DescriptionA booklet describing and defending the participation of Jewish people all over the world in World Wars I and II. The booklet was published by The Jewish Council to Combat Fascism and Anti-Semitism as a response to the prejudiced belief that the Jewish community did not contribute to the war effort.
HistoryAfter their release from the Internemnt camps, the men who had travelled aboard HMT DUNERA as 'enemey aliens' were given the choice to stay in Australia. Many did and around 900 of them enlisted in the Australian Military Force. The men were not permitted to carry weapons so they joined the Employment Companies, in particular the 8th Employmnent Company, led by Captain Edward Broughton.
The booklet talks of the companies and of the vital support work they carried out:
IN THE EMPLOYMENT COMPANIES
"About 1,000 Jews in Victoria, 700-800 in New South Wales, and smaller numbers in other States are serving in the Employment Companies. These are mainly refugees, most of whom are debarred from joining the other forces. When former internees of Victoria—between 500 and 600 of them —were given the chance
to volunteer for the combatant forces, most of the younger people
did so.
The Australian Army magazine, "Salt," has devoted an article to these "Men of the Labour Corps" (the majority of whom are Jews), from which the following extracts are quoted:—
"You will find them on the docks, in the warehouses, depots, dumps—the men whom Hitler hates. First victims of the Nazi madness, the men of this Australian Employment Company wear the Australian uniform pridefully, voluntarily. This is their war as well as ours. Although not allowed to fight as front line sol¬
diers, they lend their strength to our war effort."
"Many of the Company are professional men with fine brains and specialised training. They have learned to use their muscles.
They are bent on helping to win this war, because Fascism to them has a real meaning."
