Chapter 19

page 156

363 For the text of this memorandum in French, see: Michael Molho, In Memoriam (Salonika, 1948), I, pp. 118-120. The text in Hebrew in: Molho-Nehama, op. cit., pp. 106-107.

page 159

364 Molho-Nehama, op. cit., p. 142.

365 Tenenbaum, op. cit., p. 106.

page 160

366 Nathan Eck, New Light on the Charges Against the Last Chief Rabbi of Salonica (in: Yad Vashem Bulletin No. 17, Jerusalem; December, 1965), p. 14. Cf. the "Bericht eines aus Athen gefluechteten" (General Zionist Archives, Jerusalem, No. 841/44): "Man muss gestehen, dass die Einwohnerschaft von Athen sich menschlicher betragen haben als diejenige aus Saloniki.

367 Friedman, op. cit., p. 106.

page 161

368 Molho-Nehama, op. cit., p. 224.

369 Ibid., pp. 135-136. Cf. Friedman, op. cit., p. 107: "Leaders of the Jewish community insisted that Rabbi Barzilai take refuge, a notion he rejected until Archbishop Damaskinos prevailed upon him to change his mind."

370 "The Situation of the Jews in Greece" (Published by the World Jewish Congress, New York, 1944), p. 7.

371 Asscher Moissis, La situation des Communautes juives en Grece (in: "Les Juifs en Europe"), p. 54. Quoted by Tenenbaum, op. cit., p. 310.

page 162

372 Mr Moissis in his letter to me dated November 2, 1966. Another information from the same source: "After the Germans had called the Chief Rabbi of Volos, ordering him to take the necessary steps to facilitate the deportations, the latter went to the Bishop of Volos asking his advice and help. The Bishop advised him to abstain from collaboration whatsoever, and helped him to go into hiding; the majority of the Jewish population of Volos followed suit and thus was saved from deportation to Auschwitz."

373 The pastors were followers of Grundtvig (1783-1872), the teachings of whom in the opinion of Mrs. Yahil had a great influence on the views and attitude of Christians in Denmark during the German occupation. Cf. Dr. Leni Yahil, Test of Democracy, the Rescue of Danish Jewry in World War II (Jerusalem, 1966; in Hebrew, with a summary in English), p. 25.

page 163

374 Yahil, op. cit., p. 33.

Cf. Bishop Fuglsang-Damgaard in: "Chr. Refslund & M.Schmidt (Ed.), Fern Aar (Copenhagen, 1946; in Danish, p. 101: "Our Jews urgently requested [during the first years of the war] that as far as possible there should be silence about the Jewish question".

375 Yahil, op. cit., p. 33.

376 Ibid.

377 Ibid., pp. 164-165. The full text of the article in: "The Spiritual Issues of the War", No. 144, August 6, 1942.

page 164

378 "Christians Protest Persecution" (Religious News Service, "The National Conference of Christians and Jews", New York), p. 14.

379 Boris Shub (Ed.), Hitler's Ten Year War on the Jews (New York, 1943), p. 220.

380 Yahil, op. cit., pp. 164-165.

381 "Christians Protest Persecution", p. 14.

382 Harald Sandbaek and N. J.Rald (Ed.), Den danske Kirche UNDER BESAETTELSEN (Copenhagen, 1945; in Danish), pp. 27-28. Cf. Hugh Martin (Ed.), Christian Counter-Attack (London, 1943), pp. 74-75.

page 165

383 Robinson, op. cit., pp. 243-247; Yahil, op. cit., pp. 158-193.

384 Fuglsang-Damgaard, op. cit., p. 102 ff.

page 166

385 Ibid. Cf. Yahil, op. cit., p. 148: "Not only Svenningsen, however, was misled by Best and believed in his promises that the Jews were not in danger, but also Bishop Fuglsang-Damgaard came to the congregation, on Sept. 28th, at 3 p.m., in order to reassure its leaders, telling them that he knew from very reliable sources that the rumours were without foundation.

386 The Danish resistance movement consisted of "study circles". In Copenhagen such circles were organized on professional lines - architects, doctors, clergymen etc. The P.U.F. was the "study circle" of pastors. Not less than 90% of all pastors belonged to it. (Cf. Yahil, op. cit., p.160).

pag 167

387 Fuglsang-Damgaard, op. cit., p. 103.

388 Ibid., pp. 104-105.

389 Ibid., p. 105.

pag 168

390 Ibid., pp. 105-106.

391 Sandbaek and Rald, op. cit., pp. 21-22. Cf. "Fem Aar", 11, pp. 141-142.

pag 169

392 Yahil, op. cit., p. 166.

pag 170

393 Fuglsang-Damgaard, op. cit., p. 106

394 Ibid., p. 107.

page 171

395 "International Christian Press & Information Service, Geneva, No. 43, December, 1943.

396 "Fem Aar", 11, p. 144.

page 172

397 Dr. Samuel Stefan Osusky, Sluzba Narodu (Bratislava, 1947; in Slovakian), 11, pp. 133, 136.

page 173

398 Cf. for the historical particulars: Hilberg, op. cit., pp. 458-475; Tenenbaum, op. cit., pp. 318-321; the article of Dr. F. Steiner, "La situation des Juifs en Slovaquie" (in: "Les Juifs en Europe", pp. 216-220); and especially the comprehensive book of Dr.Livia Rothkirchen, The Destruction of Slovak Jewry (Jerusalem, 1961), passim.

page 174

399 Osusky, op. cit., pp. 230-231.

page 175

400 Cf. for the historical data: Robinson, op. cit., pp. 258-265; Hilberg, op. cit., pp. 485-509; Tenebaum, op. cit., pp. 312-317; also see the comprehensive work of Theodore Lavi: "Roumanian Jewry in World War II" (in Hebrew; Jerusalem, 1965), especially pp. 11-13.

401 "Hitler's Ten-Year War on the Jews", p. 84.

402 Dr.Alexandre Safran, L'oeuvre de sauvetage de la population juive accomplie pendant l'oppression nazie en Roumanie (in: "Les Juifs en Europe"; in French), p. 209. Cf. Lavie, op. cit., pp. 108-110.

page 176

403 Safran, op. cit., p. 209.

404 Ibid., p. 210.

page 177

405 Dr. Safran's secretary, Israel Lebanon, related about this meeting: "Rabbi Safran quoted texts from the Old Testament and dwelt on the relationship between Judaism and Christianity, etc." (Lavie, op. cit., p. 110).

406 Safran, op. cit., pp. 211 - 212.

page 178

407 Matatias Carp, Le martyre des Juifs de Roumanie (in: "Les Juifs en Europe"), p. 204.

page 179

408 International Press & Information Service, Geneva, May 1942, No. 16.

409 Ibid.

410 For the "German Christians", see above, on p. 36.

page 180

411 Bishop Mueller's letter to me, dated Dec. 2, 1965.

412 Dr. Safran's letter to me, dated April 18, 1966.

page 181

413 Hilberg, op. cit., pp. 474-475.

page 182

414 Yad Vashem Archives, 013/7-1. On the original there is a marginal note in handwriting: "I have read and investigated and shall take into consideration the contents of the above. 15. 11. 1940."

415 B. J. Arditi, Les Juifs de Bulgarie sous le regime Nazi 1940-1944 (Tel-Aviv, 1962; in Hebrew), pp. 201-202.

page 183

416 Ibid., p. 92.

417 Robinson, op. cit., p. 258; Hilberg, op. cit., pp. 474-484 . Cf. "Bulgarian Atrocities In Greek Macedonia and Thrace", A Report of Professors of the Universities of Athens and Salonica (Athens, 1945), p. 47: "The whole Jewish population of Eastern Macedonia and Western Thrace, about 9,000 persons, were taken away in the night of the 3rd of March, 1943... Three or four days later ...they were handed over to the Germans."

page 184

418 Yad Vashem Archives, 03/963, pp. 40-43 (in Hebrew).

419 Yad Vashem Archives, 03/1707 (in Hebrew).

page 188

420 Misho Leviev, Nashata Blagodarnost ("Our Gratitude", in Bulgarian; Sofia, 1945), pp. 81-86. Eleven Metropolitans signed, according to their dioceses.

page 189

421 Arditi, op. cit., p. 202.

422 Hilberg, op. cit., p. 483.

page 190

423 Yad Vashem Archives, No. 03/1707 (in Hebrew). Mr.Moshonov was a goldsmith who supplied the King's palace with jewelry and had free access to the palace. Also see: Ely Barouch, Iz Istoriata na Bulgarskoto Evrejstvo ("From the History of Bulgarian Jewry", Tel Aviv, 1960; in Bulgarian), p. 146: IUGo, 'the Metropolitan began, 'and tell your people that the King solemnly promised before the Prime Minister and before me, that the Jews of Bulgaria will not be expelled from the country. Go and transmit to them this information; reassure them and let they believe in the good principle that the Lord never forgets his children. Go in peace.'It was with those words that the Metropolitan Stephan received the delegation of Rabbi Daniel Ben Zion, Rabbi Asher Hananel and Menachem Moshonov, on May 24, 1943, when the Jews of Sofia were gathered together in the synagogue Yutch-Bunar in order to beseech mercy and salvation from God, as it had become known to them that Bulgarian Jewry would also be deported to be murdered in Poland. Cf. Arditi, op. cit., pp. 216-217.

424 Cf. p. 186 in this chapter.

page 191

425 Literally: "bake your head"

page 192

426 Solomon Samuel Mashiach in his article "Who saved us?", published in the newspaper "Narodno Delo (Sofia, No. 467, July 4, 1958; in Bulgarian). Quoted by Barouch, op. cit., pp. 147-149.

427 Arditi, op. cit., p. 374. Cf. Matthew 7, 2.

428 Leviev, op. cit., p. 88. Cf. Arditi, op. cit., p. 289: "When the Metropolitan Kyril was convinced that the local authorities and the representatives of the Government were not inclined to help the Jews, he sent a telegram to the King, in which he declared that he would cease to be the King's loyal subject and that he would act as seemed right to him and according to the dictates of his conscience as a religious man, if the instructions for expulsion were not cancelled."

page 193

429 Leviev, op. cit., pp. 88-89.

page 194

430 Testimony of Joseph Geron (in Hebrew); Yad Vashem Archives, No. 03/1707.

431 Cf. above, on p. 183 (note 2).

page 195

432 For the historical data in this chapter, see: Robinson, op. cit., pp. 265-269; Hilberg, op. cit., pp. 509-554; Tenenbaum, op. cit., pp. 321-332; Livia Rothkirchen, The Attitude of the Vatican and the Churches in Hungary towards "The Solution of the Jewish Question" (in: "Ha Ummah" (The Nation), Quarterly, Jerusalem; in Hebrew), 1967, No. 21, pp. 79-85.

433 For the first and second anti-Jewish law, see above, pp. 64-65.

434 Albert Bereczky, Hungarian Protestantism and the Persecution of the Jews (Budapest, 1946), p. 10. Also see: Jeno Levai, Black Book on the Martyrdom of Hungarian Jewry (Zurich, 1948), p. 25.

435 Dr. Mathe's letter to me, dated Aug. 24, 1967.

page 196

436 Bereczky, op. cit., pp. 12 - 13.

page 197

437 Levai, op. cit., pp. 92- 93; Bereczky, op. cit., p. 14.

438 Ibid.

page 198

439 Bereczky, op. cit., p. 14; cf. Levai, op. cit p 93.

440 Levai, op. cit., p. 117; cf. Bereczky, op. cit., pp. 15-16.

441 Levai, op. cit., p. 117; cf. Bereczky, op. cit., pp. 16-18.

page 199

442 Levai, op. cit., p. 217.

443 Bereczky, op. cit., p. 16.

page 200

444 ibid., pp. 19-21; Levai, op. cit., 217-218.

page 201

445 Bereczky, op. cit., pp. 21 - 24; Levai, op. cit., 218- 220. Bishop Ravasz and the Lutheran Bishop Bela Kapi had together prepared the draft. The Protest was signed by all the Bishops of the Reformed and the Lutheran Churches (Levai, pp. 218, 220).

page 202

446 Levai, op. cit., pp. 220-221; Bereczky, op. cit., p. 24.

447 Archives of the World Council of Churches, Geneva. The report was dated: Budapest, June 26, 1944.

page 203

448 Levai, op. cit., pp. 221 - 222; Bereczky, op. cit., pp. 24- 26.

page 204

449 Levai, op. cit., p. 222; Berezcky, op. cit., pp. 27-28.

450 Levai, op. cit., p. 223; Bereczky, op. cit., p. 28.

451 Dr. Mathe's letter to me, dated Aug. 24, 1967.

452 Cf. p. 256.

page 205

453 Levai, op. cit., pp. 360-361; Bereczky, op. cit., pp. 34-35.

page 206

454 Levai, op. cit., p. 361; cf. Bereczky, op. cit., pp. 35-37.

455 Bereczky, op. cit., p. 37.

456 Ibid.

457 Rothkirchen, "The Attitude of the Vatican...", p. 85. Quoted from: Erno Munkhcsi, Hogyan tortent' Adatok es okmhyok a magyar zsidesAg Tragediej Ahoz (Budapest, 1947; in Hungarian), p. 146.

page 207

458 For the press censorship in Switzerland during the war, see: Dr. Carl Ludwig, Die Fluchtlingspolitik der Schweiz seit 1933 bis zur Gegenwart (Bericht an den Bundesrat zuhanden der eidgenossischen Rate, Zu 7347), pp. 141, 142, 247, 289.

page 208

459 "Schweiz. Evang. Pressedienst" (E.P.D.), Nov. 12, 1941.

page 209

460 E.P.D. , Nov. 19, 1941. Cf. "International Christian Press & Information Service" (I.C.P.I.S.), Geneva, Nov., 1941. Also see: Alfred A. Hasler, Das Boot ist voll (Zurich, 1968; second impression, in German), pp. 131-133.

461 E.P.D., Nov. 19, 1941; cf. I.C.P.I.S., Nov., 1941.

page 210

462 E.P.D., Sept. 2, 1942. Cf. Hasler, op. cit., pp. 147-150.

463 E.P.D., Oct. 29, 1942.

page 211

464 Ibid., May 24, 1942.

page 212

465 Ibid., July 15, 1942. Cf. "The Spiritual Issues of the War", Aug. 6, 1942.

466 I.C.P.I.S., NO. 34, Oct. 1942.

467 Cf. the Report: "Schweiz. Sammlung fur die Fluchtlingshilfe, Oct.-Nov. 1942" (Erstattet von der Schweiz. Zentralstelle fur Fluchtlingshilfe), p. 15.

page 213

468 Cf. above, on p. 56.

469 Ludwig. op. cit., pp. 204-205.

470 Ibid., p. 209. Cf. Arieh Tartakower and Kurt R. Grossmann, The Jewish Refugee (New York, 1944), p. 294: "Thus the Council of the Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches appealed to the Federal authorities in August, 1942, urging that the right of asylum be not denied to non-Aryan refugees who recently arrived in Switzerland, and that liberal methods be applied to those who may yet come. Again, in September of that year, when the wave of deportations of Jews from France, Belgium, and Holland reached its crest, the Swiss National Protestant Church, in a pastoral letter concerning a nation-wide fast which was read from every pulpit, declared: '...We forsake our first love if we forget that our country must remain, as far as possible, a haven of refuge for the persecuted and refugees. To abandon this role is to betray our spiritual heritage, is 'to lose our soul in order to gain the world?. In particular, we cannot remain indifferent to the lot of the people of Israel, in whose midst our Saviour was born and who are today the object of measures whose cruelty and iniquity are the shame of our age...?"

471 Ludwig, op. cit., pp. 208-210; cf. E.P.D., August. 26, 1942; Hasler, op. cit., pp. 138-139.

page 214

472 See above, on p. 210.

473 E.P.D., Sept. 2, 1942. Cf. Hasler, op. cit., pp. 122-125. Also see Ludwig, op. cit., p. 373: "In autumn 1942, when we had 10,000-12,000 refugees, it was declared that the lifeboat was fully occupied and the possibility of accepting refugees exhausted. At the end of the war Switzerland harboured 115,000 refugees." Cf. the reply of Federal Councillor von Steiger (Ludwig, op. cit., pp. 393-394).

page 215

474 Ludwig, op. cit., pp. 222-224.

475 Cf. Ludwig, op. cit., pp. 214-222.

page 216

476 E.P.D., Oct. 29, 1942.

477 Cf. the Report "Schweiz. Sammlung fur die Fluchtlingshilfe, Oct.-Nov. 1942 ", p.8.

478 ibid., p. 40. Cf. Hasler, op. cit., pp. 186-187. Alsosee: Ludwig, op. cit., p. 228: "The result of the collection (about Fr. 1,500,000.-) organized by the Swiss Central Office for Aid to Refugees and vigorously supported by the 'Young Church', showed that a large proportion of the Swiss people was moved by the fate of the refugees.

page 217

479 "Schweiz. Sammlung fur die Fluchtlingshilfe...", p. 31. For another statement made by Prof. Karl Bart, see Hasler, op. cit., pp. 129-130.

480 Ludwig, op. cit., pp. 228-229.

page 218

481 See above, on pp. 214 - 215.

482 Ludwig, op. cit., pp. 229-231.

483 "Bericht des Schweiz. Kirchl. Hilfskommittee fur Evang. Fluchtlinge uber das Jahr 1943", p. 1.

484 Ludwig, op. cit., pp. 245-246.

485 E.P.D., June 16, 1943. Cf. Ludwig, op. cit., p. 245.

page 219

486 Ibid., Oct. 20, 1934.

page 220

487 Ibid., Nov. 11, 1943.

488 Ludwig, op. cit., p. 268.

489 Schweizerisches Evangelisches Hilfswerk fur die Bekennende Kirche in Deutschland.

page 222

490 E.P.D., June 22, 1943.

491 The following books were published : "Judennot und Christenglaube" (Zurich, 1943); "Soll ich meines Bruders Huter sein?" (Zurich, 1944); "Aus Not und Rettung" (Edited by Paul Vogt, Zurich, 1944). Some of the brochures published were: "Das Heil kommt von den Juden" (Oktober, 1938); "Thesen zu den Nachkriegsfragen der Fluchtlingshilfe"; "Vergesst die evangelische Freiplatzaktion nicht!" (1944); "Nicht furchten ist der Harnisch" (a circular letter sent monthly to regular supporters of the Refugee Aid); "Fluchtlingshilfe als christliche Diakonie" (by Paul Vogt, 1944). Rev. Vogt also pleaded the cause of the refugees in sermons and lectures (Hasler, op. cit., pp. 150-152, 206, 227-229, 301).

492 "Freiplatzaktion".

493 "Bericht des Schweiz. Kirchl. Hilfskomitees fur Evang. Fluchtlinge uber das Jahr 1943", passim.

page 223

494 ibid., pp. 6-7.

495 E.P.D. , Oct. 18, 1944.

496 Archives World Council of Churches, Geneva (file CCJP).

497 Also see: E.P.D. , July 5 , 1944: "Service of Intercession and Mourning for the persecuted Jews in Hungary"; E.P.D. , July I2, 1944: "Circular letter of the Church Council of Thurgau"; "The Committee of the Synod of Waadtland, Declaration about the persecution of the Jews"; and E.P.D., July 19, 1944: "A Service of Intercession at Schaffhausen".

page 224

498 I.C.P.I.C., July 28, 1944. Cf. E.P.D., July 12, 1944. The Press Department of the German Foreign Office circulated a confidential report ("The Church Council of Zurich condemns the persecutions of the Jews in Hungary") dated July 10, 1944. (Randolph L.Braham, The Destruction of Hungarian Jewry, New York, 1963; 11, p. 770).

page 225

499 E.P.D. July 19, 1944.

500 Ibid.

page 226

501 Ibid., Aug. 2, 1944.

page 227

502 "The Spiritual Issues of the War", December 17, 1942, No. 163.

page 228

503 "International Christian Press and Information Service", Dec. 12, 1942, No. 44-45. Cf. "Spiritual Issues", Dec. 12, 1942, No. 162; and "The New York Times., Febr. 2, 1943.

504 "International Christian Press and Information Service" (I.C.P.I.S.)., Dec., 1942, No. 44-45; "Spiritual Issues... ", Dec. 17, 1942.

page 229

505 I.C.P.I.S., Dec., 1942, No. 44-45.

506 Ibid.

page 230

507 "Spiritual Issues...", Dec. 17, 1942. Also see: "Nordiska Roster mot Jude-forfoljelse och Vald" (in Swedish; Documents and Commentaries, edited by Judisk Tidskrift; Stockholm, 1943), p. 17.

508 "Dagens Nyheter", Dec. 5, 1942. The Free Churches' Co-operation Committee represents the Missionary Society, the Baptist Church and the Methodist Church in Sweden.

page 232

509 "Nordiska Roster", pp. 15-16.

page 233

510 Dr. Leni Yahil, Test of Democracy (Jerusalem, 1966; in Hebrew, with a summary in English), pp. 228-229.

page 234

511 I.C.P.I.S., May 1944, No. 21.

512 Cf. Eberhard Bethge, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Muenchen, 1967), p. 415.

513 Livia Rothkirchen, The Destruction of Slovak Jewry (Jerusalem, 1961), p. XLIX. The full text: "Ministerprasident Tiso zeigte mich soeben mit der Bemerkung, 'was seine einzelne Leute denken', ein Schreiben des protestantischen Erzbischofs von Uppsala an den Slovakischen Staatsprasidenten. Der Schreiber interveniert 'fur die armen judischen Bruder' und bittet, da der Slovakischen Staat unter den derzeitigen Verhiltnissen keine

humane Behandlung gewahrleisten konne, den in der Slovakei konzentrierten Juden den Uebertritt auf ein neutrales Gebiet zu ermoglichen." (Files of

the German Foreign Ministry, YW/AA-K-327, Inland 11, Geheim, 571-K-2 13007).

page 235

514 William Simpson, Jews and Christians To-day (A Study in Jewish and Christian Relationships), London, 1940.

515 Reports to the General Assembly, 1940, p. 572.

page 236

516 Reports, 1941, p. 555.

517 Reports, 1942, p. 437.

518 Minutes of the Assembly, Thursday, June 11th, 1942.

page 237

519 Ernest Hearst, The British and the Slaughter of the Jews-(I); in: The Wiener Library Bulletin, Vol. XXI, No. I , p. 32.

520 Jasper, op. cit., p. 155.

page 238

521 "The Spiritual Issues of the War" (Bulletin published by the Religious Division of the Ministry of Information, London), No. 155, Oct. 22, 1942. Cf. Freudenberg, op. cit., p. 10.

522 "The Spiritual Issues...", No. 155.

page 239

523 "The Times", Oct. 30, 1942. This and the following articles from "The Times" are taken from the "Podro-collection" (in "The Jewish Historical Archives", Hebrew University, Jerusalem).

page 240

524 Hearst, op. cit., pp. 35-36. The two Archbishops of the Church of England and twenty-four Bishops (Durham, London, Winchester and the next twenty-one in order of appointment to a diocese) are members of the House of Lords.

525 Jewish Chronicle, Dec. 11, 1942.

526 "The Life of Faith" (Weekly), Dec. 16, 1942.

page 241

527 Keesing's Contempory Archives, Dec. 12-19, 1942 , p. 5506.

page 242

528 "Spiritual Issues...", No. 164, Dec. 24, 1924.

529 "Church of England Newspaper LONDON", Jan. 29, 1943. A similar statement was issued by the Executive Council of the World Evangelical Alliance (Ibid., Febr. 5, 1943). Cf. "Jewish Chronicle", Jan. 29, 1943, p 1.

page 244

530 "Spiritual Issues...", No. 176, March 18, 1943. Cf. "The Times", March 19, 1943.

531 "The Times", Dec. 31, 1942.

page 245

532 "Spiritual Issues...", No. 166, Jan. 7, 1943.

533 "Jewish Chronicle", Jan. 8, 1943.

534 Ibid., Jan. 29, 1943, p. 5. Cf. p. 10: "Derby Demands Sanctuary for Persecuted", and: "Mayor of Huddersfield calls Protest Meeting".

535 "Jewish Chronicle", Febr. I2, 1943, pp. 1, 12.

page 248

536 Cf. Luke 10, 30-37 (the Parable of the Good Samaritan).

537 "Parliamentary Debates House of Lords", Vol. 126, No. 41, pp. 811-821.

page 249

538 Luke 17, 1.

539 Isaiah 57, 14.

540 "Parliamentary Debates House of Lords", Vol. 126, No. 41, pp. 832-841.

page 250

541 A copy of this letter is in the Archives of the World Council of Churches, Geneva.

542 "Unity in Dispersion", pp. 164-165. See for the Bermuda Conference: "The Wiener Library Bulletin", Vol. xv (1961), No. 3, pp. 44-47. Also see: Morse, op. cit., pp. 43-64; Tartakower and Grossmann, op. cit., pp. 420-428.

page 251

543 "Spiritual Issues...", No. 181, April 22, 1943.

544 Reports to the General Assembly, 1943, p. 338.

page 252

545 "The Assembly", May 1943, p. 170.

546 "Minutes of the Assembly", Thursday, June 10th, 1943.

page 253

547 "The Times", May 18, 1943.

page 254

548 "The Times", May 22, 1943.

549 Jasper, op. cit., pp. 156-157.

page 255

550 "The New York Times", Dec. 9, 1943.

551 Reports to the General Assembly, 1944, p. 384. The italics are mine.

552 "The Times", June 15, 1944.

page 256

553 "The Spiritual Issues... ", July 13, 1944. Cf. R.L. Braham, The Destruction of Hungarian Jewry (New York, 1963), 11, p. 343.

554 See p. 257.

555 Ibid.

556 Federal Council Bulletin, January, 1940.

page 258

557 Department of Information of the National Council of Churches of Christ in America. The statement was prepared by the Commission on Christian Social Action and adopted by the following action: "General Synod approves Section IV and declares its condemnation of anti-Semitism. It urges upon the members of the Church in the name of Christ to regard our Jewish brethren according to the standards of Christian ethics."

558 The New York Times, Dec. 13, 1940.

page 259

559 Federal Council Bulletin, October, 1941, p. 6.

page 260

560 Freudenberg, op. cit., p. 53.

561 Federal Council Bulletin, Febr. 1942, p. 7.

page 261

562 Dr. Riegner's letter to Dr. Visser 't Hooft, April 14, 1965 (Archives of the World Council of Churches, Geneva).

563 Federal Council Bulletin, January, 1943. The italics are mine.

page 262

564 The New York Times, Jan. 1, 1943.

565 Federal Council Bulletin, February, 1943.

page 263

566 "Unity in Dispersion", a History of the World Jewish Congress (New York, 1948), pp. 162-163. The Archbishop of Canterbury described, in his message to the meeting, the Nazi extermination of the Jews as "the most appalling horror in recorded history" (Morse, op. cit., p. 47).

page 264

567 The New York Times, March I7, 1943. Cf. Federal Council Bulletin, April, 1943, p. 15.

568 See above, on p. 247.

569 See pp. 276-277.

570 See above, on p. 250.

page 265

571 The New York Times, May 2, 1943. Also see the article "Day of Compassion Praised by Rabbis" (ibid., May 2 , 1943).

572 The New York Times, Oct. 21, 1943.

page 266

573 New York Herald Tribune, Nov. 3, 1943.

page 267

574 The New York Times, Dec. 12, 1943.

575 Ibid., Jan. 16, 1944.

576 New York Herald Tribune, Oct. 14, 1944.

page 268

577 Cf. Alfred Klausner in the monthly "American Lutheran", Febr. 1965, p. 16: ...In the course of research through almost all Lutheran publications in the thirties and forties I have found no direct condemnation of the persecution of the Jews in Germany. . ."

578 In: "American Lutheran", Nov. 1964, pp. 13.

579 Charles Y. Glock and Rodney Stark, Christian Beliefs and Anti-Semitism (New York, 1966), passim.

page 269

580 See above, p.84.

581 See pp. 274-277

page 270

582 Cf. W.A. Visser 't Hoofd, in: Ruth Rouse and Stephen Charles Neill (Ed.), A History of the Ecumenical Movement 1517- 1948 (London, 1954),

p. 710 ff.

page 271

583 Archives of the World Council of Churches, Geneva. The original is in German.

page 272

584 Ibid.; the original is in French.

page 273

585 Ibid.; the original is in French. Dr. Visser 't Hooft believes that no written reply was received from the International Red Cross, but he had several discussions with Dr. Burckhardt in which the latter told him what the Red Cross had tried to do unofficially (Communication to me from Dr. Visser 't Hooft).

586 Communication to me from Dr. Visser 't Hooft. For the contacts with the "Kreisau Circle". see: G.van Roon, Neuordnung im Widerstand (Munich, 1967), pp. 142, 146, 190, 247, 302, 308-309, 312, 330-332. For the contacts with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, see: Eberhard Bethge, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Munich, 1965), pp. 243, 291, 726, 728, 818-819, 824- 835, 848-850, 859, 861, 867, and 1004.

587 Dr. Riegner's letter to Dr. Visser 't Hooft, dated April 14, 1965 (Archives of the World Council of Churches, Geneva).

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588 Dr. Riegner's letter to me, dated Nov. 6, 1967.

589 Dr. Riegner to Dr. Visser 't Hooft, April 14, 1965. Cf. Arthur D. Morse, While Six Million Died (London, 1968), pp. 3-22.

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590 Archives WCC, Geneva. Marginal note: "Date? Probably March, 1943".

591 Archives WCC, Geneva. The contents of the telegram sent by Dr. Riegner to Mr. Silverman were as follows: "Most anxious about destiny Hungarian Jewry the only important section European Jewry still in existence because of recent political developments stop suggesting world wide appeal of Anglo-Saxon personalities non-Jewish and Jewish including chiefs of Protestant Catholic Churches to Hungarian people warning them not to admit application of policy of extermination of Jews by German butchers or Hungarian quislings and to help Jews by all possible means in order to prevent their falling into hands of Germans stop warning should insist upon fact that attitude Hungarian people towards Jews will be one of the most important tests of behaviour which Allied Nations will remember in peace settlement after war stop similar broadcasts should be made every night in Hungarian language during the next weeks. Geneva, March 21, 1944." (Archives wcc, Geneva).

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592 For the results - or rather: the lack of results - of the Bermuda Conference, see above, p. 250.

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593 Archives WCC, Geneva.

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594 Cf. "Conversation entre le Dr. Visser 't Hooft, le Dr. Freudenberg et le Dr. Barot, concernant les activitCs Cimade-wcc pendant la guerre" (Geneva, December 14, 1965; mimeographed; in French).

595 Dr. Hans Fraenkel, Die Kirche im Krieg (unpublished manuscript; archives WCC, Geneva), p. 186.

596 Dr. Visser 't Hooft in "Conversation..." (see above, note 1).

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597 Report on Ecumenical Refugee Work since 1939 (Archives WCC, Geneva), p. 2. Cf. above, on p. 150.

598 OEKUMENISCHER AUSSCHUSS FUR FLUCHTLINGSHILFE, Jahresbericht 1942 (Archives WCC, Geneva), p. 5.

599 Cf. Herbert Ford, Flee the Captor (The Story of the Dutch-Paris Underground and its compassionate leader John Henry Weidner), Nashville, 1966. For the part played by Dr. Visser 't Hooft, see: pp. 79, 85, 95, 97, 199-201, 208, 225 , 227, 277, 279, 340 and 349.

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600 "Rapport van de Commissie van Onderzoek inzake het verstrekken van pakketten door het Rode Kruis en andere instanties aan Nederlandse politieke gevangenen in het buitenland gedurende de bezettingstijd alsmede inzake het evacueren van Nederlandse gevangenen kort voor en na het einde van de oorlog" (Den Haag, 1947; in Dutch), p. 111.

601 Ibid., p.112.

602 Ibid., p.114-115.

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603 I.C.P.I.S. (Intern. Christian Press and Information Service), Geneva, No. 26, June 1944.. The statement was also published in "Jewish News", London, July 18, 1944, p. 224; and in "Basler Nachrichten", June 29, 1944.

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604 Cf. Karl Stadler, Das einsame Gewissen (Vienna, 1966; in german), pp. 262-263. See for the persecutions in Austria: Herbert Rosenkranz, "The Anschluss and the Tragedy of Austrian Jewry 1938-1945"; (in: Josef Fraenkel (Ed.), The Jews of Austria (London, 1967), pp. 479-546.

605 Reformiertes Kirchenblatt fur Osterreich, March, 1966, p. 4.

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606 Cf. Betty Garfinkels, Les Belges face a la persecution raciale 1940-1944 (Bruxelles, 1965; in French), pp. 74-75, 100. Also see: Fernand Barth, Presence de l'Eglise (La Belgique sous l'occupation), Geneva, pp. 82, 89.

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607 Cf. the "Jewish Telegraphic Agency" (Zurich, July I, 1942): "A systematic campaign against the Christian Churches, attacking them for their attitude towards the Jews, has been launched in the Czech Protectorate by the 'Aryan Society', according to the Prague newspaper 'Ceske Slovo'. It is serious, the paper declares, that the clergy of all churches mostly keeps silent about the Jews. The reason why the greater part of the clergy are not opposed to the Jews is that there exist personal and dogmatic ritual relations between the Church and Jewry. The Christian faith, the paper demands, must be purged of its Jewish ingredients. Baptisms of Jews must be declared invalid and the Old Testament must be purged of everything smuggled into it by Rabbi interpreters."

608 Archives of the World Council of Churches, Geneva. The statement was dated Dec. 7, 1945.

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609 Tenenbaum, op. cit., p. 339.

610 The "Polish-Catholic Church" does not accept the authority of Rome; it is a member of the World Council of Churches.

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611 Cf. Philips Friedman, Ukranian-Jewish Relations during the Nazi Occupation (in: Yivo Annual of Jewish Social Science, New York, 1958/1959, Vol. XII, pp. 290-294); also see: Philips Friedman, Their Brothers keepers, pp.133-136.

612 Robinson, op. cit., p. 292.

613 The Rev. Esko Rintala, Secretary of the Archbishop of Finland, in his letter to me dated Febr. 21, 1966.

614 Some literature: Giovanni Miegge, L'Eglise sous le joug fasciste (Geneva, 1946; in French). Einaudi (Ed.), Lettere do condanati a morte della Resistenza Italiana (Torino, 1952; in Italian); Prearo, Terra Ribelle (Torino, 1948; in Italian); Borgna, La Resistenza nel Pinerolese (Pinerolo, 1965; in Italian).

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615 Friedman mentions that, according to Jewish survivors, Ukrainian priests both rescued and helped Jews. Ukrainian Baptists in Volhynia helped the Jews and in part also concealed them. Cf. Philip Friedman, Ukrainian- Jewish Relations During the Nazi Occupation (in: Yivo Annual of Jewish Social Science, Vol. XII, p. 294).

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616 W.A. Visser 't Hooft, The Ecumenical Movement and the Racial Problem, p. 40.

617 Ethics of the Fathers, 11, 5.

618 Leuner, op. cit., p. 16.

Footnotes Appendix I --------------------

page 292

619 "The Relationship of the Church to the Jewish People" (Geneva, 1964; mimeographed); pp. 48-52; Cf. Heydenrich, op. cit., pp. 248-254.

620 Heydenreich, op. cit., pp. 256-257. Cf. the comment of Rev. Niemoeller (Ibid., pp. 257-258).

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621 Frank-Wilkens, Ordnungen und Kundgebungen der Vereinigten Evangelisch- Lutherischen Kirche Deutschlands (Berlin/Hamburg, 1966; second imprint), p. 203.

622 Heydenreich, op. cit., pp. 261-262. Prof. D. Gollwitzer criticized this statement as being far too weak (ibid., pp. 262-264).

623 Heydenreich, op. cit., pp. 264-265.

page 294

624 "The Relationship of the Church to the Jewish People", pp. 73-76. Also see: "Wiener Library Bulletin", xv, 1961, No. 3, p. 45.

page 295

625 "Wiener Library Bulletin", XVII, 1963, No. 3, p. 39.

626 "The Relationship of the Church to the Jewish People", pp. 78- 79.

page 296

627 Quarterly Newsletter from the World Council of Churches' Committee on the Church and the Jewish People, March 1967, p. 17.

628 The Interpreter (published by the London Diocesan Council for Christian- Jewish Understanding), August, 1964, p. 2.

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629 "Reports to the General Assembly", 1945, p. 389.

630 "Reports", 1947, p. 448.

631 "Reports", 1953, p. 463.

632 "Reports", 1957, p. 528. 633 "Reports", 1962, p. 544.

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634 "The Relationship of the Church to the Jewish People," p. 87.

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635 W.A. Visser 't Hooft (Ed.), The First Assembly of the World Council of Churches (London, 1949), pp. 160-166.

636 W.A. Visser ?t Hooft (Ed.), The Third Assembly of the World Council of Churches (Second Impression; London, 1962), p. 148. Cf. the interesting discussion which preceded the adoption of the resolution (pp. 148-150).

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637 "The Relationship of the Church to the Jewish People", pp. 83-84. The total membership of the Churches affiliated to the Lutheran World Federation is 52,762,379.

page 301

638 "Reports and Recommendations of the International Conference of Christians and Jews, Seelisberg, 1947" (Published by the Intern. Council of Christians and Jews), pp. 14-16. In February, 1961, the "International Consultative Committee of Organisations for Christian-Jewish Co-operation" was established. For the history of the "International Council of Christians and Jews" see Rev. W.W. Simpson, Co-operation between Christians and Jews, Its Possibilities and Limitations; in: Gote Hedenquist (Ed.), The Church and the Jewish People (London, 1954), pp. 117-142.

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639 The following publications were consulted: "The World Alliance of Reformed Churches" (Published by The World Presbyterian Alliance, Geneva, 1964); "Lutheran Directory", Supplement 1966 (Published by the Lutheran World Federation, Geneva); J. Grundler, Lexikon der Christlichen Kirchen und Sekten (Vienna, 1961; in German), Vol. 11; Guy Mayfield, The Church of England (Oxford, 1958); Stephen Neill, Anglicanism (London, 1958); Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church (Pelican Books, 1963); J. Meyendorff, The Orthodox Church (London, 1962); Ruth Rouse and Stephen Charles Neill (Ed.), A History of the Ecumenical Movement 1517-1948 (London, 1954); Figures about the Churches in the United States were received from the Department of Information of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.

***** End of footnotes ******

GJS, dec 2004

INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John Martinus Snoek born 1920, studied theology at the Free University in Amsterdam 1949-1953. Worked and lived with his family 11 years in Israel, (1958-1969) where he served for the Church of Scotland as minister in Tiberias. From 1970-1975 he worked as secretary of the Committee of the Church and the Jewish people with the World Council of Churches in Geneva.

Publications: 1. In English THE GREY BOOK. (1969) see PG e-book #14764 2. In Dutch: The Dutch Churches en the Jews 1940-1945. (1990) ISBN 90242 0949 8 NUGI 631 3. In Dutch: Sometimes, One has to Show One's Color (1992)

Both the Grey Book and the Dutch Churches 1940-1945 are prepared for Gutenberg eText by his nephew Ge J. Snoek, errors and remarks please mail to: [email protected].