CARL LAEMMLE - LAEMMLE`S List - (eBook)

Introduction: Udo Bayer CARL LAEMMLE Laemmle´s List- Affidavits Save Lives Before Carl Laemmle´s death on 24 September 1939, one of his great humanitarian deeds was the granting of affidavits for persecuted Jews. He wrote that he had never felt so much sympathy for any one thing in his life, and had only done what his heart had dictated. ntil now the only published information on this has been the statement by the former chief executive of the Jewish Oberrat in Stuttgart, J. Wissmann, who mentions more than three hundred affidavits. The most important source of documentation is to be found in the National Archives in Washington D.C..... It is acknowledged that the persecution of Jews in the territories controlled by the Third Reich was unique, and is hardly comparable to the many reasons for migration and asylum seeking today. The one and only reason for their persecution was their ethnic origin, and was completely unrelated to any of their actions; for them this reason was immutable. Emigration was thus their sole option to escape with their lives. In spite of increasing obstacles set up by German authorities, and in spite of increasing restrictions enacted by possible guest countries, emigration was possible to some extent until the second half of 1941. The many American publications regarding the rescue of European Jews are almost completely devoted to administratve actions and the activities of persoins in authority, even including those concerned with Jewish organisations. It is remarkable, however, that the difficulties in granting affidavits are neglected, even though they were the main condition for the research by flight.....