History Diaries

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In Germany, the Gestapo searches foreigners’ homes for Jews. Secret police today were reported to have searched homes of foreigners suspected of having harbored German Jews since the mass action against Jewry began ten days ago. Several foreigners said their homes had been searched yesterday. They declared they were not told whether the police were hunting specific Jews who escaped their net or were attempting to discourage foreigners from taking them in. The foreigners said the secret police asked whether any Jews had slept there recently. A French bachelor, who said he had befriended a Jew, declared he was noncommittal under questioning and his apartment was searched. Police found two beds had been occupied but did not get the Jew’s name, he said.

Berlin police have given assurances no more arrests of Jews would be made but today there came a belated report of a raid carried out in Frankfort on the Main. Reports from Frankfort said Jews were accosted on street cars and in other public places and taken away. The searchers were reported to have asked one question: “Are you Jewish?” When the reply was affirmative, they merely said: “Then come along.” Several Jews, including Isaac Kupferstoch, chief rabbi in the eastern section of Berlin, have been arrested for practicing forbidden kosher slaughtering. Activities of the Jewish cultural society are to start again Tuesday after being banned since the death of Ernst von Rath November 9. Von Rath, a German diplomat, was shot by a Polish Jew in Paris. Propaganda Minister Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels announced November 12 that Jewish organizations would be permitted to function again.

German troops continue to occupy Czech towns, often expelling dozens of Jews across the Czech border — where they are denied entry. Jews are sometimes forced over the border by bayonet or at gunpoint.

Today is declared a Day of Prayer for the Oppressed.

“The concordat gave Catholic parents in Germany the right to send their children to Catholic schools,” Bishop Konrad von Preysing said in a pastoral letter which was read in Berlin’s Roman Catholic churches today. The letter was the bishop’s reply to a paper which Catholic parents have been told to sign. It is a pledge to send their children to public schools. Bishop Von Preysing warned parents it is their duty to stand on their rights as outlined in the concordat.

The Netherlands processes 300 entry permits per day for Jewish refugees at the border. Officials say they would admit more if other nations commit to sheltering the immigrants. The Netherlands and Switzerland take children without delays or paperwork.

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s government is facing a critical week at home and in foreign affairs. With the Germans trying to reach some non-aggression agreement with France on the eve of a visit to Paris by Chamberlain and Viscount Halifax, foreign secretary, the British tonight expressed fears there is danger of England being completely isolated unless some change in the political currents can be effected. The wizards of the Rome-Berlin axis seem to have confused the British and French by their wily tactics. While the Germans are making eyes at the French and abusing the British, Premier Mussolini is doing just the opposite, probably through an understanding with Reichsführer Hitler.

Tomorrow the problem of finding places to settle Jewish refugees from Germany will be aired in the house of commons. It is expected that Chamberlain will make a statement with a debate following. Because Chamberlain does not want to come to grips with Hitler over the Jewish question, some other minister, probably Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare, may speak for the government. Jewish organizations in London and Palestine are urging the British government to increase the immigration quota to allow 10,000 German Jewish children to go to Palestine. They also are asking Britain to absorb 1,000 Jewish children from Germany. Chamberlain has been consulting Earl Winterton, chairman of the inter-governmental refugee committee, on the question of a mass exodus of Jews from Germany. It was indicated, however, that government spokesmen tomorrow will plead for more time for discussions with other powers before any refugee scheme is framed.

Generalissimo Francisco Franco apparently has turned his forces against the government’s Segre River salient. Troops, tanks, and planes have swung into action against the lines which the government formed on the west bank of the Segre in a surprise push November 7. The rebel objective evidently was to force government troops back to the east bank. Government positions now are a threat to rebel communications between Fraga and Lérida, a vital sector in the Catalonia campaign. The new rebel offensive apparently faced resistance as strong as that in the Ebro valley where government forces held against repeated attacks for almost four months. Government defenses were believed to have been weakened seriously by the devastating fire which raged Thursday and Friday in a munitions plant at Hospitalet, outside Barcelona.

Queen Maud of Norway passed away from heart failure at the age of 68 following surgery in London, England, United Kingdom

Father Coughlin makes the first documented antisemitic remarks over U.S. radio. In his radio show, Father Coughlin quotes Nazi statistics to prove that Jews support Communism, and lists unsubstantiated atrocities committed by Jewish-backed Communists. The radio station says the preacher uttered “mistakes of fact.” The station corrected his “facts” prior to broadcast, with citations, but the priest read the original speech.

Congressman Martin Dies (D-Texas), chairman of the house committee investigating un-American activities, tonight demanded that communists and their sympathizers be fired from government service. Dies named David Saposs, chief economist for the National Labor Relations Board, and Paul Sifton, assistant, to the United States wage administrator, as two highly placed radicals who write and talk against the government. Dies told about an article Saposs wrote for Labor Age in December, 1931, and an article Sifton wrote for Free, a publication of the Red Front League Against War, and Fascism. Saposs’ article advocated use of organized force against the government if political action failed, and Sifton attacked private ownership of business and property.

Dies said that Saposs, whose government salary is $6,500 a year, is proved by his writings to be a communist. “Every man in the government who expresses disgust with our form of government should be ousted,” Dies said. “These men eagerly accept handsome salaries from the government which they are in favor of overthrowing. No man should be permitted to live at the expense of a government which he wishes to destroy.” Dies told of conducting secret hearings at which government employees testified and said many radicals and communist sympathizers are high in the ranks of the Roosevelt administration.

Jazz singer Ethel Waters plays in Carnegie Hall.

A crowd of 10,000 assembles in Santiago, Chile, demanding that Nazi-run schools be closed, and that Chile allow refugee immigration.

Three Chinese officials are executed for setting the fires that destroyed most of Changsha. They apparently panicked, believing the Japanese were close, and acted before orderly evacuations had begun. Currently, the Japanese are fighting 40 miles from Changsha.

Japanese authorities notified foreign powers that the Han River in China was closed to navigation without “special permission.” Japan closes more rivers in China to foreign navigation. In many areas Japanese goods enjoy a monopoly and high profits result.

This action augments Japan’s armed possession of the Yangtze, China’s principal navigable river, which she has closed to commercial navigation by other countries. “Military operations,” the Japanese announcement in Hankow said, “necessitate that the Han be closed to all except the Japanese.” Foreign businessmen said the development added another exclusive avenue of entry for Japanese merchandise into an added huge interior region of China. Japanese reports meanwhile indicated Japanese commercial exploitation of South China was following swiftly in the wake of military conquest. They said a “civilian expeditionary force” of Japanese business men arrived in Canton “armed with briefcases instead of rifles.” The Japanese air force reported continued heavy raids on southern and central Chinese points against military warehouses, troop concentrations, and anti-aircraft positions.

Two thousand persons were reported to have perished in a five-day fire which prematurely razed Changsha, capital of Hunan province, while Japanese met reverses in their advance on the central Chinese city. Three Chinese officials charged with overhaste in setting the fires were said to have been executed on orders of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. At Chungking, China’s provisional capital, government officials said that the fire started through accidents and “premature zeal” of local officials desiring to apply the “scorched earth” policy to prevent anything worthwhile remaining for the invaders. Chinese army commanders reported that they were repulsing repeated Japanese attacks along the Yochow-Changsha railway, about forty miles north of Changsha.

A huge munitions depot in Mukden, Manchukuo, is destroyed mysteriously; 200 men die. Chinese guerrillas take credit.

Born:

Bob Yates, AFL tackle and center (Boston Patriots), in Montpelier, Vermont (d. 2013).

Died:

Maud of Wales, 68, Queen of Norway, wife of King Haakon VII.

Edwin Hall, 83, American physicist (discovered Hall effect).

Naval Construction:

The Regia Marina (Royal Italian Navy) Foca-class submarine Atropo is launched by Tosi (Taranto, Italy).

The Nihon Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy) heavy cruiser Tone (利根), lead ship of her class of 2, is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain Hara Teizo.