Terror in DP Camps

One of the most shameful examples of how Jewish survivors were terrorized by the Zionist movement took place in Camp Leipheim in Germany. World War II had ended and thousands of survivors escaped from the newly-occupied Soviet zones of Eastern and Central Europe. In Leipheim as in other displaced persons camps, the Jewish refugees were confronted by agents of Zionist groups who demanded that they sign up to fight the war in Palestine. Those who refused were threatened with death and denounced to U.S. authorities as black market operators.

Had they not been terrorized, it is likely that many Jews would have gladly signed up for resettlement in Palestine. The problem was that the behavior of the Zionist agents was so odious and mendacious that the survivors did not believe the recruiters. Indeed, the Zionists themselves had no intention of moving to Palestine and were applying for asylum in the West. As a result, many of the refugees ended up resettling in Britain, France, Canada and the United States.

In this memorandum by a U.S. Army intelligence agent, the atmosphere at Leipheim is detailed. The memo, written about three weeks before the declaration of the State of Israel, describes the complementary interests of the Zionists and profit that underscored the intimidation of the Jews to give up their money and resettle in Palestine.

This document, which is of such poor quality that it could not be reproduced, can be found at the U.S. National Archives in Washington D.C.

RP 319

IRR Temp Files

B62

Leipheim

Headquarters

Counterintelligence Corps Region IV

970th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment

APO 407-A US Army

26 March 1948

MEMORANDUM FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE

Subject: Jewish Immigration

Re: Camp Leipheim

1. The following information regarding trends among Jewish DP's at Camp LEIPHEIM with respect to immigration was furnished to this agent by P-1029-IV-A

2. a. For several months, it has been noted that the great majority of Jews in Camp LEIPHEIM have changed their minds about immigration to Palestine. In a recent registration, only approximately four hundred (400) persons have volunteered to go to Palestine. This comparatively small number consisted mainly of youths between the ages of seventeen (17) and thirty-five (35).

b. The "agitators" and "big business men" who constantly clamor for a mass movement to Palestine have registered for immigration to Canada, the United States or South America, while attempting to influence the other DP's to immigrate to Palestine.

c. Source stated that the main reason which the Jews no longer show such a desire to go to Palestine is due to a certain amount of fear of the political complications, the Moslem problem and the possible future war between the Western and Eastern blocs. The belief is that the U.S. has deserted them and is far more interested in maintaining friendly relations with the Moslem world than with the Jews commonly prevails among the Jews at Camp LEIPHEIM.

Charles J. Nesbitt

Special Agent, CIC