Source: Helmut Genschel, Die Verdraengung der Juden aus der Wirtschaft im Dritten Reich (Goettingen 1966) p. 82.
[Department stores, most of which were Jewish-owned, were among the main targets of Nazi assaults. Furthermore, the Nazis were strongly supported by retail shopkeepers, who faced fierce competition from the department stores, and waged their struggle by means of Party-affiliated merchants' organisations.']
I am repeatedly asked about our views on the matter of the department stores and behaviour toward Jewish shops. They quote all kinds of regulations that may lead to misunderstandings. Therefore, I wish to make the following clear: 1. Even before the accession to power, we considered the department store a contemptible establishment that was driving retail shopkeepers out of business. This will remain our view in the future, too. I consider it strange that the matter need be mentioned at all. The same holds for the handling of the Jewish question. 2. We veteran Nazis have no interest in the utterances of this or that high ranking Nazi. For us, there is only implementation of the Party plan, according to the will of the Fuehrer.
