On the “Jewish Program” in Hungary
(August 23, 1944)
Central Information Service of NSDAP and the Reich
Ministry for Peoples Enlightenemnt and Propaganda
Issued by Dr. Goebbels
Sequence No.121 C
Berlin, W.S. August 23, 1944
The Jewish Problem in Hungary
After March 19, the most important problem to be solved in Hungary was the Jewish problem. If during recent years this question was intentionally
and grossly neglected by previous Hungarian governments, despite all
their anti-Jewish laws, this happened for the follwing reasons: First,
the Jews were most able to assimilate themselves, and they therefore
produced an increase in statistics in favour of the Hungarian population.
On the other hand, the Jews were connecting links towards the enemy
side and it was thought their manifold connections to the Anglo-American
camp could be put to good use, in order to have protectors at eventual
peace negotiations, in case of an enemy victory.
It stands to reason that after March 19, the German
authorities in Hungary spare no efforts to eliminate the Jewish element
as quickly and efficiently as was possible. Due to the fact that the
Russian front was very near, purification was begun in the north-eastern
regions (Northern Translyvania, the Carpathian region) where the Jewish
element was numerically strongest. Then the Jews were rounded up from
the remaining Hungarian provinces and transported to Germany or areas
of the German sphere of power. 100,000 Jews were left with the Hungarians
to be employed in labour batallions. By July 9, the date fixed, the
Hungarian countryside was cleared of Jews. Here work was performed in
the shortest possible time with astounding consistency and rigour. An
essential condition for achieving success in this campaign was the fact
that the steps were taken against the Jews met with the full approval
of the majority of the Hungarian people. As a restricting factor, it
must be observed, however, that a great number of Jews were not affected
by these measures, because the Hungarian anti-Jewish laws were taken
as the basis for the definition of “Jews.” Thus, for instance,
all Jews married to non-Jews, or on whom higher military distinctions
were conferred in the World War are exempted. Up to July 9, some 430,000
Jews from the Hungarian provinces were handed over to the German authorities.
The Jews are taken over at the Hungarian frontier and up to this point
the carrying into effect of the provisions of the anti-Jewish measures,
and also the responsibility in this respect lies with the Hungarians.
Difficulties in Removing the Jews from Budapest
The last stage of the anti-Jewish measures was to
have been the removal of the Jews from Budapest. Some 260,000 are here
involved. In the meantime, however, pressure from hostile and neutral
countries grew so strong (Hull, the King of Sweden, Switzerland, the
Pope) that pro-Jewish circles in Hungary did their best to influence
the Hungarian Government and to try to prevent further steps against
the Jews, and particularly to stop handing them over to the German authorities.
The Hungarian gendarmerie summoned to Budapest to remove the Jews were
recalled again. When the date fixed for the beginning of their removal
expired without anything happening, the Jews of Budapest again felt
cock-sure and - also in respect to the military situation - displayed
a triumphant attitude.
In the meantime Hungarian and foreign plans of the
most diverse kinds have been discussed for a new settlement of the Jewish
question. As a consequence of American threats to carry out heavy air-raids
in retaliation if vigorous measures were taken against the Budapest
Jews, Hungarian politicians made proposals in all earnest that an agreement
should be reached with the Anglo-Americans, according to which for each
day when Hungarian territory was not attacked by Anglo-American aircraft,
50 Jews would be delivered to England, and for each day when Anglo-American
aircraft bombed Hungarian territory, 1,000 Jews would be handed over
to Germany. A further example of these grotesque proposals
is the offer of the Swiss group of bankers under the leadership of the
banking house Baer in Zurich, offering right away to take over the first
batch of 1,000 Jews in Switzerland, paying the National Bank of Hungary
the sum of 100,000 Pengos in return for each Jew.
The solution of the Jewish problem in Hungary is today
an issue of European security; responsible persons in the Hungarian
Government have recognized this and up till now have drawn the necessary
conclusions. It is assumed that the necessary steps will also be undertaken
with regard to the problem of the Budapest Jews.
Sources: Jenoe Levai (ed.), "Eichmann in Hungary," Pannonia Press, Budapest, 1961, pp. 141-142; Yad
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