[D. 5.19.] The Baltic
States [Lithuania and Latvia
1929-1938]
[Conditions in Lithuania and
Latvia]
The Baltic states of Lithuania and Latvia were an area of long-standing
JDC interest - especially Lithuania. There, some 153,000 Jews fared
better than in Poland. The reasons for this were, briefly, (p.220)
the smaller percentage (7.5 %) of Jews - Poland had about 10 %; their
declared identification with Lithuanian national aspirations; the more
rational economic structure of the country; and a spirit of local
Jewish initiative. There was, however, a strong desire on the part of
urban middle-class Lithuanians to take over Jewish positions in
business, industry, and the professions. This movement received
additional impetus from the events in neighboring [?] Germany.
[Jewish schools]
Jewish education was generally in Zionist hands and embraced some 190
elementary schools, in 180 of which Hebrew was taught. A number of
Hebrew and Yiddish high schools taught the Jewish national languages as
well as Lithuanian. These were considered private schools but received
some financial assistance from the state treasury.
[Since 1919: Lithuania:
Cooperative movement and JDC working]
The world economic crisis made itself felt in Lithuania as well,
however, and JDC recognized the need for action there. The local
cooperative movement was quite vigorous, and in 1936 there were 88
cooperatives with close to 17,000 members,
(End note 90: 41-Gen. & Emerg. Lithuania 1937-41-report, 10/1/37
[1 October 1937])
partially supported by JDC.
(End note 91: In 1937 JDC spent $ 24,824 in Lithuania)
[Reconstruction Foundation in
Lithuania - kassas]
In addition, there were nineteen Reconstruction Foundation
kassas in 1937, which gave out
56,000 loans averaging $ 107 per loan (thus indicating a much higher
level of economic operation than in Poland).
[Lithuania: JDC health work -
vocational schools - emigration to Palestine and South Africa]
Standards of health tended downward, pressure for emigration began to
increase, and the JDC allocation to vocational schools went up because
of the large demand for training that would prepare Jews for emigration.
(End note 92: See: Farn Folks-Gesundt; Kovno 1937; published by OSE.
OSE's income decreased by 27 % between 1932 and 1935, with
corresponding decreases in expenditure; but a JDC report in 1935
reported 40.5 % anemic and undernourished children, as against 33.5 %
in 1932 (R16, May 1935).
Emigrants went largely to Palestine and South Africa and caused a slow
decline in the Jewish population in Lithuania. While there were no
overtly anti-Semitic laws or regulations, local disturbances on the
Polish model did occur, though to a lesser degree than in Poland. Kahn
summarized the Lithuanian situation by saying that it was "not quite so
bad (as in Poland and Latvia), but nevertheless worse than previously."
(End note 93: R16, Kahn, on 11/19/35 [19 November 1935]; There were a
ritual murder accusation and a pogrom in 1935 (at Telsiai); See: Jewish
Chronicle, 4/19/35 [19 April 1935], 10/18/35 [18 October 1935])
[So, there were pogroms and some robbery, but perhaps no deaths. This
has to be investigated].
[Latvia: Regime of Karlis Ulmanis
destroys Jewry]
Latvia was a different case altogether. The 93,000 Jews in that country
were being systematically deprived of their means of livelihood by the
Karlis Ulmanis dictatorship, which had (p.221)
come to power in 1934 [since 15 May 1934]. As in other countries, the
Jewish population was declining: 6,000 had emigrated since 1925 and the
birthrate was going down. Jewish factories were being taken over by the
state;
[Latvia: Discriminations in
professions]
since 1930 no Jewish doctor had been allowed to practice, and
government monopolies based on the Polish model (for the sale of
agricultural products, among other things - a major Jewish trade)
almost automatically meant not only the pauperization of former Jewish
owners, but the sudden unemployment of many Jewish workers as well.
With the ruin of the intellectuals and the traders, Jews tended to move
into manual work, but the transition was difficult because of the
opposition of Lettish workers.
The Jewish educational system was run by the Agudah, the only Jewish
body that cooperated with the government. JDC gave very little help,
and what it did give was mainly channeled through its credit
institutions. As in other countries, by the end of the 1930s, everyone
realized that emigration was the only feasible solution - but there was
nowhere to go. European Jewry remained trapped.
[There was no Haavarah agreement for Baltic Jews... and emigration was
going on on a low level]
