- Haavara Agreement
The Haavara Agreement was an agreement made between the
Jewish Agency (an official executive agency in then Palestine) and theNazi regime ofGermany . The agreement was designed to help facilitate the emigration of German Jews toPalestine . While it helped Jews emigrate, it forced them to give up most of their possessions to Germany before departing. Those assets could later be obtained by transferring them to Palestine as German export goods. Approximately 50,000 Jews emigrated to Palestine under this agreement.The Company
The
Haavara (Transfer) company was established in 1935 as the result of the agreement.Controversy
The Haavara Agreement was highly controversial. While it helped persecuted Jews emigrate from Germany, it provided a major market for German goods in Palestine. This helped Germany's weak economy at a time when many Jews were boycotting the countries goods. The following is a passage from an anti Haavara circulated pamphlet in Palestine.
Until When Will the
Yishuv SupportHitler ?BOYCOTT Hitler's Products!BOYCOTT German Movies!Ivri! Remember What the German Did to Your Brother [ [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/heritage/episode8/documents/documents_11.html Heritage ] ]Certificate
An example of the certificate issued by Haavara to Jews emigrating to Palestine:
CERTIFICATEThe Trust and Transfer Office "Haavara" Ltd. places at the disposal of the Banks in Palestine amounts in Reichmarks which have been put at its disposal by the Jewish immigrants from Germany. The Banks avail themselves of these amounts in Reichmarks in order to make payments on behalf of Palestinian merchants for goods imported by them from Germany. The merchants pay in the value of the goods to the Banks and the "Haavara" Ltd. pays the countervalue to the Jewish immigrants from Germany. To the same extent that local merchants will make use of this arrangement, the import of German goods will serve to withdraw Jewish capital from Germany.The Trust and Transfer Office,HAAVARA, LTD. [ [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/heritage/episode8/documents/documents_11.html Heritage ] ]
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Holocaust References and notes
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