Anti-Jewish Legislation in Romania, with German support

In the months between the repression of the “Legionary Rebellion” at the end of January and the advent of the war against the Soviet Union, a string of anti-Jewish laws were passed in Romania. The German Foreign Ministry sent a special advisor on “Jewish affairs” to Romania – Gustav Richter, who was an aide to Adolf Eichmann. His official function was “to advise the Romanian government on legislation against the Jews, similar to the kind of laws that have been enacted in Germany.” On 5 February, the Law for the Protection of the State was passed, which provided that for the same offense, Jews would be given double the punishment meted out to Christians. On 27 March, a further law was passed permitting the confiscation of Jewish-owned property, resulting in the confiscation of over 40,000 Jewish houses and apartments. On 15 May, Jews were stripped of the last vestiges of legal protection, and were drafted for forced labor.