Vol. V. No. 5 MAY 1950 INFORMATiat^, ISSUED tr THE. ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES IN GREAT BRITAIN 8. FAIRFAX MANSIONS, FINCHLEY ROAD ( fAiRFAxToAo) LONDON. N.W.3 Onk« and C^nmlting Hmurf 10 k m.— I p.m., 3—4 p.m.. Sundar 10 a-m.—I p.m Ttlu*"»- MAIda Val« «a«l (General Office) MAIda Vale 4449 (Employment Agency) LESSONS OF A TRIAL HE trial against the Gestapo Official Baab in TAKING STOCK Frankfurt, which is reported in this issue, would T The General Meeting of the AJR, which took place lonely ones, who have to be cared for, and there are be of minor importance if it only referred to an a few days ago, marks the beginning of the tenth others for whom it creates unsurmountable diffi­ individual case. In fact, however, an entire system year of AJR activities. A long road lies behind us, culties to fill in a form or to attend to the simplest was under trial. There wpre hundreds of Baabs in and whilst many questions which in 1941 led to correspondence. the establishment of a central representation of the the offices of the Gestapo and in the guardrooms Jews from Germany and .\ustria, have been solved The United Restitution Office which deals with of the concentration camps. Each of them is meanwhile, other tasks of which we could not the third central task owes its existence to the responsible for the death and sufferings of innocent be aware in those days have come into the fore­ initiative of the AJR. It started as a Department people; some of these criminals have been caught, ground. The objectives ot the work have often of the AJR and was for about two years entirely others are still free and may perhaps never be tried changed, but never its importance nor substance. financed by the AJR. Even now, after the large Jewish Relief Organisations have made possible because their crimes have been forgotten or because Removal of restrictions against " enemy aliens " and naturalisation were the first goals to be reached. the establishment of URO on a wider international no witnesses are alive. At the same time, contacts with Jews from Germany basis, the AJR contributes to the maintenance of the Headquarters. Every. month, hundreds of Unfortunately, the trial cannot be considered as in other countries were gradually established and the " Council of Jews from Germany," under the claimants obtain adxace at Fairfax Mansions. The the concluding chapter of past history. Various presidency of Dr. Leo Baeck, was founded with its .\JR will also have to act in the interest of the Jews German papers recall the fact that the ground for Secretariat at AJR Headquarters. The most vital from Germany as soon as the distribution of the the unspeakable atrocities was laid under the problem to be taken up under the auspices of the heirless, communal and unclaimed property becomes Weimar Republic which did not take energetic " Council " and the AJR was that of restitution. possible. These assets are meant to be aBed for action against its opponents and encouraged them The organisational result was the creation of the charitable purposes, and the AJR, together with its sister organisations in other countries, has to by her leniency. There is, they say, a similarity United Restitution Office with its Central Office at .•^JR Headquarters. safeguard the interests of the emigrated Jews who between " harmless " incidents before 1933 which are in urgent need of old age homes and similar ultimately led to the erection of gas chambers, and All these achievements in the past are the founda­ institutions. tions of the present work which is centred around events in present-day Germany, such as the Hedler three basic problems : Representation and Advice, It is not intended to give a full catalogue of all speech or the recent disturbances during the Harlan Social Services and Employment Exchange, Resti­ the other AJR activities. Only one further task trial where the mob shouted " Judensau " at a half. tution and Compensation. deserves special mention—the co-operation with the Jewish witness. Such happenings would be un­ Jews in Germany. Those Jews in Germany, who, for There is no need to emphasise that, under various one reason or another, do not intend to emigrate, feel thinkable had not those who provoked them the aspects, the position of a foreign born citizen is cut off from the outside Jewish World. They con­ feehng that they did not take much risk. difierent from that of a British born subject. Only sider us as their outpost and expect from us advice a short while ago the echo of the Fuchs case served as and assistance in the manifold questions they have For the sake of world peace, let us learn from past an unpleasant reminder. Whilst fortunately there to face in post-war Germany. mistakes ! were in the recent past no incidents which directly affected our Community as a whole, individual acts Bond of Solidarity of discrimination called for the assistance of the .'VJR. There passes hardly a day at which the The AJR has never been a bureaucratic organis- HELP BEYOND THE CHANNEL ."VJR does not receive an " SOS," be it for advice tion. It keeps contacts with members not only by regarding the admission of relatives and friends, or giving them individual ad\'ice, but also by the HE Jewish Relief Unit from Great Britain journeys to and from Germany ; travel papers or publication of its monthly " AJR Information " T recently terminated its activities in Germany. certification of documents ; gift parcel regulations and by the arrangement of meetings. The AJR Trained in this country at a time when the end of or permit questions. Enquiries come from all has never aimed at competing with clubs and other the war was not yet in sight, Jewish volunteers left sections of the Community, rich and poor, em­ organisations for which regular meetings are the for the Continent and established Relief Centres in ployers, and employees, naturalised Britishers and main feature. Nonetheless, meetings in monthly intervals were held during the winter, with expert the Western Zone of Occupation and in Berlin after post-war immigrants who are still aliens and there­ fore subject to special rules. All these advisory speakers on various topical subjects. the end of hostilities. Their teams consisted of activities may be less conspicuous than public It is gratifying to state that the membership has social workers, lawyers, doctors and nurses, all of political actions, but they are indispensable. not changed in substance. This is a fine expression whom accompUshed their difficult work with of soUdarity so often experienced throughout the enthusiasm and efficiency. Expansion of Social Services history of Continental Jewry. As far as there were The second field of activities. Social Ser\'ices and losses, they were mostly due to emigration or death. The staff, which at the peaktime in 1941) con­ Employment Exchange, is in a process of constant There are, however, also cases in which members sisted of 100 volunteers, included a very high expansion. Mutual aid becomes increasingly urgent. feel unable to keep up their payments or to pay even proportion of Jews from Germany and Austria, who Many of the unemployed have lo be placed with a nominal fee. Here we face a problem whose considered it their duty to help those who had not refugee firms and must rely on the understanding solution should not be too difficult. Whilst usually had the good fortune of leaving the Continent in and solidarity of our friends in business life. The economic difficulties affect equally all sections of the help given by the local Labour Exchanges can only population, the position is somehow different time. be a limited one. Therefore, the AJR Employment amongst the Jewish immigrants from the Continent. Whilst at the beginning, the work for the D.Ps in Agency (anually licensed by the L.C.C.) is not just On the one side we have to expect an increasing 3 Belsen and other camps stood in the foreground, an agency which registers vacancies and employees. pauperisation of the older ones whose only capital A lot of initiative and imagination is necessary to consisted of their working capacity. On the other assistance and encouragement was also extended adapt employees to the type of vacancies available side, if many business and professional men would to the German Jews in the towns who gradually and to persuade firms to employ those who are sUghtly adjust their contributions to the increased built up new Communities. The achievement of desperately looking for work. Two courses for needs in the interest of the less fortunate members the Jewish Relief Unit m0y fill with pride the Jews adaptation of German to English shorthand have of the community, the AJR could concentrate still in England who, through the Central British Fund, been openetl free of charge by the AJR. Every firm more on practical help without being hampered by laid the financial foundations of the work, and all renders constructive help by informing the .\JR financial problems. Employment Agency of any vacancy. those who had the privilege of serving as relief No organisation is a purpose in itself, and the tasks workers. At the Consulting Hours of the AJR Social for whose accomplishment the machinery of the Services Department, day after day people ask for AJR has been built up may change in the future One can fix dates for the termination of organisa­ help, advice and encouragement. Many of them as they have changed in the past. Unchanged, tions, but not for the solution of problems, and the are exhausted, physically and mentally, after more however, is the need for an organisation which acts problems of Jews in Germany are manifold indeed.