Protest Of The National Representation Regarding Jews In The Wehrmacht
Protest Of The National Representation (Reichsvertretung) Against The Refusal To Include Jews In The Wehrmacht, March 1935
Source: Y. Arad, Y. Gutman, Abraham Margaliot, eds., Documents on the Holocaust (Yad Vashem 1981) p. 70-71. The Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People, A/171 March 23, 1935 Reichsvertretung der deutschen Juden
To His Excellency, The Reich Minister of War, Generaloberst von Blomberg Berlin The Government of the German Reich, on March 16, 1935, published the Law for the Reconstruction of the Wehrmacht. ΓÇ£Service in the Wehrmacht is based on general conscription.ΓÇ¥ The duty of serving in the Army means the right to be a German soldier. This right and this duty is also claimed by the German Jews. In view of the legislation on Aryans the Reichsvertretung der deutschen Juden feels called upon to bring this fact to your especial knowledge, Mr. Reich Minister of War, as it will be your responsibility to prepare the supplementary regulations to the Law.
Twelve thousand German Jews gave their lives for Germany in the World War. In memory of these dead, as representatives for the living, for ourselves and our children, we declare: We German Jews are confident that we will not be denied participation in military service on equal terms with other Germans.
