German Jews and the Holocaust

August 24, 1994

The author writes: ``About 560,000 Jews lived in Germany when the Nazis came to power in 1933. Almost all died in the Holocaust.'' This is not correct.

Lucy Dawidowicz writes in her book, ``The War Against the Jews'': ``When the Nazis seized power in 1933, 500,000 Jews ... lived in Germany. Subject to terror and an accelerating process of discrimination, isolation, and expropriation ... nearly 150,000 Jews emigrated by November 1938. The pogrom of Nov. 10, 1938 (Kristallnacht), and subsequent German policy of forced emigration hastened the exit of another 150,000 Jews.''

Helen Fine, in ``Accounting for Genocide,'' writes, ``Despite some German Jews initial reluctance to leave ... by September 1941 over two out of every three Jews in Germany in 1933 had fled.'' G. Swisher, Oakland, Calif.

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