efforts. "No sooner was the war' over than he was suddenly them from the country.
The Mecca had been chartered
0., orders.
thrust before the public as the man who, on his own, initiative,
Now the complete story is. toldagain
had both conceived and executed the whole plan," Trevor-Roper by the International Red Cross
by Trevor-Roper, in an introduction to
charges. "He alone, it was stated, by facing the hitherto im- which, in the last few months,
oT;
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"The 1940-1945 Kersten Memoirs," (pup-
placable Himmler in his den, had managed the tyrant and; by has removed 7,000 Egyptian
lished by' Macmillan), and the myth of
managing him, rescued . Jews and Gentiles from death in . the Jews to. Greece whence they are
FT., Bernadotte's genius and humanitarian
concentration camps. He was even credited with having ended transported by the Jewish
ism is exploded_, so that it can never:,
the war. He was hailed as the Prince of Peace, the savior and; Agency to 'Israel.
Bernadotte
again emerge as the distorted truth
after his death the martyr of humanity."
which was accredited to him unjustly at the end of the Nazi
The battle for just recognition developed when Kersten
regime.
applied for Swedish citizenship. Guenther strongly supported the
application. But the government of which Guenther was minister
How was Kersten able to perform his miracles? As Himmler's fell from power and Kersten's application was refused. Sweden
personal physician,. by his massages, he provided relief for the also refused to compensate him for traveling expenses to and
Nazi chieftain's painful stomach troubles. He thereby enchanted from Germany on behalf Hof the Swedish. government. Apparently
him, and; additionally, won his confidence in many matters— it became a matter of pride for the Swedes to retain credit
dit for
The annual meeting of the
some of them - involving Nazi state afairs.
Bernadotte and to deny it to Kersten. Trevor-Roper' points out: Jewish Social Service Bureau'
The Memoirs contain virtually a day‘-by-day account of
who
"It seemed that the truth would never emerge. For
and Resettlement Service, to be
such discussions, which had led to Kersten's bluntly asking the knew the truth? A few Swedes—but • how could they now
held at 2 p.m., Sunday, in the
Nazi to release many prisoners, to negotiate for the rescue of
resist the great name of Bernadotte in which so much national Esther Berman Building, 18977
Jews who were condemned to death, and to confer with the World
capital had been sunk? A few Germans, but why should they Schaefer, will hear reports of
Jewish Congress in the great rescue effort which represented a
advertise the fact that they had been Himmler's councillors? a "streamlined" method for
major exception to the Nazi barbarities and mass murders.
A few Jews—but in September 1948 Bernadotte was brutally processing adoption applica-
Born in Estonia in 1898, Kersten, volunteered to serve in
murdered by Jewish e x tremists and a. sense of guilt inhibited tions introduced this year at
the Finnish war of liberation against Russia in,1918 and became
that nation from seeming, by however light or relative censure, the. Detroit Jewish Family
a Finnish citizen in 1920.
retrospectively to justify the crime. Fortunately there was a
Agency, it was announced by
. He became Heinrich Himmler's manual therapist in the final
fourth category of those who knew the facts. In Holland there Mrs. Theodore- Bargman, presi-
years of the existence of the Third Reich. The power he held are no such inhibitions; so' it was in Holland that the truth dent.
over Himmler was explained by the Nazi himself who at one ultimately ' began to emerge."
Heretofore, applicants f o r
rr
time commented: "Kersten massages a life out of me with every
The Dutch, under the leadership of Prof. N. W. Posthuals,
adoption received individual
rub." Himmler also referred to Kersten as "the magic Buddha." director of the Dutch Institute of War Documentation, set out interviews. The new method in-
The therapy applied by Dr.' Kersten apparently was so valuable to inquire into the facts. Kersten was honored by Prince Bern- volves group orientation. There
that the author of the "Memoirs" devotes an appendix to his hard when the facts were made known. Then came action in is also an accelerated period of
volume to an explanation of "Physio-Neural Therapy."
Sweden. There was heated debate in' the Riksdag on April 2,9, determining the eligibility of
After the Finnish Legation in Germany had utilized Kersten's _ 1953, and Kersten was roughly
criticized as small-minded and adoptive parents. „:
"
iserVices to rescue Danish and NorWegian prisoners, the World ungrateful." But on Oct. 30, 1953, Kersten was admitted to'
Services of the agency were
JeWish Congress representatives were called into action to Swedish citizenship and "truth had triumphed over slander in further extended in .1956-57 by
negotiate the rescue of Jews, and the World Jewish. Congress we e .
the opening of a? suburban of,
has credited Kersten with having rescued 60;000 Jews from
Thus,• Trevor-Roper supports the accuracy of the Kersten fice of the JSSB at the Oak
The crematoria.
Memoirs and presents strongly a- case in defense of the man Park Jewish Center. Present
In recognition of • his humanitarian services, Kersten was who actually was responsible for the ,great rescue effort by plans call 'for building a new
named .a Grand Officer -of Orange-Nassau in 1950 and was negotiation with Himmler. Bernadotte's "vanity" and • "self- office building to house the
presented the insignia by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. glorifying myth" is thereby exposed to full light.
agency, on Curtis and Meyers
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But it took a long debate in the Riksdag for him finally to
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Road.
win Swedish citizenship in 1963.
"The Kersten Memoirs" have much to commend them—for
The annual meeting will hear
The negotiations Kersten arranged with Himmler for World their revelations about Himmler's views on homosexuality, Free- from the noted psychiatrist, Dr.
Jewish Congress representatives, leading to the rescue of the masonry, Jews, bigamy, religion. Himmler, who emerged as a Jacques Gottlieb, director of
Jews, are reported in a special chapter. The conference came to butcher and a philosopher, favored bigamy as means of perfecting Lafayette Clinic on "A Com-
a head on March 17, 1945. They form the final and perhaps •a
the German race. He hated Freemasons -and he had a passionate munity Program for the Emo-
most important chapters in the Kersten Memoirs. devbtion to Hitler. Indifferent to human lives, he disapproved tionally Ill."
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of killing animals for sport. He hated churchmen. He was a hater
The occasion_ will also mark
Tr
Of major interest is the Trevor-Roper
introduction in which who was induced by his "good Doctor Kersten" to perform a the election of board members
th e Bernadotte incidents are exposed. This historian takes into human deed under the influence of therapy. It sounds like an and the presentation of by-law
account the fact that Bernadotte is dead and therefore cannot incredible story abut it is proven true by thorough research to amendments.
answer charges involving his name. Nevertheless, he states, the which H. R. Trevor-Roper made a marked contribution.
,, unfortunate
facts are clear. Trevor-Roper refers to - the
exhibitionism" of Bernadotte. He calls him "a naive, rather vain An Extremist Confuses Israel's Position
Menacherri Beigin, leader of the rightist opposition to the
man."
"Possibly," Trevor-Roper writes, "there were many in Ben-Guriqn Israel coalition government, was in the limelight
Sweden who, uneasily conscious of the inglorious neutrality last week, in our nation's capital, when he again advocated Is-
during the war, were only too eager to build up a Swedish prince rel's annexation of . Jordan.
The Israel government• has gone on record that it does not
as hero of.„ the peace. And it should be remembered that many
of Himmler's court, apprehending. an early day of judgment, seek territorial expansion. The withdrawal fromthe Gaza Strip Two officials from Germany,
were only too eager to clutch at the visiting Folk Bernadotte, proved it. The powers that are backing up Israel's position have - Dr. Georg Blessin of the Fed-
ted it as fact. While it is recognized' that any attempt by eral Finance Ministry and Mr.
the kinsman of the neutral King of Sweden, as a future patron
and protector whose vanity it was worth their while to flatter, Syria or Egypt to step into Jordan also would bring Israel into Brockbaus, member of the. Ber-
and by flattery to delude: At all events, whatever the motives that area, as a protective measure, only the Herut party harps on •in Senate, will outline compen-
sation plans for victims of
which led him afterward to make his improper claims, Count expansion and Jordanian annexation.
Beigin's statement was sensational, but untimely and un- Nazism at a public meeting, at
Bernadotte paid dearly for them. But for the self-glorifying myth
which he manufactured, it is unlikely that he would ever have realistic. Reporters (like the Detroit News'—who has ignored the Davison JeWish Center, Sat-
been chosen as UN mediator in the Arab-Jewish war of 1948, less sensational but more constructive Israeli news, but has gob- urday night, May 26.
Congregation Gemiluth Clhas-
or fallen in Palestine ‘ 'a premature victim of the assassin's bled up Beigin's statement) absorbed his demagoguery. We dis-
sodian and the Jewish Resettle-
approve of such tactics.
bullet."
Menahem, you haven't helped Israel with your demagogic ment Service have : joined is
Kersten's negotiations in , Stockholm with Herr Christian
convening this meeting.
Guenther, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, not the latter sensationalism.
intercession of Bernadotte,. on the basis of which •the Palestine
assassin's victim claimed credit for the rescue results, and the
subsequent yielding by Himmler to Kersten's entreaties, had
led to the life-saving of many thousands, Trevor-Roper shows.
BONN, (JTA) — The West Federal Republic ., however, has gold, silver and jewelry, which
As a matter of fact, Bernadotte, contrary to subsequent
German Federal Council, the not heretofore returned the had to be delivered up at the
claims, not only had had no share in direct rescue effort for
Jewish possessions obtained by same time, as a rule falls under
Jewish victims but had refused to be a party to such efforts. upper house of Parliament, re- its predecessor, nor has it paid the new law; So does furniture
Trevor-Roper writes:
fused its consent to a measure compensation there f o r. The or luggage _shipped abroad by
"Since his treaty with Himmler of 8th December (1944)
which would have repaid a thousands of expropriated. Jews emigrants from Germany and
further
KArsten had been making, in concert with Guenther,
Hr.
Hillel
•Storch,
maximum of ' $357,000,000 as re- who were awarded court judg- intercepted by the Nazis en ,
-
he
had
promised
arrangements. In particular,
stitution for identifiable Jewish ments against "the German route. If art Objects and ma-
Jewish
Congress,
Branch
of
the
World
the head of the Swedish
further 3,500 property confiscated by the for- Reich" have so far been unable chines were seized in German-
to secure the release ' to Sweden, if possible, of a but
suddenly, mer German Reich. Instead, the to _collect, while the necessary occupied countries by organs of
Jewish prisoners. To this• Himmler had agreed,
has been delayed sev- the German state and demon-
Bernadotte (to the surprise of _Himmler and dismay of Ker- Council sent the .bill to a con- legislation
ference co m rn i t t e e of both en years. strably brought to Germany, the
the
end,
prisoners.
In
non-Scandinaviam,
sten) refused to handle
, The measure covers houses law also applies.
however, after a visit by Kersten to _Guenther in Stockholm, houses.
As
far
back
as
1947
and
1949,
and real estate appropriated by It is expected that the parlia-
on
21st
April
Kersten's
these difficulties were all overcome, and
the Allies imposed restitution Germany, and also stocks and mentary conference committee
work for the Jews culminated in one of the most ironical legislation compelling the return bonds sequestered during the will soon come to agreement on
incidents of the whole war: the secret meeting, at Kersten's
businesses, war, or else "sold" by the Jews changes in phraseology proposed
house Hartzwalde, between Himmler, the arch-persecutor of of _ Jewish - owned
real estate, furniture, works- Of of Germany and Austria to pay by the upper house. However, ,
the
Board
of
the
' the Jews,, and Norbert Masur, a member of
reached
Stockholm Branch of the World Jewish Congress, whom art; and securities in cases where th.e billion-mark. "fine" exacted unless agreement is
these
had
been
acquired
under
by
the
Nazis
in
November
1938,
within
a
few
weeks,
the
mea-
purpose.
Kersten had personally brought from Sweden for that
will -not, be enacted into
That astonishing interview- has been described elsewhere, by duress and by virtue of anti- after ,the assasination of Nazi sure.
e ialv-•by the. _present Parliament.-
e i liRerualion. The German. difkin?qt... grkist \Pax
hiniselit-trinINTufie tolar

prri wntrn p1I1 rinyn yit.on

New Israel Homes

rItZ14

"4

To Discuss New
Adoption Methods
At JSSB Meeting

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—

German Officials
to Review Plans
for Compensation

Bonn. Council Rejects Restitution to Jew's

""".