Figure 1.--The Germans ordered Jews to wear yellow star of David Stars so they could be easily recognized (May 27, 1942). Similar orders were issued in other occupied countries in the West. The reason for this was that the death camps in the East had come on line and the murder phase of the had begun in earest. This photograph is unidentified, but we jnow they are Belgian boys because of the destinctive "J" badges--the style of badge used in Belgium. The photograph looks to have been taken during summer 1942. We doi not know waht happens to these boys, but Belgian Jews had a realtively high rate of survival, largely because General Alexander von Falkenhausen less than ethisistic pursuit of the NAZI Holcaust effort.

NAZI suppression of Jews in Belgium followed a familar pattern. The basic objective was to separate Jews from the rest of the population. The NAZIs issued the first anti-Jewish measures in the Fall 1940. As in several other countries, the first of these measures prohibitied ritual slaughter and other Jewish religious rites. The NAZIs gradually enacted increasingly severe mesurs. The NAZis begin the registration of Jewish property (October 18, 1940). Authorities fired Jews holding government posts (December 1940). the Nazis banned Jews from professions, including law and education. The NAZIS next began seizing Jewish property (1941). Curfews wee declared for Jews. Belgian Jews lived mostly in cities, but regulations forced Jew in rural areas and small towns to move to the major cities with Jewish communities. The NAZIs next required Jews to wear yellow badges so they could be easily identified (May 27, 1942). A similar order was issued in occupied France on the same day. These measures suceeded in robbing Belgian Jews of their property. Inpoverished and concentrated it cities, they were now ready for the next step, transport east and the death camps. The Belgian internal affairs secretary-general ordered the word "Jew" added to identifying documents (July 1941). A Belgian Government assessment concluded, " That as a result of this action, "the transition from passive collaboration to active collaboration was accomplished with great rapidity." Authorities declared illegal textbooks that had been edited by Jews (October 1941). Next authorities , the authorities expelled Jewish children from Belgian schools (December 1941). Authorities banned Jewish doctors from practicing their profession (June 1942).

Created: 12:43 AM 8/2/2019
Last updated: 12:43 AM 8/2/2019