Life_under_Siege_The_Jews_of_Magdeburg_under_Nazi_Rule.pdf

community in Magdeburg from the local branch of the CV in April 1935. Dr
Merzbach complied with the request, but sought advice from the Berlin office. 191
The local CV was also responsible for conveying essential information from
Nazi authorities to community members. An example of this was in May 1936
when community members were informed that henceforth Jews in Magdeburg
would only be issued with documentation permitting them to travel within
Germany, but that in exceptional circumstances that they could be issued with
passports allowing them to travel abroad within a limited time. 192 Thus, in both of
these instances the dual role of the CV can be assessed. Whilst defending and
attempting to ensure the survival of the community, it also had to act on the
direction of the authorities and comply with all requests.
When matters concerning the city’s administration and the Jewish community
arose, the CV was also involved in resolving issues. An example of this occurred
in January 1936 when a disagreement developed between the city council, the
city’s crematorium and the Synagogen-Gemeinde. The matter concerned the
cremation of a Jewish dissident, who was not a member of the Jewish community.
The crematorium and the city council requested the ashes of the deceased be
buried in the Jewish cemetery. The Synagogen-Gemeinde objected, pointing to the
Jewish ban on cremation and the fact that the deceased had cut all ties with
Judaism. The matter was resolved when the Synagogen-Gemeinde agreed to the
191 Correspondence between the Magdeburg branch of the CV and the head office of
the CV in Berlin, 9 April 1935 – 15 April 1935, Collection RG-11.00M.31, Reel 130,
File 721-1-2845, USHMMA, op. cit., p. 424–426.
192 Correspondence from regional office of the CV in Leipzig to the head office of the
CV in Berlin concerning the Magdeburg branch of the CV, 22 May 1936, ibid., p.
341.
71