VOLUME 8 NO.S MAY 2008 Kjlltl journal ^1^1 ^Umi Association of Jewish Refugees From police chief in Berlin to refugee in Britain he story of Dr Bemhard Weifi, who overthrow the new Republic. He fully was Deputy President of Police in supported the firm suppression of these Berlin from 1927 until 1932 - in insurrectionary activities by the Titself remarkable since he was govemment, which both at national level Jewish - also has an unexpected final and in the state of Pmssia was dominated chapter. WeiB was one of the rare officials by the Social Democrats (SPD). But whereas under the Weimar Republic who was the SPD-led coalition govemment at national actively committed to republican, level lasted only until 1920, in Prassia the democratic values; he defended Germany's coalition of the SPD, the Catholic Centre young and vulnerable parliamentary Party and the Liberals of the Deutsche democracy vigorously against its political Demokratische Partei lasted until 1932. As enemies on both left and right and sought Prussia covered about two thirds of to inspire those under his command with the Germany's territory, with nearly 60 per cent spirit of democratic policing. He ended his of its population, control over that state, and days in exile in Britain. especially its police force, was a vital lever Bemhard WeiB's grandfather was bom of power in Germany, where the army had in Silesia in 1807, studied medicine and in been reduced to a mere 100,000 men by the 1837 moved to Oranienburg, outside Berlin, Treaty of Versailles. to practise. WeiB's father Max amassed a As head of the political police department fortune in the grain trade, allowing of the Kripo, WeiB played a key role in Bemhard, who was bom in Berlin in 1880, Dr Bernhard WeiB countering the threat posed by the radical to study law and follow the profession of right to the Weimar Republic. When foreign his choice. The family remained proudly accession to the German Empire in 1871 had minister Walther Rathenau, a Jew, was conscious of its Jewish origins, but aspired been its retention of control over its army - murdered by right-wing extremists in June to full assimilation into German society. in peacetime only, a typically Bismarckian 1922, in the most notorious political WeiB became a member of the stroke - it was possible for a handful of Jews assassination of the Weimar period, it was Kuratorium (committee of govemors) of the to become reserve officers in the Royal WeiB's energetic pursuit that led to the Hochschule fiir die Wissenschaft des Bavarian Army. When the First World War cornering of the two killers; the posters the Judentums, one of the rrtost distinguished broke out, WeiB, like his three brothers, went police put up in the manhunt bore WeiB's institutions of Jewish leaming in Germany. straight into the army, where he rose from signature. Whatever their ideological But he also identified closely with the platoon leader in a medical company to differences, left- and right-wing extremists CentralVerein deutscher StaatsbUrger captain in a cavalry unit, a quite exceptional were united in their hostility to militant judischen Glaubens (Central Union of advance. proponents of democracy like WeiB, for he (German Citizens of the Jewish Faith), which In summer 1918, WeiB's talents as a was even-handed in pursuit of their illegal represented the assimilated German Jews lawyer and an officer led the Prussian endeavours. In 1924, when a suspected spy who believed that their rightful place was Ministry of the Interior to take the took refuge in the Soviet Trade Mission's in Germany, on equal terms with their fellow extraordinary step of appointing him deputy building, WeiB ordered a police search ofthe Germans; he was a founder member of the head of the criminal police (Kripo) in Berlin, premises, ignoring its diplomatic immunity. Anti-Zionist Committee. the first unbaptised Jew to hold such a For this he had to be moved to a position in WeiB remained a convinced German position under the Empire. After the war, the Pmssian Ministry of the Interior. patriot throughout his life. After doing his he presided over the democratisation of the WeiB's career reached its highpoint when military service in a Bavarian regiment, he Berlin police, defending and promoting the he was appointed head of the Kripo in 1925, succeeded in becoming an officer in the liberal, republican values of Germany's then Deputy President of the Berlin police reserve. Unbaptised Jews could not be first parliamentary democracy and force in 1927. A more forceful and energetic commissioned as officers in the pre-1914 remodelling the Berlin police into a citizens' figure than his nominal superior. Police Presi­ Prussian Army. But since one of the police force. dent Karl Zorgiebel, WeiB became the public concessions granted by Bismarck to the WeiB's first period of service coincided face of the police in the capital; Berliners Kingdom of Bavaria in return for its with the attempts of the radical left to continued overleaf AJRJOURfslAL MAY 2008 IRO.M POLICE CHIEF IN BERLIN TO REFUGEE IN fiRITAIN continued from nage I ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING simply called him 'ViPoPra' (Vizepolizei- unconstitutional act by a reactionary regime of prasident), in a characteristic combination bent on eliminating the last remaining THE ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES of affection and disrespect for authority. bastion of democracy in Germany, led to TUESDAY 3 JUNE 2008, 11.00 AM WeiB became involved in a highly WeiB's immediate removal from office. at the Paul Balint AJR Centre personalised conflict with Joseph Goebbels, Faced with the declaration of a state of siege 15 Cleve Road, London NW6 whom Hitler had sent to Berlin in 1926 to and the threat of army intervention, the Lunch, if required, £5 payable in advance Agenda lead the Nazi onslaught on the capital. WeiB democratically elected Pmssian ministers Annual Report 2007 stood for everything Goebbels loathed: as a bowed to Papen's show of force and left their Hon. Treasurer's Report Discussion Jew in a position of authority in the hated posts without resistance. Typically, it was Election of Committee of Management democratic 'system' of Weimar, the Deputy WeiB who convinced Police President Albert All questions for the chair should be submitted by Tues 13 May to the Head of President of Police seemed to symbolise the Grzesinski at least to issue a written protest Administration at Jubilee House, Merrion 'imposition' of 'unGerman' elements on the contesting the legal grounds for the Avenue, Stanmore, Middx. HA7 4RL. German people in the wake of the defeat of FhreuJknschlag. In a few months' time, after ELECTION OF COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT 1918. Goebbels tried to smear WeiB by 30 January 1933, control over the Berlin The following members will be portraying him as a caricature Jew and police force was to pass to a new Pmssian proposed for election or re-election to the Committee at the AGM calling him isidor', supposedly a Minister of the Interior, Hermann Goring, on Tuesday 3 June 2008: quintessentially Eastern Jewish name. and with it the means of eliminating political Mr AC Kaufman, Chairman*, Mr W D Rothenberg*, Vice Chairman & Hon. Treasurer, Mrs E S Angel, Presumably the irony of a German who opposition to Hitler. Secretary*, Mr C W Dunston, Trustee*, Mrs D himself boasted the Biblical name Joseph Franklin, Trustee, Mrs G R Glassman, Trustee*, WeiB had to flee Germany once the Nazi Mrs J Millan, Mr E Reich*, Mr A Spiro foisting a supposedly antisemitic label onto regime consolidated its power. He went to *Committee members retiring by rotation a Jew with the solidly German name Prague in March 1933, then moved to and being proposed for re-election Bemhard was lost on Hitler's future Minister London in January 1934, where he lived Anyone wishing to propose any other member for election as Hon Officer, Trustee, or of Propaganda. with his wife Lotte and their daughter until Committee member must submit to AJR's Head of Administration such a proposal signed by WeiB reacted to (ioebbels's depiction of his death on 29 July 1951. His name was ten members qualified to vote at the meeting him in Der Angriff and other Nazi on the first list of those stripped of their and with the signed agreement of the person publications with a string of lawsuits for German citizenship by the Nazis. Sadly, he being proposed no later than 13 May. defamation; he won his case in court was among those who proved unable to repeatedly, but failed to silence his opponent. adapt to life in exile. Supported by a ARTS AND EVENTS DIARY - MAT As Dietz Bering has shown in his studies generous benefactor, he eventually set To 29 June 'Lifelong Impressions - Der Name als Stigma and Kampf um himself up in the printing trade. He was Paintings, Prints and Drawings by Milein Namen: Bernhard Weifi gegen Joseph interned briefly when war broke out, Cosman', Hampstead Museum, Burgh House, New End Square, London NW3. (M)ebbels, Goebbels's use of the name Isidor spending two months in a Butlin's holiday Contact Dina Wosner on 020 8371 7371. to stigmatise WeiB was a classic example camp at Clacton, which he called 'the best Sponsored by Burgh House and Hampstead of the Nazi use of negative stereotypes to holiday of his life'. Museum, AJR and Jewish Museum marginalise and demonise Jews. More Otherwise, the 17 years that he spent in Mon 5 No lecture (Bank Holiday) Club 43 recently, David Irving's treatment of this Britain passed in obscurity. He made one Mon 12 Hans Seelig, 'Chopin: A Romantic Composer, Innovator and Craftsman' Club episode in his biography of Goebbels made retum visit to Germany after the war, and 43 it an issue in the libel case that Irving his dearest wish was to regain German Thur 15 Monica Bohm-Duchen, 'Exiles, unsuccessfully brought against Professor nationality; despite everything, WeiB still Emigres and Eccentrics: Artistic Life in Deborah Lipstadt.