No. 1184
AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL,
Berlin, Germany, March 14, 1933
SUBJECT: Molestation of American citizens domiciled or temporarily in Berlin, by persons wearing the uniform . of a political party. .
THE HONORABLE
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON .
SIR:
I have the honor to inform the Department that since the last elections held in Germany on March 5, 1933, the Consulate General has been receiving visits from Americans domiciled or temporarily in Berlin who have made affidavits to the effect that they have been molested and maltreated in their homes or in the streets of this city by persons wearing the uniform of the National-Socialist party. A copy of the affidavits executed at this Consulate General and in one case at the Consulate General at Munich is transmitted herewith, but as a basis of the report to be made in this dispatch a brief resume of each case is given below:
Leon Jaffe, an American citizen, bearer of passport No. 217672, issued at Washington May 1, 1930, and residing at 914 Hoe Avenue, New York City, who is the manager of the Newbury Manufacturing Company of 68 Northampton Street, Boston, Massachusetts, and who is iri Berlin on behalf of his firm, declares that on Saturday, March 4, about 1 a. m. he was returning home when at the corner of the Leibnitz and Bismarckstrasse he encountered six men dressed in the brown NationalSocialist uniform who, without any provocation' on his; part, be-L-198
gan to hurl epithets such as "verfluchter Jude" and struck him. He explained in English that he was an American and they allowed him to go without further, molestation.
Henry H. Sattler, an American citizen, bearer of Departmental passport No. 495326, issued on May 13, 1932, is living with his father in Berlin who has an advertising business here at Helm-staedterstrasse 16 and in New York at 220 Fifth Avenue, declares that on the morning of March 4 about 1 a. m. he was coming home from a restaurant in the company of two Germans when they were attacked at the Barbarossa-Platz by about 15 men belonging to the National-Socialist party. They were struck without provocation, the police were called, and their statement was taken.
Nathaniel S. Wollf, an American citizen, residing in Rochester,
N. Y., declares that on March 6, about 5 a. m. there came into his room five or six National-Socialists with drawn revolvers. After abusing him he was taken from his room in an automobile to another house where in a bare room his hands and feet were tied and he was subjected to various indignities including blows and physical injuries. His hands and feet were later untied by what was evidently a National-Socialist officer who apologized for the conduct of his associates and treated him with some kindness, but compelled him to sign a paper that he would leave Berlin the next evening. The officer then told his associates to release Mr. Wollf and left, but his associates instead of releasing Mr. Wollf took him in an automobile to the Grünewald on the outskirts of the city where they made as though they would tie him to a tree and beat him with straps, and after having thoroughly terrorized him left him without money, going off in their automobile.
Edwin Franden Dakin, of Hannibal, Missouri, bearer of Departmental passport No. 546684 issued August 8, 1932, declares that he is in Germany for study and that on the morning of March 6 at 1.30 o'clock approximately five men entered his apartment and after threatening him with pistols and inflicting physical injury evidently satisfied themselves that he was not the person they were looking for and left him without further molestation. He declares that several of the men who threatened him with revolvers were undoubtedly intoxicated.
Phillip Zuekermmi, an American citizen, bearer of Departmental passport No. 74664, issued June 7, 1929, temporarily in Berlin, but whose place of business is in Leipzig, declares that on Tuesday, March 7, about 10.30 in the morning as he was leaving his office he was accosted on the Niederwallstrasse by two
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persons in National-Socialist uniform who suggested that he contribute to the funds of the "Hitler-Jugend" whereupon he offered one mark, but on being recognized as a Jew these persons demanded that he contribute at least twenty marks and threatened physical injury if he did not acquiesce.
Salomon Friedmann, included in the passport of his father, Joseph Salomon, who is the bearer of passport No. 2 issued at the Consulate General at Berlin on May 16, 1929, declares that on March 7 on the Potsdamer Platz he was attacked by three National-Socialists who called him a Jew and struck him with rubber clubs.
Max Schussler, an American citizen, bearer of Departmental passport No. 12877 issued April 18, 1929, temporarily residing in Berlin with his wife where he occupies an apartment, declares that he is in Berlin on business as he has considerable property here which he is looking after. He has among his properties a place occupied as a beer restaurant the occupant of which as soon as the present Hitler-Hugenberg Government came into power refused to continue to pay further rent. Mr. Schussler states that he took the usual steps legally to bring about the collection of the rent, and at 2 o'clock on the morning of March 7 his house was entered by two men in National-Socialist uniform and two others in civilian clothes who came into his bedroom and at the point of revolvers ordered him and his wife to dress. His wife was compelled to take off her nightgown and appear completely naked before the intruders. After they had dressed at the point of pistols and after continued threats he was compelled to sign several documents to the effect that he would not continue to proceed against his tenant either for eviction or for payment of rent. He was told that if he on the next day endeavored to change his decision he would be dead.
Louis Berman, an American citizen, bearer of Departmental passport No. 344925 issued February 28, 1931, declares that he is a medical student in the University of Berne and came to Berlin on March 8 for a brief holiday. That night while passing along the Liniestrasse at about 12.30- o'clock on his way to his lodgings he was accosted by four men in National-Socialist uniform who attacked him and in the scuffle he declares that his briefcase containing $285 and private papers disappeared.
Herman I. Roseman, an American citizen, bearer of Departmental passport No. 308868 issued August 27, 1930, declares that on March 10 about 4.30 in the afternoon he came out of the K.d.W. department store with his fiancee when a man in S.A. uniform stepped on his toe purposely which was the beginning of further
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molestation during which he was given various' blows in the t presence of policemen who did not interfere.
Julian Fuhs, bearer of passport No. 35 issued by the Consulate General at Berlin on January 6, 1931, states that he is a naturalized American citizen temporarily in Germany where he is writing a history of music while his wife, a German citizen, operates a restaurant in Nuernbergerstrasse 16. He declares that on Saturday, March 11, between 1 and 2 a. m. several S.A. men entered the restaurant of his wife and took him into a toilet room where he was physically, assaulted. The police were called in and in this instance seem to have given certain protection to Mr. Fuhs and to his wife.
It is interesting to note that all of the above Americans are Jews with the exception of Mr. Dakin. The Consulate General is satisfied that in every one of these cases the attack upon the persons and homes of these Americans was unprovoked and brought about through the assumption that they were Jews. It is not believed that the attacks were made upon them as Americans or as foreigners, but on the ground that they were Jews.
The first cases reported to the Consulate General were those of Messrs. Wollf, Sattler and Dakin, and as the circumstances in the case of Mr. Wollf were particularly aggravated it was obvious that immediate and adequate steps would have to be taken in order to prevent further molestation of Americans. As the circumstances seemed to indicate that attacks on Jews were being made indiscriminately and upon those of other nationalities as well as Americans, it seemed advisable in the protection of the interests of the many Americans in Berlin of whom quite a number are Jews, that immediate steps should be taken to bring the case of Mr. Wollf to the attention of the highest authorities in the Reich. The ordinary procedure in these cases would have been for the Consulate General to take them up with the Police President of Berlin, but as the Police President has recently been appointed to his post by the National-Socialists and as Mr. Goering, one of the leaders of the National-Socialist movement, isi also in charge of the Prussian Ministry of the Interior, there seemed to be much probability that if I reported the cases to the Police Praesidium and to the Prussian Ministry of the Interior they would be given routine investigation and that in the meantime attacks might continue. I had the very definite impression that in order to protect the interests of our people in Berlin the information with regard to these unjustified attacks on Americans should be brought to the highest authorities. I therefore on March 6 after discussing this with the Ambassador who was in
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agreement, addressed a letter to him transmitting copies of the affidavits in the cases of Messrs. Wollf, Sattler and Dakin. The Embassy immediately took up these cases with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and in a telegraphic report which it made to the Department it has already informed it that the cases were brought to the attention of the Chancellor, Mr. Hitler, and of the cabinet at a cabinet meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On March 8 I again transmitted to the Embassy the case of Mr. Schussler, .
On March 9 it seemed desirable to take these cases up directly with the Police President as well, and I therefore arranged to call on him that morning, accompanied by Mr. Geist of the staff, I left with the Police President a letter to which were appended the affidavits in the cases of Messrs. Wollf, Sattler, Dakin, Schussler, jaffe and Friedmann. The Police President expressed appreciation that we had brought these cases to his attention, had furnished such complete data as that contained in the affidavits, expressed regret that the unprovoked attacks should have been made on American citizens, and declared that he would take immediate and appropriate steps to protect our citizens in Berlin from further attacks and molestation. I took the opportunity to express to the Police President the hope that as the fact these Americans had made affidavits would probably become known, he would see that these persons had adequate police protection as otherwise some of them might suffer serious injury from irresponsible and uncontrolled persons. The Police President indicated that he understood the circumstances and would take the necessary steps. I gathered the definite impression that the Police President was himself interested in seeing that Americans and other foreigners in Berlin were properly protected and that he would not fail to take energetic steps.
On March 9 I transmitted to the Embassy the affidavits of Mr. Friedmann and of Mr. Jaffe. On March 13 there were transmitted the affidavits of Messrs. Berman, Zuckerman, Roseman and Fuhs. On March 13 there were transmitted to the Police President the affidavits of Messrs. Berman, Zuckerman, Roseman and Fuhs, as well as a supplementary affidavit executed by Mr. Schussler, the original one having already been sent him.
These attacks on American citizens as well as the others which have been reported to the authorities on citizens of other nationalities, are undoubtedly the result of the propaganda against the Jews which has been a distinct part of the Hitler movement. In a speech made in the Sport-Palast by Mr. Goebbels, one of the principal lieutenants of the present Chancellor, Mr. Hitler, im-
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mediately before Mr. Hitler made has first speech as Chancellor, Mr. Goebbels indulged before an audience of some 12,000 people in unrestrained statements with regard to the Jewish newspapers and Jews generally as the enemies of Germany. I was present at this meeting and it was difficult to believe that a speech of this kind would be tolerated immediately preceding a speech by the responsible Chancellor of the German Government. Prior to the elections on March 5 the admirable police force of Germany was able to restrain the uniformed National-Socialists from excesses against the Jews and any breaches of the peace resulted in the arrest of the offenders. Discipline among the uniformed National-Socialists, however, was also apparently sufficiently strong to prevent them from these attacks on innocent, unarmed persons. The effect of the victory at the polls, however, on March .5 showed itself in the unrestrained actions which immediately followed, and it may be assumed I believe that the attacks which have been taking place against Americans and other Jews are due to this hatred which has been instilled into the young men of the National-Socialist movement.
That the representations of the Embassy had considerable effect is apparent from the fact that towards the middle of last week the Chancellor issued a statement addressed to NationalSocialist adherents, that attacks on single persons must stop and that discipline and order among National-Socialist adherents must be maintained. He called upon the National-Socialists to see that these attacks on foreigners were stopped as they were being made by Communists masquerading in National-Socialist uniforms. He emphasized in his statement that these attacks on foreigners were creating a wrong impression concerning the National-Socialist movement in foreign countries.
The evening before Mr. Hitler made this statement in Berlin, Mr. Goering, however, had made a speech in Essen in which he declared that the police in Germany were not supported by the Government for the purpose of protecting Jewish stores. This statement was made in connection with the acts of uniformed National-Socialist adherents who interfered with the customers of Jewish department stores in Berlin and other cities in Germany and of chain stores, and in certain cases brought about their temporary closing. '
While the statement of Mr. Hitler seemed to be quite reassuring to those who had the impression that the police had had their power taken away from them and that these excesses might be expected to continue on the part of uniformed National-Socialists, the speech of Mr. Goering was very disturbing. There was
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evidence that the police in Berlin and other cities whose discipline and effectiveness are well known had had their morale very much upset. In order to retain their places and not to be thrown among the unemployed, many of the police immediately before the elections and after joined the National-Socialist movement. Evidence which has come to the Consulate General not only through the affidavits herewith transmitted, but from other reliable sources, shows that the power had at least temporarily passed from the uniformed police to the so-called "Hilfs-Polizei" in National-Socialist uniform. This situation was exceedingly disturbing.
When I called upon the Police President on March 9 he was particularly anxious to know whether we had any evidence from Americans to the effect that they had called for the assistance of the police and that the police had failed to give it. He at that time gave the impression that the police retained their authority and that he would use all his influence, although a National-Socialist, to that end.
The further cases reported by the Embassy to the Foreign Office and by the Consulate General to the Police Praesidium, as already set forth in this dispatch, were undoubtedly also brought to the attention of the Chancellor and of the leaders of the National-Socialist movement, and on Sunday, March 12, Mr., Hitler again issued a statement over the radio addressed to the NationalSocialist adherents in Germany in which he referred in even more emphatic terms than he had done earlier in the week to the necessity for the maintenance of discipline and order and of National-Socialists refraining from attacks of violence on individuals and from the performance of any acts which could bring the NationalSocialist movement into discredit outside of the country. I can find no definite information pointing to the fact, but there is much reason to believe that during Saturday, March 11, strict orders were issued by the National-Socialist leaders to the district leaders throughout the. country that attacks on stores, interference with persons going in and out of shops and attacks on individuals must cease and that disciplinary steps would be undertaken against National-Socialists who broke discipline. The quietness of Sunday and Monday, March 12 and 13, indicate that some such unmistakable orders must have been issued.
Vice Chancellor von Papen expressed in my hearing on Saturday evening a grave doubt as to whether the National-Socialist groups throughout the country were under control. It is a grave question, and one still open to a good deal of discussion, as to how
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much power is retained by the Chancellor and how much has passed to his more radical nominal subordinates, such as Goering, Goebbels and Roehm. Since the elections on March 5 some of the more important thinking people in various parts of Germany have allied themselves with the National-Socialist movement in the hope of tempering its radicalism by their action within rather than without the party. These are very useful to the National-Socialist party, and there are indications that in the last few days it has been brought strongly to the attention of the Chancellor and of leaders, of the movement which he heads that these attacks on Jews, Communists and department stores, etc., are creating a situation not only in Germany, but outside of Germany, which is of real danger to the country as well as to the National-Socialist party.
The Consulate General has refrained from giving any information to the press with regard to these individual cases, but did on the occasion of my visit to the Police President state that I had been there to leave the affidavits of the Americans who had so far executed them. The press, however, has been able to get in touch with some of the individuals concerned, and European as well as I understand American newspapers have been carrying some of the stories of the Americans who have been molested. I am of the opinion that it was a good thing that some of these stories which are undoubtedly correct, receive publication in the press outside of Germany as their publication may have had' something to do with the two declarations made to his party by Mr. Hitler, and the newspaper publicity undoubtedly strengthened the representations made by the Embassy to the Foreign Office and by this Consulate General to the Police President.
It is impossible to make any predictions as to what course events will take so far as the safety of lives and property is concerned. I believe, however, that for the present the excesses will have been largely curbed and that greater power again lies with the regular police. Whether the uncontrolled young men in National-Socialist uniform can be definitely and permanently restrained depends. upon many factors which are still uncertain. Hatreds have been awakened and instilled over a period of years and it will be difficult for these young men to forget these hatreds unless new ideas displace them. Some occupation will have to be found for these men in uniform by the present Government or they will have to be taken out of the uniform. It is, however, interesting that the developments within the last 48 hours show a definite exercise of restraint and renewed pressure of authority.
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The Consulate General is giving- very careful attention to this problem of the protection of the Americans in Berlin and in Germany, and there is transmitted herewith a copy of a memorandum dated March 6, 1933, which was sent to the consular officers in the country. So far only one case has been reported of an attack on an American citizen outside of Berlin. It is the case of Mrs. Jean Klauber of Munich, and a copy of her affidavit is transmitted herewith. The Consulate General will not fail to keep the Department informed of any developments in this connection of interest.
Respectfully yours, '
/s/ George S. Messersmith /t/ George S. Messersmith
American Consul General.
310/800 GSM: HP