Between Restrained Hope and Hateful Tirades
International Jewish organizations consider the conference a success. Zionist organizations in Palestine criticize the fact that their own borders and those of other countries remain closed to Jewish refugees. But Jewish organizations in Germany are cautiously optimistic that the conference decisions may facilitate their emigration.
At the end of the conference, the Honorary President thanks members of the press for their “discreet and yet far-reaching” reporting on the event and for responding to the conference’s determination “to offer offence to none but to help all.” In fact, international press reports and commentary vary greatly, depending on whether they emphasize state interests or those of refugees.
German newspapers, controlled by the Ministry of Propaganda, publish commentary and caricatures emphasizing the failure of the states meeting in Évian to open their doors to Jewish refugees. They maliciously view this failure as a confirmation of Nazi anti-Jewish policy.
Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt. Organ des Vorstandes der Jüdischen Gemeinde zu Berlin, July 24, 1938, p. 1/2
“A start.” For the Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt commentator, the Évian Conference results deserve “a positive assessment” and “subdued optimism,” since there is a prospect of “a useful plan to regulate emigration.”
Leo Baeck Institute, New York, NY
Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt. Organ des Vorstandes der Jüdischen Gemeinde zu Berlin, July 24, 1938, p. 1/2
“A start.” For the Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt commentator, the Évian Conference results deserve “a positive assessment” and “subdued optimism,” since there is a prospect of “a useful plan to regulate emigration.”
Leo Baeck Institute, New York, NY
Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt. Organ des Vorstandes der Jüdischen Gemeinde zu Berlin, July 24, 1938, p. 2/2
“A start.” For the Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt commentator, the Évian Conference results deserve “a positive assessment” and “subdued optimism,” since there is a prospect of “a useful plan to regulate emigration.”
Leo Baeck Institute, New York, NY
Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt. Organ des Vorstandes der Jüdischen Gemeinde zu Berlin, July 24, 1938, p. 2/2
“A start.” For the Jüdisches Gemeindeblatt commentator, the Évian Conference results deserve “a positive assessment” and “subdued optimism,” since there is a prospect of “a useful plan to regulate emigration.”
Leo Baeck Institute, New York, NY
Cartoon by Arie Navon, “Evian Committee”
In contrast, Arie Navon, in-house caricaturist for Davar, the Zionist labor movement newspaper, depicts the doors of (from right to left) Palestine (Eretz Israel), the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America as “Closed.” He sarcastically wishes “safe travels” to the Jewish refugee, who has been kicked out of his homeland.
Davar, July 14, 1938 / Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem
Cartoon by Arie Navon, “Evian Committee”
In contrast, Arie Navon, in-house caricaturist for Davar, the Zionist labor movement newspaper, depicts the doors of (from right to left) Palestine (Eretz Israel), the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America as “Closed.” He sarcastically wishes “safe travels” to the Jewish refugee, who has been kicked out of his homeland.
Davar, July 14, 1938 / Central Zionist Archives, Jerusalem
Der Bund , Bern, July 17, 1938
“The good result of Évian.” The Swiss newspaper considers the conference a “double success” because of its “solution to the refugee problem in the technical sense,” and the “cooperation of all the powers represented in Évian.”
Auswärtiges Amt / Politisches Archiv, Berlin, Bern 1962
Der Bund , Bern, July 17, 1938
“The good result of Évian.” The Swiss newspaper considers the conference a “double success” because of its “solution to the refugee problem in the technical sense,” and the “cooperation of all the powers represented in Évian.”
Auswärtiges Amt / Politisches Archiv, Berlin, Bern 1962
Herbert Block: “Still no solution,” January 25, 1939
More than six months after the conference in Évian, the US cartoonist Herbert Block is among those who note that there is “still no solution” to the “refugee problem.”
The Herb Block Foundation, Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division LC-DIG-hlb-01250
Herbert Block: “Still no solution,” January 25, 1939
More than six months after the conference in Évian, the US cartoonist Herbert Block is among those who note that there is “still no solution” to the “refugee problem.”
The Herb Block Foundation, Image courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division LC-DIG-hlb-01250
Daily Herald , London, August 26, 1938
But the British commentator notes that states with budgets worth billions have merely set up a permanent organization with a chief and three assistants in three rooms, with a small budget. He asks sarcastically: “If this is coming to the help of the refugees, then what would the nations do if they meant to desert them?”
National Archives, College Park, MD
Daily Herald , London, August 26, 1938
But the British commentator notes that states with budgets worth billions have merely set up a permanent organization with a chief and three assistants in three rooms, with a small budget. He asks sarcastically: “If this is coming to the help of the refugees, then what would the nations do if they meant to desert them?”
National Archives, College Park, MD
“No one wants them. Fruitless Debates at the Jew Conference”, Völkischer Beobachter , July 12, 1938
Bundesarchiv, Berlin, R 58-3426a, Bl. 97
“No one wants them. Fruitless Debates at the Jew Conference”, Völkischer Beobachter , July 12, 1938
Bundesarchiv, Berlin, R 58-3426a, Bl. 97
LK (Ladislaus Kmoch): Untitled cartoon, Das Kleine Blatt , February 2, 1939
Ladislaus Kmoch, long-time cartoonist for the formerly Social Democratic tabloid in Vienna, Das Kleine Blatt, portrays Jews as rats who have been expelled from Germany. Democratic states, while expressing sympathy, keep their gates shut as well. Shortly afterwards, this depiction of Jews as vermin to be exterminated is used in the propaganda film “The Eternal Jew,” to justify the mass murder of Jews in occupied Poland.
Ladislaus Kmoch / Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Wien, 608.331-D.Neu-Per
LK (Ladislaus Kmoch): Untitled cartoon, Das Kleine Blatt , February 2, 1939
Ladislaus Kmoch, long-time cartoonist for the formerly Social Democratic tabloid in Vienna, Das Kleine Blatt, portrays Jews as rats who have been expelled from Germany. Democratic states, while expressing sympathy, keep their gates shut as well. Shortly afterwards, this depiction of Jews as vermin to be exterminated is used in the propaganda film “The Eternal Jew,” to justify the mass murder of Jews in occupied Poland.
Ladislaus Kmoch / Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Wien, 608.331-D.Neu-Per
Cartoon “No one wants Jews anymore,” 1938
Philipp Rupprecht, aka “Fips,” illustrator for the rabidly antisemitic tabloid Der Stürmer, invents “Ahasver, the Eternal Jew,” as his “Stürmer-Jew” stereotype. He depicts “Ahasver” stating that “no one wants Jews anymore”.
Philipp Rupprecht / Der Stürmer 20/1938
Cartoon “No one wants Jews anymore,” 1938
Philipp Rupprecht, aka “Fips,” illustrator for the rabidly antisemitic tabloid Der Stürmer, invents “Ahasver, the Eternal Jew,” as his “Stürmer-Jew” stereotype. He depicts “Ahasver” stating that “no one wants Jews anymore”.
Philipp Rupprecht / Der Stürmer 20/1938