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American Protests Against Nazis Grow

Publication Date
Sunday, November 13, 1938
Historical Event
Anti-Jewish Riots Convulse German Reich (Kristallnacht)
This database includes 5,077 articles about this event
Tags
Gannett full page downloadable
Public Responses in America
Early Acts of Persecution
Article Type
News Article
Newspaper
The Montgomery Advertiser
Location
Montgomery, Alabama
Page Section and Number
9
Author/Byline
AP
Image Text
Protests against Nazi Germany's latest campaign against Jew grew in volume and strength in the United States yesterday, (Saturday) bringing suggestions from some spokesmen that this country sever relations with the Reich.

Aroused especially by the Hitler government's fining the Jews within its borders $400,000,000 for the slaying of a German diplomat in Paris by a Polish Jew, men in public and private life and of various religions added their voice to the swiftly mounting list of objectors.

Bitterly denouncing the fine and calling Hitler "one of the outstanding tyrants the world has produced," Senator King (D), Utah, suggested the United States sever diplomatic relations with Germany in protest.

At a mass meeting in New York's Columbus circle[sic] sponsored by the American League for peace[sic] and Democracy, a crowd estimated by police at 1,500 shouted its approval of resolutions demanding that the U. S. break off all trade relations with Germany and urging boycott of all German-made goods.

Telegraph messengers said 200 persons sent messages during the meeting to President Roosevelt asking that he put an embargo on all trade with Germany.

A New York clergyman, the Rev. Charles A. Buckley, also telegraphed the President, urging him to "exercise the power of public opinion which your humanitarian leadership exemplifies and take such action as this crisis demands."

Prof. Johan J. Smertenko, executive director of the non-sectarian anti-Nazi League—under whose auspices former Governor Alfred E. Smith and District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey spoke against the German anti-semitic measure last night—declared the mass fine showed the "real motive" behind the disorders of the last few days.

"At last Hitler has disclosed exactly what he is after in persecuting the Jews," he said. "In order to bolster up the crumbling economic position of Nazi Germany he has decided to pauperize the victims of his terror.

"The assassination of a German official by a crazed individual is only an excuse. If that incident had not occurred, Hitler and Goebbels would have found another excuse in some other incident at this time. If there, were no incident they would have created one.

"This fine will complete the destruction of the entire Jewish race in Germany and will leave a half million starving people who can neither find work nor relief."

Several senators betides King expressed indignation privately at the new anti-Jewish measure, but declined to be quoted for fear of international complications. Rep. Dies (D), Texas, chairman of the House committee on un-American activities, called the German edicts "Just an example of the fruits of hate" and said it should be a lesson for this country."

Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, director of the National Conference of Jews and Christians, announced that a day of prayer and intercession would be held next weekend for the victims of oppression. The Federal Council of Churches of Christ in American[sic] initiated the movement, he said, and was joined by the three branches of American Jewry and by Catholic bishops throughout the country.

Amid the storm of protests a request that American Jews refrain front criticizing the Nazi regime, former State Senator Max L. Pinansky of Maine saying he and others were making the request in hopes of averting reprisals against Jews in Germany.

Police continued to keep a close watch on the German Consulate in New York and the home of Consul General Hans Borchers as the result of anonymous telephone threats that the consul offices would be bombed. Similar threats were received at the German consulate in Boston Friday, but the 24-hour time limit given there expired without incident.
History Unfolded Contributor
Gary O.
Location of Research
Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com)

Learn More about this Historical Event: Anti-Jewish Riots Convulse German Reich (Kristallnacht)

Bibliography

Gilbert, Martin. Kristallnacht: Prelude to Destruction. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.

Pehle, Walter H., ed. November 1938: From "Reichskristallnacht" to Genocide. New York: Berg, 1991.

Read, Anthony. Kristallnacht: The Nazi Night of Terror. New York: Times Books, 1989.

Schwab, Gerald. The Day the Holocaust Began: The Odyssey of Herschel Grynszpan. New York: Praeger, 1990.

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