Fritz Tobias, author of "The
Reichstag Fire," published by
G. P. Putnam's Sons (20 Mad-
ison, N.Y.) and A. J. Taylor,
author of a lengthy introduction
to this book, maintain that the
Dutchman, Marinus van der
Lubbe, who was caught in the
act of setting the German par-
liamentary building on fire,
worked on his own.
This book disproves the
contentions that the Nazis en-
gineered the job in order to dis-
credit the Communists shortly
a f ter Adolf Hitler came to
power. Communists and Nazis
had exchanged accusations of
guilt. Hitler became German
Chancellor Jan. 30, 1933. The
Reichstag fire occurred Feb.
27, 1933. It was immediately
after that conflagration that the
Hitlerites rounded up all the
Social Democrat and Communist
leaders and the Nazi Fuehrer
then assumed absolute power.
There was, indeed, a large
question mark relative to
quilt and intentions. The auth-
or, having gathered a mass of
facts, holds to the view that
van der Lubbe worked on his
own, without assistance from
any one. This exonerates the
Nazis of having schemed to
acquire dictatorial power at
the expense of the Commu-
nists who Were accused of
having plotted to discredit
Nazism.
Taylor, who refers to the au-
thor of this book, Fritz Tobias,
and to himself, as staunch , anti-
Nazis, maintains that at the trial
of van der Lubbe much of the
evidence has been discredited.
He upholds Tobias' view that
there is good ground for believ-
ing van de Lubbe acted alone,
that there is some evidence that
the Nazis did not commit the
act, that: "Even the believers in
Nazi guilt must admit that Hit-
ler's method was to grab at op-
portunities as they occurred,
not to manufacture them before-
hand."
Taylor also states in his intro-
duction: "The full records of
the proceedings before the High
Court are locked away at Pots-
dam under Communist control.
They would surely have been
released before now if they had
helped to convict the Nazis. I
have an uneasy feeling that van
der Lubbe talked about his in-
tentions beforehand and that he
may have been egged on by
Nazi companions. This does not
imply that the Nazi leaders
knew anything of it, and it
makes no difference to the
story."
Thus, Taylor upholds Tobias
and defends the publication
of the book. He believes that
Second Habimah
Play is Praised
NEW YORK, (JTA) — The
critics for New York's major
newspapers lauded Habimah for
its excellent acting in reviews
this week at the Israel National
Theater's second play. All spoke
of the play "Children of the
Shadows," by Ben-Zion Tomer,
as a "prize_winning" drama
which—as the New York Times
stated — emphasizes that "the
evil of the Nazi nightmare still
remains to be exercised."
The New York Times reviewer
said the play "encompasses the
inescapable . inner drama of its
subject—the problem of build-
ing a new life in a new country
by those who have the terrors of
the Nazi holocaust, the ever-
present, haunting past of those
who, in time of bloodletting and
the crematoriums, chose to live."
The reviewer had particular
praise for Aharon Meskin, one
of the oldest of the original Ha-
bimah repertory cast as well as
for Ammon Meskin, son of the
veteran trouper, who plays the
role of a young man "with deep
earnestness."
a legend should be demolish-
ed.
Nevertheless, there is much
that is confusing about it all.
The Tobias book presents a
mass of material, quotes the
evidence, traces the background
of the fire, and in many respects
adds historical data to the Hit-
ler era.
There are passing references
to the anti-Semitism of the
Nazis, and the anti-Jewish acts
certainly were not relevant to
this story—especially since its
occurrence so soon after Hit-
ler's rise to power. But the evi-
dence of the anti-Semitic inten-
tions is there and is indicated in
the book.
Among the puzzles created by
this book is its repudiation of
the "Brown Book of the Hitler
Terror." There is a confusing
reference to Albert Einstein
who is said, in Tobias' book, to
have repudiated the "Brown
Book." It may well be that only
half the story is told here.
In the testimony quoted
from the trial proceedings,
Dimitrov asked G o e b b els
whether the assassions of
Rathenau and Erzberger were
Nazis, and Goebbels replied:
"I do not wish to evade the
question. The murders of
Erzberger and Rathneau were
not committed by associates
of the National Socialists
Party. . ."
In his preface to his book,
Tobias states that he and his
father lost their home in Ham-
burg and both became jobless
when the Nazis came to power
in 1933. It would have been
more helpful if he were to tell
what he had done in the interim
between 1933 and his work on
the Reichstag fire. Where was
he and what did he do while
Hitler was in power?
His book was translated from
the German by Arnold J. Pome_
rans.
Label! to Run for
Council; Offers Plan
to End Delinquency
GI Congregation Stationed in Japan Sends
Comfort, Prayers to Ailing Father of Airman
YOKOTA, Japan—The pray-
ers of an American GI Jewish
congregation sped half w a y
around the world to comfort a
man about to undergo a serious
operation, and at the same time
reassured him that his son, sta-
tioned here with the U.S. Air
Force, is remaining true to his
traditional faith.
In a letter to Jack Seidler, of
Newark, N.J., Chaplain Sidney
Zimelman said, "I write you
with the fervent hope that
Philip bring with him to your
side the Lord's healing and
faith." Young Seidler had re-
ceived emergency leave to be
with his father.
The chaplain continued: "The
devout prayers of our congrega-
tion here are with you in these
moments of physical stress and
trial. God has been gracious to
you in His beneficent endow-
ment of a son who is a true
source of pride and joy to all
of us."
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MISS EDITH SCHICK
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June. Her fiance is a graduate
of the Philadelphia Yeshivah.•
A June 21 wedding is
OPENING EXHIBIT EXTENDED THROUGH MARCH 20
planned.
Joseph's Studio
of Coiffeur
RACZ GALLERY
President Stays
As a Guest at
Taubman Home
LOS ANGELES, (JTA) —
President Johnson used the
beautiful home of a leading
California Jewish couple, Mr.
and Mrs. Louis Taubman, dur_
ing his trip to Palm Springs, for
his meeting with President
Adolfo Lopez Mateos of Mexico.
During their sessions, which
included a state dinner, the two
statesmen and their aides were
surrounded by objects of art
reflecting the identification of
the Taubmans with Judaism.
These include a gleaming brass
menorah, a Sabbath candelabra,
and an antique Israeli plate.
The Taubmans have dedicated
a chair of applied mathematics
at the Weizmann Institute in
memory of Herbert Taubman, a
founder of the family fortune.
The Taubmans are active mem .-
bers of Temple Isaiah in Palm
Springs.
Both Taubman and his father
were supporters of President
Johnson throughout his public
career.
Thus a Protestant American
President and a Catholic Mexi-
can President enjoyed the hos-
pitality of a Jewish citizen in
the United States.
Larry Labell, 41-year-old
president of Vulcan Chain Cor-
poration, announced his can-
didacy for the vacant Detroit
Common Council seat, and pre-
sented what he calls an Aid to
Youth Corps as the solution to
lawlessness and juvenile delin-
quency in the Detroit schools.
He made his proposal at a
meeting with Drs. Charles Wolfe,
Norman Drachler and P. T. Ran-
kin, officials of the schools. The
plan calls for volunteers from
established community organiza-
tions who would receive train-
ing in handling school problems.
They would receive special in_
struction from school board
members and policemen , in
orientation classes.
In honor of the 75th birthday
Labell, a past president of De-
of Philip J. Cutler, prominent
troit Lodge, Bnai Brith, was the
Detroit Zionist leader, his fam-
1960 recipient of Bnai Brith's
ily. inscribed his name in the
Benny Award.
Jewish National Fund Pillars
of Courage.
Cutler, who was 75 on Feb.
At NCJW Institute
15, also was honored in Chicago
by his brother-in-law and neph-
ew, Rabbis Louis Kaplan and
Menahem M. Goodman, and at
Sabbath services at Congrega-
tion Anshe Motele as well as
by the synagogue's Men's Club
at a breakfast.
His daughter and son-in-law,
Dr. and Mrs. Louis Kaplan, had
a party in their home in Chi-
At the Institute on Public cago. Detroit guests included
Affairs conducted in Washing- his daughter and son-in-law, Dr.
ton recently by the National and Mrs. Robert Luby, Mr. and
Council of Jewish Women, Mrs. Samuel Cutler and Mr. and
new family and child welfare Mrs. Nathan H. Knoppow.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Cutler
programs were outlined by
U.S. Assistant Secretary of have long been active in Zion-
Health, Education and Wel- ist work — in the Jewish Na-
fare WILBUR J. COHEN to tional Fund, Zionist Organiza-
MRS. SAMUEL BROWN of tion of Detroit, I-Iadassah and in
Washington, chairman of the behalf of Israel Bonds, and in
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Council's Institute.
Philip J. Cutler
Honored on His
.75th Birthday
OIL PAINTINGS BY DISTINGUISHED FRENCH.
AND ITALIAN ARTISTS .. .
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• Theo Tobiasse
• Yvette Alde
• Laverenne
• Feleseri and Others
Sculpture by Ferencz Varga
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31 -THE DETRO IT JEWISH NEWS—Friday, M arch 6, 1964
German Author Absolves Nazis of ' F,dith Schick to Wed
Guilt in Setting Reichstag Fire
Philadelphia R a bbi