The June 1933 murder of Arlosoroff has
long been laid at the door of the Revisionists. Before he died Arlosoroff
said Jews did not do it and the British freed two accused Jews.
Nevertheless, Revisionism is still widely held responsible. Now new
information points in a very different direction.
Reading Goebbels' diaries, the author
found references to a love affair that led to the Nazi propagandist's
marriage to Magda Quandt. In 21 entries, Goebbels veers between hope and
despair, breakup and make-up. Magda, whose previous marriage failed, has
reservations about her suitor. She seems still connected with an old
flame, a Jew, whom the diary only calls "der fremde Mann" –
stranger or foreigner. Goebbels does not dare to mention it even in his
diary, thus the euphemism "stranger".
The former lover was Chaim Arlosoroff, now
an important Zionist leader in Palestine. He had lately – May 1933 – come
to Berlin to confer with the Nazi government about a deal to transfer
Jewish funds to Palestine in return for Zionist help against the worldwide
anti-Nazi boycott. Goebbels was likely behind the murder. Discovery of his
wife's involvement with this prominent Jew might have ruined his career as
top Nazi and Minister of Propaganda.