Bericht über das Pogrom in Köln

Der britische Generalkonsul Bell berichtete am 14. November 1938 aus Köln an Sir G. Ogilvie-Forbes, den britischen Geschäftsträger im Britischen Konsulat in Berlin, über die Vorgänge während des Pogroms in Köln:

Cologne, November 14, 1938

Sir,

With reference to my telegram of the 11th instant, reporting anti-Jewish manifestations in Cologne, 1 have the honour to state that additional reports indicate these to have been very thorough and systematic throughout my consular district. In Cologne itself, there have been suicides of German Jews actually known to me, though this unfortunately is nothing new in my experience. Four hundred Jews have been taken into „preventive arrest" ostensibly for their own protection. I hear, however, that they are unlikely to be set free until they have been financially bled. The Jewish synagogue in Cologne has been damaged by fire, and it is said that the local fire brigade took no action save to prevent the spread of the flames to neighbouring houses. The Jews are in a desperate plight. The offices of the consulate-general have been overrun with them, and though I do the best I can with a small staff it is frequently necessary to close the doors to the public to enable us to attend to those already in the office. One German Jewess pestered a member of the staff to take her husband into his small flat over the night of the 11th.

The man actually arrived at the door with his pyjamas. There is nervousness amongst middle-class Germans, who in general disapprove. They dare not, however, voice their disapproval. One German woman who voiced her disapproval in a tram car which runs past my house was arrested at the first stop by Nazi guards. The industrialists say that they have no influence with the party, who have made such a point of racial purity that the Fiihrer must carry his theories to their logical conclusion. Everyone agrees, however, that last week's events have considerably complicated international relations. Personally, I have been more shocked by the coldblooded and calculated manner in which action was taken than by anything else about the recent events. Yet I am inclined to think that the Fiihrer knows his Germans. Amongst the masses of Germans who have nothing at stake there is observable a certain amount of „Schadenfreude" ("Joy in Mischief"). Our German cook, for instance, observed to me a few days ago that it was high time a certain neighbouring Jew was „washed up." In short, an abnormal situation exists in Cologne, as it does in the rest of my consular district. In Dtisseldorf and elsewhere reports indicate that anti-Jewish measures have been even more drastic than in Cologne.

2. No attacks have, as far as I know, been made on British subjects of Jewish race. There are one or two ex-service men of the Jewish persuasion who are normally resident in my district. I have the impression that they have either left Cologne or are keeping off the streets.

3. A complaint and demand for protection of property was received on the 10th instant from a Herr Schwarz, who holds a power of attorney for the firm of Kleinwort and Co., Fenchurch Street, London, owners of three houses in Cologne occupied by German Jews whose windows had been broken. The local police were immediately informed. They promised to safeguard the properties. Herr Schwarz was asked to furnish details in writing. I should be glad to have instructions as to the general attitude to be adopted to such claims.

4. I venture to transmit herewith translations of two anonymous letters which I have received to-day, one from a person who describes himself as a „Beamter," the other from a person who describes himself as a judge. I make it a rule to ignore anonymous letters, but the writers have so well stated the views of many Germans that I think them worth transmission.

I have, &c.
J. E. BELL

Enclosure 1
(Translation.)

Cologne, November 12, 1938

To the Herr Generalkonsul,

I FEEL the urge to present to you a true report of the recent riots, plunderings and destruction of Jewish businesses, dwellings and incendiarisms of synagogues.

The German folk have had nothing whatever to do with these riots and incendiarism.

Since the incitements of the party members had not had the least effect on the man in the street, there came from the police wireless on the morning of the 10th November, 1938, at 0.45 A.M. (a quarter to 1 in the morning) the following orders:

(1) At 4 A.M. the synagogues and chapels of the Jews were ordered to be set on fire.
(2) At 6 A.M. the destruction an looting of shops and houses was ordered to begin in the city.
(3) At 8 A.M. the same was to happen in the suburbs.
(4) All action was ordered to cease at 1 P.M. midday of the 10th November, 1938.

Whilst the „angry and excited folk", as the newspapers so well expressed it, still slept and had no idea of these orders, the police supplied fall available young and newly enlisted S.A. men, strengthened by a mob of riff-raff, with axes, housebreaking tools and ladders at the police headquarters. A list of the names and addresses of all Jewish shops and flats was furnished, and the mob proceeded to do their work under the leadership of S. A. men.

The police had strict orders to remain neutral. At 8 o'clock in the morning of the 10th November, 1938, revolting fights amongst this mob over the booty were still to be witnessed, e.g., one of the robbers was carrying away eight suits of stolen clothing which he was refusing to share with his dear German comrades. In Cologne alone seventeen shops have been so far completely looted.

The population of Cologne had absolutely nothing to do with this murderous arson and condemns it, as does also the whole German nation. These actions were ordered by the Government in Berlin.

A certain police commissioner who intervened to save a shop from looting, has been placed on leave and relieved of his functions.

Please take information amongst the Cologne people, and you will convince yourself that the German nation had nothing to do with these crimes and disassociates itself from this action of their Government.

(Signed) EIN BEAMTER

Enclosure 2

Translation of a Copy of the Original sent to the Reichsminister for Justice

THE events of the 10th instant, with their anti-social crimes, such as incendiarism, looting, bodily violence, robbery and murder, in fall towns and villages of Germany cause German judges to beg you for guidance in the forthcoming legal processes.

Since these crimes against the social order have been staged by the Government itself, it would be advisable to quash all legal proceedings arising therefrom, since the public knows very well that no judge dare dispense justice without exposing himself to severe reprisals for his acting according to his conscience. More than 50 per cent of the judges under your jurisdiction must do violence to their conscience, since the events which have happened are such as to make one ashamed of being German. Such ideas could only come from the narrow, criminal brains of a Hitler, Hess, Goebbels, Rosenberg, &c., and must carry the conviction abroad that they are the same incendiaries who formerly set fire to the Reichstag, and who were responsible for the deeds of the 30th June, 1934. It would be better if you recommended all German judges to retire. It cannot be expected that German judges should do hangmen's work.

The events of the 10th instant have unmistakably and clearly proven to all the world that a judiciary no longer exists in Germany.

You, Herr Reichsminister Dr. Giirtner, are also responsible for what has happened, and you may depend upon it that we will bring you to book perhaps quicker than you think. Make sure of your own retreat by giving all right-thinking judges an opportunity to liquidate their services in a humane manner and by bringing the true situation before your friend Hitler, for the verdict that will be pronounced by all honest judges on you and your bandit friends will be death.

(Signed) JUDEX