[G.]
Emigration and flight
[6.18. Jewish Emigration figures for Germany,
Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, and Danzig 1938-1939]
Total Jewish emigration from Germany, Austria, and the
Czech lands (Bohemia and Moravia) after October 1938 is
not easy to reconstruct. The figures given in Table 19
probably do not include many "non-Aryans", who should
really be included. But they may serve as an estimate
based on material in JDC files.
Large-scale emigration started immediately after the
November pogrom; the figures were staggering compared with
those for earlier emigration. This time JDC had no
hesitations - its leader had learned the lesson of the
previous years, as had the leadership of HIAS and HICEM,
the two emigrating organizations supported (p.259)
Table 19: Estimate
of Jewish Emigration in 1938 and 1939
|
Year
|
From Germany
|
From Austria
|
From Bohemia and Moravia
|
From Danzig
|
Total for year
|
1938
|
35,369
|
62,958
|
15,000
|
3,900
|
117,200
|
1939
|
68,000
|
54,451
|
20,000*
|
1,600
|
144,000
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
261,000
|
* Various JDC sources estimated that out
of the 20,000, 5,000 were German and Austrian
refugees.
|
(End note 92: Sources:
-- R21, 1939 draft report;
-- R54, Troper letter, 5/16/39 [16 May 1939] (he
puts emigration from "old" Germany in 1938 at
34,369);
-- R10, newsletter, 6/15/39 [15 June 1939];
-- R12)
|
by JDC. There were few illusions left. At a meeting of
some of the wealthy contributors to JDC at the end of
1938, James G. McDonald said that "to many people in
Europe to crush a Jews is no more unworthy or
reprehensible than to step on vermin and crush the life
out of such creatures. The war that the Nazis are waging
is not a war against the Jews of Germany, but against all
Jews, whose influence must be obliterated and who
themselves should either be exterminated or driven out of
all civilized lands."
In concluding his talk he added: "If you think that
because you live in the United States you are immune, you
are very foolish."
(End note 93: 31-Germany, refugees 1939-1942, Hyman to
David L. Podell, 3/30/39 [30 March 1939])
Unfortunately what the people who listened to McDonald
thought of his remarks is not recorded. But words that
today sound like prophecies, yet were totally unacceptable
before the events of November, were listened to
attentively (if sceptically) afterward.
