Spring held no hope

BY M A R IA M IK O R S K A

THE FACTS OF THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF POLAND

SPRING HELD NO HOPE

S P R I N G H E L D NO H O P E

B Y

M AR IA M IK O R S K A

M. I. K O L IN

LTD.

3 6 GREAT RUSSELL STREET, LONDON, W .C. I

Nie wypożycza się do domo

FIRST PUBLISHED JUNE 19 4 1

ill Biblioteka Główna Uniwersytetu Gdańskiego

1100518776

^ 3c . hi v/ G

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY THE RIVERSIDE PRESS, EDINBURGH

1100518776

PREFACE

T h e re a d e r o f these pages s h o u ld realise th a t a stra n g e im p re s s io n a w a its h im . M a n y o f th e statem ents m a d e here w il l seem th e p ro d u c t o f a sick im a g in a tio n .

B u t a ll are tru e . T h e facts here p resented w e re m a n y tim e s v e rifie d a n d — a fte r th e w a r— w il l be atte ste d b y witnesses.

A l l are tru e — in sp ite o f th e lies o f G e rm a n p ro p a g a n d a , w h ic h , u s in g its p u b lic a tio n s , w ireless, e tc., u s in g also m a n y new spapers o f te rro ris e d n e u tra ls (Swiss a n d S w e d is h ), trie s to p ersuade th e w h o le w o r ld th a t in c o n ­ q u e re d P o la n d th e G e rm a n ru le is severe b u t ju s t, a n d th a t th e c o u n tr y is b e in g de ve lop e d .

D o n o t b e lie v e th e m — th e y lie .

I n c o n q u e re d P o la n d rages th e m o st te r rib le te r r o r k n o w n in h is to ry , th e m o s t in h u m a n persecutions.

D o n o t be astonished w h e n th e fe w strangers w h o succeed in v is itin g o c c u p ie d P o la n d show y o u q u ite a n o th e r side o f th e p ic tu re . T h e y do n o t k n o w th e tr u th . T h e G e rm a n a u th o ritie s show th e m o n ly w h a t th e y w a n t to show , a n d th e in h a b ita n ts d id n o t te ll th e m re a l facts, even i f th e y w e re a b le to speak a lo n e w it h Poles. T h e Poles m u s t be v e ry c a re fu l: one in c a u tio u s w o rd b y th is s tra n g e r a n d th e y r u n th e ris k o f b e in g sh o t dead.

T h e re was in P o la n d no Press, n o ra d io , n o news. T o c o lle c t m a te ria l necessary fo r these fe w pages th e a u th o r tra v e lle d fo r m a n y m o n th s u p a n d d o w n th e w h o le c o u n try , o n fo o t, o n a b ic y c le , in ca rts, o n lo rrie s , in tra in s , d a y a n d n ig h t— th ro u g h to w n s, v illa g e s , fie ld s, a n d

5

6 PR EFACE

forests. So she w as a b le to g a th e r m a n y facts o n th e spot.

B u t fe w p e o p le c o u ld o r w o u ld d o like w ise .

T h a t is w h y i f w h a t y o \i re a d m a y o fte n seem to y o u q u ite u n re a l in its h o r r o r — re m e m b e r, in sp ite o f a ll, i t is tru e .

* * * * * * *

I n h is fam ous b o o k H itle r Speaks R a u s c h n ig g relates th a t H it le r confessed to h im his p ro je c t to d e s tro y a n d a n n ih ila te th e P o lish n a tio n , th a t he also spoke o f te r rib le m e th o d s w h ic h he p roposed to use.

P ro b a b ly n o one w h o re a d these w o rd s b e fo re th e w a r b e lie v e d th e m , n o one th o u g h t th a t such te r r ify in g pla n s c o u ld be realised. N o one k n e w a t th a t tim e w h a t G e rm a n y re a lly w as, a n d n o one c o u ld im a g in e th a t a ll h u m a n fe e lin g w o u ld d is a p p e a r fr o m th e h e a rts o f a w h o le n a tio n .

T h e eyes o f th e w o r ld w e re o pened w it h a b r u t a l shock.

CONTENTS

P A G E

Preface . . . 5

I. The German Army rulesin Poland . . 9

II. Chaos continues . . . . 1 1

I I I . The Terrible Winter in Poland . . 2 1

I V . The Spring gives no Hope . . . - 3 7

I

T H E G E R M A N A R M Y R U L E S I N P O L A N D The la s t b a s tio n fe ll. T h e ru in s o f W a rs a w su rre n d e re d . T h e G e rm a n a rm y e n te re d th e c a p ita l. T h e re was n o lo n g e r a fo o t o f free c o u n try . T h e p e rio d o f G e rm a n ru le in P o la n d be g a n — i t was th e m ilit a r y ru le . T h is p e rio d h a d th e fo llo w in g d is tin c tiv e phases :

i . P o lish p e o p le show ed a g re a t s p ir itu a l fo rce a n d u n u s u a l v ita lit y . S tu n n e d b y th e te r rib le disaster, to r tu re d b y th e incessant b o m b a rd m e n ts , scattered, ru in e d , th e y tr ie d to p u ll them selves to g e th e r, tr ie d to s tre n g th e n th e ir m o ra le .

S eeing th e b r u ta l co n q u e ro rs tr a m p lin g th e P o lish soil u n d e rfo o t th e y c le n c h e d th e ir te e th a n d p re p a re d fo r a s p ir itu a l fig h t, fo r a m o ra l resistance, w it h o u t c o m p ro m is e , w it h o u t th e least th o u g h t o f y ie ld in g . Im m e d ia te ly a fte r th e te r r ib le s tru g g le , in w h ic h w e re e m p lo y e d m e th o d s o f w a rfa re n e v e r b e fo re k n o w n in th e h is to ry o f m a n , th e y w e re re a d y fo r a n even m o re d iffic u lt fig h t— th e s p iritu a l fig h t.

T h e y n e v e r d o u b te d them selves fo r a m o m e n t. T h e y b e lie v e d i n th e ju s tic e o f th e ir cause, th e y b e lie v e d in th e v ic to r y o f tr u t h a n d fre e d o m .

P re p a rin g them selves to s u ffe r e v e ry th in g th e fu tu re m ig h t b rin g , th e y tr ie d a t th e same tim e to fin d some m eans o f s u p p o rtin g them selves. T h e w a r h a d th r o w n th e m a jo r ity o f th e p e o p le o f th e to w n s a n d g re a t p a r t o f th e c o u n tr y p e o p le o u t o f th e ir o r d in a r y e m p lo y m e n t, a n d th e y w e re fo rc e d to lo o k a b o u t fo r s o m e th in g new .

9

I O S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

T h e r u in o f th e n o rm a l e c o n o m ic life o pened th e w a y fo r m a n y s u b s titu te o c c u p a tio n s . E a c h , h o w e v e r, o f a c o m m e rc ia l typ e . S uch, fo r in sta n ce , as th e tra n s p o rt o f fo o d b y b ic y c le o r o n h u m a n shoulders to s ta rv in g W a rs a w o r o th e r cities, fo o d w h ic h was m o re e a sily o b ta in a b le a n d ch e a p e r in th e c o u n tr y d is tric ts , a n d thus to m a ke a s m a ll p r o f it o n th e tra n s a c tio n ; th e p r im itiv e tra n s p o rt a n d p e d d lin g fr o m house to house o f m a te ria ls a n d clothes, so m u c h needed in b o m b e d citie s a n d villa g e s , a n d w h ic h c o u ld be o b ta in e d fr o m u n b o m b e d L o d z ; th e dangerous b u t p ro fita b le business o f s m u g g lin g th ro u g h th e de ­ m a rc a tio n lin e to th e R u s s ia n -o c c u p ie d p a r t o f P o la n d ; th e re m o v a l o f th e d e b ris o f th e ru in e d houses, etc., etc.

P eople w h o m th e w a r h a d d e p riv e d o f estates, incom es, o fte n even homes a n d c lo th in g , snatched a t e v e ry o p p o r­

tu n it y to fin d a means o f liv e lih o o d . A ll a lik e , th e w orkless o ffic ia ls , jo u rn a lis ts , artists, la b o u re rs , e tc., h o p e d th a t th e w a r w o u ld be o v e r q u ic k ly . T h a t h e lp e d th e m to e n d u re .

2. T h e second d is tin c tiv e sign o f th is p e rio d was a g re a t m a n y abuses b y G e rm a n officers a n d m e n . T h e scale o f these v a rie d c o n s id e ra b ly . T h e re w ere b lo o d y persecutions.

F o r in sta n ce , in K o s c ia n th e p a ris h p rie s t a n d 134 c itize n s w e re k ille d fo r n o reason.

I n In o w ro c la w d ru n k e n G e rm a n officers ru sh e d in to th e p ris o n , w h e re w ere 70 o ld a n d v e ry h o n o u ra b le P o lish c iv ilia n s , s e rv in g as hostages. T o am use them selves th e b a rb a r ia n o fficers fire d a t these m e n as th o u g h th e y w e re a ta rg e t, a n d k ille d a ll o f th e m .

S om etim es th e y also sh o t defenceless c h ild re n , such as fo r in s ta n c e w h e n , o n th e h ig h ro a d n e a r G ro je c , an a rm e d G e rm a n m o to r-c y c lis t was g o in g f u l l speed to w a rd s W a rsa w . A te n -y e a r-o ld fa r m b o y ra n fr o m one side o f th e ro a d to th e o th e r a b o u t fifte e n m etres in fr o n t o f th e m o to r. T h e s o ld ie r stopped. Q u ie tly he to o k d o w n his g u n , a im e d

C H A O S C O N T IN U E S

c a re fu lly , a n d fire d . T h e c h ild g ro a n e d a n d fe ll d o w n . H e was d e ad. T h e G e rm a n s o ld ie r is w e ll tra in e d -—n e v e r m isses: e sp e cially defenceless c h ild re n .

I t is necessary to a d d th a t w h e n a d e le g a tio n asked G e n e ra l K essler to p u t a stop to these abuses he d e cla re d th a t he c o u ld n o t fo r b id his soldiers to amuse them selves.

T h e re w e re , besides b lo o d y p ersecutions, ro b b e rie s also.

U n d e r m ilit a r y ru le gangs o f N .G .O .s p illa g e d W a rs a w , o th e r to w n s, a n d p a rts o f th e c o u n try . T h e y w e n t to p riv a te houses fo r p e rq u is itio n , a n d to o k a w a y e v e ry th in g w h ic h seemed to h a ve a n y v a lu e , s ilv e r ashtrays as w e ll as th e fu rs o f th e mistress o f th e house, fo o d as w e ll as je w e lle ry .

3. T h e t h ir d sign o f th is p e rio d was th a t th e c o n d itio n s in th e c o u n tr y show ed a p e rfe c t p ic tu re o f chaos. N o precise ord e rs o r la w s w ere p r o m u lg a te d : a n y th in g w h ic h succeeded was p e rm itte d . T h e m ilit a r y ru le in te re s te d its e lf o n ly in a fe w p ro b le m s o f th e life o f th e c o u n tr y — those o n ly w h ic h co n ce rn e d d ire c tly o r in d ir e c tly th e a rm y

— a n d n e g lecte d th e others.

T h a t is w h y a t th is tim e th e P o lish p e o p le seemed to be c a u g h t v e ry t ig h tly in a n e t, b u t its meshes w e re n o t y e t v e ry fin e .

11

I I

C H A O S C O N T I N U E S

A r a in o f law s, d isp o sitio n s, p ro h ib itio n s , re s tric tio n s , a n d d iffic u ltie s began to fa ll o n th e c o u n tr y w h e n th e m ilit a r y ru le c h a n g e d o v e r to th e c iv il ru le . Chaos c o n tin u e d : c o n d itio n s in one to w n o r in one c o m m u n ity m ig h t be q u ite d iffe r e n t to those in a n e ig h b o u rin g v illa g e , o r in a n e ig h b o u rin g d is tric t. T h e re w ere n a tu r a lly m a n y reasons

B

12 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

fo r th is , b u t th e p r in c ip a l one was th e w il l o f e v e ry G e rm a n c o m m a n d a n t Landrat, etc., to show to th e P o lish p e o p le th e greatness o f his p o w e r, a n d th a t he alo n e set th e lim its o f his c o m m a n d .

I t is needless to a d d h o w g re a t a d iffic u lty th is chaos was to th e e c o n o m ic a c tiv ity o f th e p e o p le , a n d w h a t a h e lp i t was to e v e ry abuse o f th e G erm ans.

ROBBERIES ARE BETTER ORGANISED

A t th e same tim e in d iv id u a l lo o tin g tu rn e d in to sys­

te m a tic a n d o ffic ia l p illa g e o f th e c o u n try . T h e G e rm a n s to o k o u t o f P o la n d e v e ry th in g i t was possible to lo a d o n to lo rrie s : im p le m e n ts o f w a r as w e ll as a g r ic u ltu r a l m a c h in e ry , fo o d as w e ll as fu r n itu r e , c a ttle as w e ll as be d cloth e s o r saucepans. I n m a n y to w n s stores, even toyshops, w e re e m p tie d . R o b b e rie s u n d e r p re te n c e o f revisio n s c o n tin u e d , o n ly m o re s y s te m a tic a lly . M o n e y in th e banks w as co n fisca te d , o w ners re c e iv in g o n ly $1.50 w e e k ly . T o co n ce a l i t a t h o m e was p ro h ib ite d u n d e r g rie v o u s p e n a ltie s.

THE GESTAPO RAGES IN POLAND

T h e G estapo o c c u p ie d th e to w n s a n d d is tric ts fro m w est to east. O n c e s e ttle d in , th e y b e g a n m e th o d ic a l c o ld p ersecutions, m e th o d ic a l e ffo rts to w ip e o u t th e P o lish peo p le . I n c o n fo r m ity w it h H it le r ’ s p la n s th e y s ta rte d to d e s tro y th e P o lish n a tio n — past, present, a n d fu tu re .

THE DESTRUCTION OF EVERY TRACE OF POLAND’ S PAST

I t was necessary to a n n ih ila te e v e ry th in g w h ic h w o u ld re m in d th e Poles o f th e ir a n c ie n t greatness, g lo ry , a n d p o w e r, e v e ry th in g w h ic h w o u ld te s tify to th e existence o f th e th o u s a n d -y e a rs -o ld P o lish c u ltu re , e v e ry th in g w h ic h w o u ld d e m o n s tra te P o lish m e r it in th e w o r ld o f science.

C H A O S C O N T IN U E S ■3 T h e n , b y o rd e r o f th e a u th o ritie s , w ere p u lle d d o w n a n d d e stro ye d in P o zn a n a n d C ra c o v th e m o n u m e n ts o f A d a m M ic k ie w ic z , fam ous P o lis h p o e t; in G n ie z n o th e m o n u ­ m e n t o f K in g B o le sla w , in P o zn a n , C ra c o v , a n d Liodz th e m o n u m e n ts o f K o s c iu s z k o , th e m o n u m e n t o f P re sid e n t W ils o n , a n d th e s p le n d id m o n u m e n t o f G ru n w a ld , g iv e n in fo r m e r tim e s b y Ig n a c y P a d e re w ski to th e to w n o f C ra c o v , e tc., etc.

O n th e o th e r h a n d , G e rm a n lo rrie s to o k o u t fr o m th e m useum s, lib ra rie s , u n iv e rs itie s , p riv a te g a lle rie s, etc., w h o le c o lle c tio n s o f p ic tu re s , s cu lp tu re s, coins,- etc., e ve ry p re c io u s p r in t a n d b o o k . I t is im p o s s ib le to g ive th e d im e n io n s o f th is ro b b e ry — i t is s u ffic ie n t to say th a t n o t one m u se u m , n o t one c o lle c tio n , n o t one s c ie n tific in s titu tio n , n o t one lib r a r y was a b le to escape fr o m it .

A t th e same tim e , n o t satisfied w it h th is p illa g e , th e G e rm a n s set fire to th e re m a in in g P o lish lib ra rie s . H e re a re exam ples o f th e ir b a rb a r ia n m e th o d s :

E ig h ty -y e a r-o ld Professor B. D . o f P o zn a n sp e n t his life c o lle c tin g books, a n d lo v e d th e m lik e his o w n c h ild re n . T h e G e rm a n s fo rc e d th e o ld m a n to assist w h e n a ll th e v o lu m e s w e re m a d e in to a p ile a n d b u rn e d . T h e professor c o u ld n o t b e a r i t a n d d ie d o f a h e a rt a tta c k . H is w ife , a w o m a n o f se ve n ty-six years o f age, was e v ic te d fr o m th e to w n w it h in tw e lv e h o u rs.

T o th e s e m in a ry in P lo c k th e G e rm a n s sent an o rd e r th a t e v e ry p rie s t m u s t leave th e b u ild in g w it h in te n h o u rs, a fte r w h ic h th e y d ro v e a ll th e Jew s o f th e to w n to g e th e r a n d fo rc e d th e m to te a r th e c r u c ifix fr o m th e w a ll o f th e s e m in a ry a n d to p ro fa n e it . L a te r th e y also b u rn e d th e books o f th e lib r a r y .

E v e ry tra c e o f P o lish h is to ric a l a n d c u ltu r a l p ast was v io le n tly effaced.

i 4 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

THE DESTRUCTION OF EXISTING POLISH LIFE. PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR CARRIED AWAY

T h e n th e G e rm a n s, d e s irin g to disorganise th e P o lish p e ople, resolve to d e stro y th e u p p e r a n d p rofessional classes a n d a n n ih ila te e ve ry e le m e n t w h ic h m ig h t u p h o ld th e v it a lit y , e nergy, a n d p a tr io tis m o f th e n a tio n .

I n th e c o u n tr y th e perse cu tio n s s ta rte d w it h th e la n d e d g e n try . H u n d re d s w e re sh o t d o w n , o b v io u s ly th e m ost im p o rta n t. M a n y w e re n o t o n ly k ille d b u t to r tu re d to d e a th , such as, fo r in sta n ce , in R y p in , w h e re such te r rib le to rtu re s w e re in flic te d u p o n p riso n e rs th a t a n o ld o ffic e r (.Landsturm) s ta tio n e d th e re s a id : “ I c a n n o t sta n d th is G estapo system a n y m o re . I a m G e rm a n , a n d desired th e d e fe a t o f th e Poles, b u t I a m n o t a n e x e c u tio n e r a n d m y nerves are a lre a d y b ro k e n . I t is b e y o n d h u m a n e n d u ra n c e to see fin g e rs • c u t o f f o r flesh to r n fro m bones.”

T h e fa c t th a t th e m o s t p a r t o f th e g e n try o f th is d is tr ic t w ere k ille d d id n o t satisfy th e G e rm a n s : th e y also perse­

c u te d th e w o m e n . H e re is a n e xa m p le . I n S a d lo w o liv e d a fa m ily com posed o f th e p a re n ts , a tw e n ty -y e a r-o ld b o y , e ig h te e n -y e a r-o ld d a u g h te r, a n d tw o s m a ll c h ild re n . F a th e r a n d son w e re arre ste d , a n d k ille d a fte r b e in g to rtu re d . T h e u n fo rtu n a te w id o w h a d to s u ffe r g re a tly fr o m th e so-called Treuhaender (G e rm a n a d m in is tra to r o f th e co n fisca te d estate). O n c e in th e g a rd e n she h e a rd a shot. R u n n in g h o m e as q u ic k ly as possible she fo u n d h e r d a u g h te r ly in g d o w n b le e d in g : th e Treuhaender h a d a tte m p te d to v io la te th e g ir l a n d b e in g resisted he fire d w it h o u t h e s ita tio n , severely w o u n d in g h e r.

T h e d e s p a irin g m o th e r w a n te d to send fo r a d o c to r, b u t th e G e rm a n fo rb a d e h e r to ta k e h e r o w n horses.

CH AO S C O N T IN U E S ₁₅ She r a n o n fo o t. A r r iv in g b a c k w it h th e p h y s ic ia n she fo u n d th e house e m p ty : n o d a u g h te r, n o G e rm a n , n o c h ild re n . T h e la tte r soon cam e b a c k : d riv e n o u t b y th e Treuhaender th e y to o k s h e lte r in a pe a sa n t’s house.

T h e d a u g h te r was o n ly fo u n d a w eek la te r, b u rie d u n d e r a stack o f c o rn . M a n y s y m p to m s in d ic a te d she was b u rie d a liv e .

A p re g n a n t w o m a n , M rs S., ca m e to th e a u th o ritie s in R y p in a skin g fo r a p e r m it to send h e r im p ris o n e d h u s b a n d some fo o d a n d clothes. She was p u shed a b o u t, a n d even b e aten.

T h e p e o p le fr o m th e c o u n tr y w ere also c a rrie d a w a y to G e rm a n y . F o r in sta n ce , in th e d is tr ic t o f L i p no a ll th e la n d e d g e n try , m e n a n d w o m e n , w e re c o n v o k e d fo r a m e e tin g , a t w h ic h th e G e rm a n s to ld th e m th a t th e y d id n o t k n o w h o w to a d m in is te r estates, a n d th e y m u s t be sent a w a y to le a rn . T h e y w e re a ll d is p a tc h e d a t once, w ith o u t th e p o s s ib ility o f ta k in g even a n o v e rc o a t fr o m th e ir houses.

A l l these m e n w e re c a rrie d to E ast Prussia, a n d th e re m a d e to b re a k stones o n th e roads.

T h e c le rg y to o w e re persecuted. Priests w e re arrested en masse, a n d o fte n shot dead. I t h a p p e n e d fre q u e n tly th a t n o b o d y was le ft in th e c h u rc h to exercise th e sa cerdotal fu n c tio n s .

G e rm a n c ru e lty p u rs u e d n o t o n ly th e g e n try a n d c le rg y b u t also th e p ro fe ssio n a l p e o p le in th e to w n s. I n Bydgoszcz alo n e 6000 w ere shot dead. O n some days th e streets lit e r a lly ra n w it h b lo o d .

I n S ilesia a n d in P o z n a n ia thousands a n d thousands o f la w y e rs , d o cto rs, tra d e sm e n , artisa n s, e tc., w e re k ille d .

I t is im p o ssib le to e n u m e ra te a ll th e v ic t im s : a c c o rd in g to G e rm a n y ’s o w n statistics, in th e o c c u p ie d te rrito rie s in s ix weeks 25,000 persons w e re m u rd e re d , 4 0,000 im p ris o n e d a n d sent to h a rd la b o u r.

I t is h o w e v e r im p o ssib le to w ip e o u t a n e n tire s tra tu m o f a n a t io n ; b u t i t is q u ite possible to dispossess i t a n d to lo w e r it .

T h is b e g a n s im p ly b y s te a lin g P o lis h p ro p e rty . F o r in s ta n c e a G e rm a n fr o m B e rlin cam e to a w e ll-k n o w n re s ta u ra n t in G d y n ia a n d sta te d th a t th is business pleased h im a n d th e re fo re he w o u ld ta k e i t , b u t as he d id n o t w is h to w ro n g th e o w n e r he w o u ld p a y a ju s t p ric e fo r it . A fte r w h ic h he gave th e m a g n ific e n t sum o f te n d o lla rs , a n d to o k o v e r n o t o n ly th e business b u t also th e p riv a te a p a rtm e n t o f th e p r o p r ie to r .

T h e same th in g h a p p e n e d in a la rg e d ra p e ry store, w h e n a G e rm a n w o m a n to o k i t o ve r, p a y in g th e e q u a lly m u n ific e n t su m o f fo u rte e n d o lla rs .

T h e same system was e m p lo y e d in P o zn a n , b u t o n ly a t th e b e g in n in g . L a te r o n th e co n q u e ro rs d id n o t b o th e r to o ffe r a n y excuse. ( A ty p ic a l illu s tr a tio n o f honest G e r m a n ” m e n ta lity m a y be seen in th e case o f a good G e rm a n jo u r n a lis t w h o , m e e tin g one o f his P o lish colleagues in th e stre e t o f G d y n ia , show ed h im a b u lg in g w a lle t, s a yin g , “ I o n ly ro b th e Jew s, n e v e r th e P o le s’ ’— a c tu a lly u s in g th e w o rd “ ro b .” )

A c ts o f th is k in d h a p p e n e d o n a la rg e scale in th e w e s te rn d is tric ts , a n d fr o m tim e to tim e in th e c e n tre o f th e c o u n try . A t la s t th e G e rm a n a u th o ritie s — in o rd e r to legalise f a ils accomplis— issued a series o f la w s w h ic h sup­

pressed a ll im m o v a b le P o lish p ro p e r ty in th e w est d is tric ts , a n d lim ite d th e p o s s ib ility o f h a n d lin g o n e ’s m ova b le s a n d enterprises, a llo w in g th e G e rm a n s to confiscate th e m a t a n y m o m e n t.

l6 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

CH AO S C O N T IN U E S O

THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL LIFE

W is h in g to d e s tro y th e P o lish n a tio n i t was necessary—

besides te rro ris a tio n s , p ersecutions, a n d e c o n o m ic ‘ devasta­

tio n s — to m a ke a ll c u ltu r a l a n d in te lle c tu a l life im p o ssib le . So th e e n tire Press, w ith o u t e x c e p tio n , was suppressed.

O n ly papers p r in te d in G e rm a n a n d P o lish fo r p ro p a g a n d a purposes w e re p u b lis h e d , e q u a lly b a d in th e ir su b je c t- m a tte r a n d fo rm .

N o t a single re a lly P o lish w o rd was p rin te d a n y m o re ; n o t a s in g le r e a lly P o lish w o rd was h e a rd o n th e stage, fr o m th e le c tu re r’s c h a ir, etc. E v e ry th e a tre , c o n c e rt h a ll, even cinem as, w e re closed. T h e books o f th e re a d in g - ro o m s b e g a n to be co n fisca te d .

T h e Kulturtraeger t r y to change P o la n d in to a savage c o u n try .

THE GERMANS TRY TO RUIN THE POLISH FUTURE:

YOUTH IS DESTROYED

I t is n o t e n o u g h to d e stro y an e x is tin g n a tio n , i t is also necessary to p ro v id e a g a in s t its re g e n e ra tio n . T h e G e rm a n a u th o ritie s co n ce rn e d them selves w it h th e d e stru c­

tio n o f fu tu re P o la n d — th a t is to say, P o lish y o u th .

F irs t, u n d e r a n y p re te x t, th e y sentenced y o u n g g irls a n d boys to d e a th , as fo r e x a m p le in Bydgoszcz a n d K a to w ic e , w h e re h u n d re d s o f g ir l scouts u n d e r fifte e n years o f age, a n d in m a n y o th e r to w n s boys o f tw e lv e a n d fo u rte e n , w e re k ille d .

I n Bydgoszcz 136 schoolboys d ie d lik e h e ro e s: s ta n d in g b e fo re th e ir e xe cu tio n e rs th e y sung th e n a tio n a l a n th e m .

O th e r c h ild re n w e re c a rrie d a w a y to c o n c e n tra tio n c a m p s : in th e so -ca lle d “ G a m p o f th e D e a d ,” in H o h e n - ste in , in one shed a lo n e liv e d th re e b o y s : tw o o f fo u rte e n

i8 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

NO STUDY FOR POLES

T h e y o u th in th e c o u n tr y was n o lo n g e r a b le to s tu d y : e v e ry school was closed. F ro m tim e to tim e , w it h n o isy p ro p a g a n d a , one p a r t was o p e n fo r fiv e o r te n days, a fte r w h ic h i t was q u ie tly s h u t a g a in fo r m a n y m o n th s .

N a tu r a lly th e h ig h schools w e re also closed, a n d th e d e p o rta tio n , a n d th e ir d e a th fr o m ill- tr e a tm e n t, o f a g re a t p a r t o f th e P o lish U n iv e rs ity professors is w e ll k n o w n to th e w h o le w o rld .

T h e G e rm a n s said o fte n o ffic ia lly : “ S tu d y is needless fo r b o o t-b la c k s o r street-sweepers. A n d no h ig h e r p r o ­ fessions s h a ll be o p e n to th e Poles in th e fu tu re .

I n th e ir b io lo g ic a l w a r a g a inst th e Poles th e G erm ans have a p o w e rfu l a lly in h u n g e r a n d s ta rv a tio n , a n d th e y do n o t hesitate to e m p lo y th is w e a p o n w it h th e u tm o s t c ru e lty . T h e G e rm a n s are w e ll a w a re o f th e fa c t th a t a sta rve d o p p o n e n t is less d angerous, because he lacks th e s tre n g th to persevere in th e stru g g le .

R e c a p itu la tin g th e c h a ra c te ris tic s o f th is p e rio d w e ca n c o rro b o ra te in th e e co n o m ic s p h e re :

(a) C o m p le te chaos, w it h e v e ry d a y less fre e d o m fo r in d iv id u a l m o v e m e n t, a c tio n , o r i n it ia t iv e ; (b) S yste m a tic d e v a s ta tio n o f th e c o u n try .

I n th e n a tio n a l sphere, c o n tin u a lly b e tte r o rg a n ise d p e r­

secutions te n d in g to d e stro y P o lish p e o p le a n d P o lish l i f e : (a) Past:

D e s tru c tio n o f m o n u m e n ts , m useum s, lib ra rie s , etc.

(b ) Present:

1. M u rd e rs o f g e n try , priests, la w y e rs , d o cto rs, p ro ­ fessors, teachers, e tc., a n d a ll d e ce n t elem ents.

2. D e p riv in g th e Poles o f th e ir p ro p e rty .

3. M a k in g a ll c u ltu r a l a n d in te lle c tu a l life im ­ possible.

C H AO S C O N T IN U E S

19

(c) F uture:

1. K il li n g P o lish y o u th .

2. C u ttin g o f f e v e ry p o s s ib ility o f stu d y .

THE DEGENERATION OF GERMAN MORALE

H it le r ’s p la n s w e re re a lise d w it h g re a t p re c is io n . Besides facts a c c o m p lis h e d b y s a n g u in a ry m e th o d s, a n d w it h a d e fin ite a im , th e re to o k p la ce in P o la n d m o re a n d m o re abuses a n d c ru e ltie s d o n e fo r th e s im p le pleasure o f in ­

flic tin g to rtu re . *

I t is necessary to u n d e rs ta n d th a t th e G e rm a n o f to -d a y is n o lo n g e r th e G e rm a n o f 1914. F ro m th e b e g in n in g o f th is w a r u p to th e p re se n t d a y i t is possible to n o tic e a m o n g th e G e rm a n s in P o la n d e x c e p tio n a l degeneracy, a sto n is h in g a n d a b n o rm a l c o n fu s io n o f fe e lin g .

I t c a n be p ro v e d b y th is e x a m p le . I n K a m iń s k , s h o rtly a fte r th e ir a r r iv a l, th e G e rm a n s c o n v o k e d e v e ry b o y w h o before th e w a r b e lo n g e d to th e Strzelec society. T h e y w e re p la c e d in a ro w , a fte r w h ic h th e soldiers, ta k in g h e a v y clu b s, am used them selves b y c ru s h in g th e y o u n g m e n ’s heads a n d in flic t in g o n th e m th e m o st g h a s tly d e a th .

A fe w m in u te s la te r th e same— th e v e ry same— soldiers w it h sm iles w e re g iv in g chocolates to th e c h ild re n o f th e to w n .

A n o th e r p r o o f is th e p ro ce e d in g s a g a in s t th e Jew s.

T h e y are n o t alw a ys m a rk e d b y fu r y , o fte n b y c o ld sadism . F o r in s ta n c e in M s z c z o n ó w th e Jew s w e re ta k e n fro m th e ir houses a n d k ille d o n th e th re s h o ld . I n P. a ll th e Jew s w e re d riv e n to g e th e r to th e m a rk e t-p la c e , s trip p e d a n d le ft n a k e d , m e n , w o m e n , a n d c h ild re n , fo r h o u rs, w h ile a n o ffic e r w it h th re e m e n v is ite d a ll th e houses. L a te r th e o ffic e r cam e b a c k , a n d ta k in g a d ir t y piece o f w o o d p roceeded to th e m o st b r u ta l a n d m o s t in tim a te e x a m in a ­ tio n o f th e u n fo rtu n a te m e n a n d w o m e n . I n p u b lic !

c

20 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

D u r in g th e tra n s p o rt o f c o a l in W a rs a w a n o ld J e w was k ille d because he c o u ld n o t c a rr y a v e ry h e a v ily lo a d e d w h e e lb a rro w .

I n P u la w y , a t a te m p e ra tu re o f 30° C e n tig ra d e o f fro s t one n ig h t, th e G estapo o rd e re d th e Jew s to le a ve th e to w n a t once o n fo o t, a n d th e y s p rin k le d th e m w it h w a te r. O n th e jo u r n e y th re e o ld Jew s fro ze to d e a th , th e others a rriv e d a t O p o le a t sunrise. I n th e a fte rn o o n th e same G estapo o fficers cam e a n d b e g a n a g a in to to r tu re th e e v ic te d m e n , b e a tin g th e m fo r tw o h o u rs w it h w h ip s .

F o r m a n y years th e H it le r ia n th e o ry has been ra m m e d in to G e rm a n b ra in s th a t Jew s are n o t h u m a n beings—

gipsies are n o t h u m a n beings— Poles are n o t h u m a n beings

— th e c irc le o f these n o t h u m a n beings w id e n e d , a n d a c c o rd in g ly lessened th e lim its o f h u m a n ita ria n feelings in G e rm a n hearts.

O n th e c o n tra ry , th e c o n v ic tio n increased th a t to th e Reichsdeutsch n o th in g in th e w o r ld is p ro h ib ite d , a n d e sp e cia lly in a c o n q u e re d c o u n try . T h e re fo re G estapo, a rm y , a n d o ffic ia ls gave f u ll v e n t to th e ir a p p e tite s. T h e y d id n o t d e n y them selves a n y abuses.

THE HEROIC POLISH NATION

I t is im p o s s ib le to e n u m e ra te a ll th e c ru e ltie s . . T h e P o lis h p e o p le su ffe re d b u t d id n o t s u b m it, d id n o t a ccept a n y c o m p ro m is e . D u r in g th is p e rio d th e G e rm a n s w ere lo o k in g fo r some p o s s ib ility o f c o -o p e ra tio n w it h th e Poles.

T h e y p la n n e d to cre a te a P o lish G o v e rn m e n t, w h ic h w o u ld h e lp to persuade th e w o r ld th a t th e Poles desired to re m a in w it h th e R e ic h .

B u t a m o n g th e m a n y m illio n s o f Poles i t was im p o ssib le to fin d a H a c h a , to fin d a m a n w h o , fo r his o w n p r o f it o r fo r fe a r o f p e rs e c u tio n , w o u ld consent to ta rn is h th e h o n o u r o f th e n a tio n — b y w o rk in g w it h th e enem y.

T H E T E R R IB L E W IN T E R I N P O LA N D 21

I n a ll th e c o u n tr y a te m p e st o f c ru e lty ra g e d — b u t th e p e o p le d id n o t y ie ld .

I l l

T H E T E R R I B L E W I N T E R I N P O L A N D

THE PARTITION OF THE COUNTRY

Fo r weeks a t a tim e ru m o u rs c irc u la te d — som etim es even c o n firm e d b y th e G e rm a n s— th a t one p a r t o f th e c o u n try w o u ld be in c o rp o ra te d in th e R e ic h a n d th e Other w o u ld fo r m a so-called Restgebiet. W h a t c h a ra c te r w o u ld th is Restgebiet have? W o u ld i t be a b u ffe r state o r a p ro te c to ra te ? N o b o d y k n e w , as also n o b o d y k n e w w h ic h d is tric ts w o u ld be jo in e d to w h ic h .

F ro n tie rs w e re o fte n d e lim ite d a n d cha n g e d fr o m O c to b e r 1939 to J a n u a ry 1940, w h e n th e y w e re d e fin ite ly se ttle d . F ro m th is tim e th e crossing o f th e fr o n tie r beg a n to be e x tre m e ly d iffic u lt, because p e rm is s io n h a d to be o b ta in e d fr o m B e rlin .

THE ABNORMAL SEPARATION CREATED DIFFICULTIES

T h is u n n a tu r a l se p a ra tio n in flu e n c e d e co n o m ic life v e ry s tro n g ly . T h e fro n tie rs w ere se ttle d a c c o rd in g to G e rm a n g re e d : a ll th e m o st fe rtile d is tric ts g o in g to th e R e ic h , a n d , fo r in sta n ce , W a rs a w b e in g c u t o f f fr o m a ll p o in ts w h ic h fo r m e r ly s u p p lie d th e c a p ita l w it h fo o d .

Im p o r ta n t c o m m e rc ia l a n d fin a n c ia l m o ve m e n ts in n o rm a l tim es jo in e d W a rs a w w it h th e big g est P o lish in ­ d u s tr ia l to w n , L o d z . N o w th e d e m a rc a tio n lin e ru in e d th is a c tiv ity .

Beside a ll th is th e re w e re m a n y d iffic u ltie s fo r p e o p le , th e n o rth e rn fr o n tie r passing v e ry n e a r th e c a p ita l. T h e in h a b ita n ts of, fo r in sta n ce , N o w y D w o r (a s u b u rb a n

22 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

s e ttle m e n t) w o rk in g in W a rs a w h a d th e ch o ice o f le a v in g th e ir e m p lo y m e n t o r th e ir hom es, because i t was im p o ssib le to o b ta in a p e r m it to cross th e fro n tie r.

THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN THE TERRITORIES INCORPORATED IN THE REICH. ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES

F ro m n o w o n e n tire ly d iffe r e n t c o n d itio n s p re v a ile d in th e P o lis h te rrito rie s in c o rp o ra te d in th e R e ic h fr o m those in th e in d e te rm in a te Restgebiet, c a lle d n o w “ G o v e rn m e n t G e n e ra l.”

I n th e p a r t b e lo n g in g to th e R e ic h th e chaos i n th e a d m in is tra tio n was m u c h less, even th o u g h i t d id exist.

Severe c o n tro l o f co m m e rce a n d p ro d u c tio n was q u ic k ly im p o se d . B u t even those p ro d u c ts w h ic h w e re n o t y e t s u b je c t to re s tric tio n s c o u ld n o t fin d p urchasers, because o f la c k o f c u rre n c y .

I n th e in c o rp o ra te d te rrito rie s th e m a r k was established as th e s ta n d a rd c u rre n c y , b u t th e exchange w as v e ry d isa d van ta g e o u s to th e in h a b ita n ts . T h a t is w h y th e a m o u n t o f a c tu a l cash c irc u la tin g in th e c o u n tr y was m u c h to o s m a ll.

T h e sale o f a g r ic u ltu r a l p ro d u c ts m e t w it h th e greatest d iffic u ltie s , n o t o n ly fo r th e a b o v e -m e n tio n e d reasons b u t also because a ll e x p o rt, even fr o m one d is tr ic t to a n o th e r, w as p ro h ib ite d . I n consequence th e p rice s o f goods, a n d e sp e cially o f fo o d , etc., w e re tw o o r th re e tim e s less i n th e R e ic h te rrito rie s th a n in G o v e rn m e n t G e n e ra l, b u t the p ro d u c e r c o u ld n o t sell his c ro p a n d th e b u y e r in th e to w n c o u ld n o t b u y it.

THE INHUMAN EVICTIONS

N a tu r a lly a ll these ord e rs a n d p ro h ib itio n s co n ce rn e d o n ly th a t p a r t o f th e p o p u la tio n w h o re m a in e d re la tiv e ly

free, a n d c o u ld le a d th e ir o w n live s a n d c a rry o n th e ir o w n business.

T h e expression “ th e ir o w n ” is n o t exact. W e k n o w th a t P o lis h o w n e rs h ip was suppressed in th e te rrito rie s in c o rp o ra te d in th e R e ic h .

P eople d e p riv e d o f th e ir p ro p e r ty w e re b a n is h e d fr o m th e ir p la ce o f residence, b u t a t th e b e g in n in g th is was n e ve r d o n e en masse. T h e h u m a n e v ictio n s, w h ic h b e re ft th o u ­ sands o f p e o p le o f th e ir a ll, ra g e d p r in c ip a lly i n D e c e m b e r, J a n u a ry , a n d F e b ru a ry , a n d w e re th e c h ie f c h a ra c te ris tic

o f th a t p e rio d . .

A t th is tim e frosts o f fr o m 20° to 30° C e n tig ra d e ra v a g e d th e c o u n try , a n d th e e xpulsions a n d th e w a y th e y w e re c a rrie d o u t w e re w it h o u t a tra c e o f h u m a n fe e lin g .

U n fo rtu n a te p e o p le fo rc e d to le a ve th e ir h o m e , a n d d riv e n to a life o f e x tre m e m is e ry a n d v a g ra n c y , w e re m a d e to s u ffe r a ll sorts o f c ru e ltie s a n d a ll sorts o f u n ­ necessary p e tty annoyances.

THE TERRIFYING METHODS OF EVICTION: PEOPLE TORTURED BY PETTY ANNOYANCES

I n G d y n ia a n d P oznan, in m a n y instances, p e o p le w e re fo rc e d to leave th e ir hom es a t tw e n ty m in u te s ’ n o tic e , w it h p e rm is s io n to ta k e w it h th e m o n ly w h a t th e y c o u ld c a rry , b u t n e ith e r m o n e y (10 m a rk s o n ly ) n o r je w e ls.

I n tw o cases in P o zn a n th e y w e re o rd e re d to le a ve th e ir a p a rtm e n ts b e tw e e n 8 a n d 10 p.m. B u t, i n sp ite o f h a v in g tw o h o u rs ’ tim e , th e p e o p le w e re o b lig e d to w o rk i n th e d a rk , because th e G e rm a n s h a d c u t o f f th e e le c tric ity .

O n c e , also in P oznan, th e o rd e r to leave th e houses a t seven o ’c lo c k in th e m o r n in g was posted u p o n th e c ity w a lls eleven h o u rs b e fo re h a n d — th a t is to say, a t e ig h t o ’ c lo c k a t n ig h t— a lth o u g h n o one was a llo w e d in th e street

T H E T E R R IB L E W IN T E R IN P O LA N D 23

u n t il 5 a.m. n e x t d a y —-just tw o h o u rs b e fo re th e o rd e r cam e in to force.

D u r in g th e e xpulsions fr o m th e d is tr ic t o f J a ro c in a s e v e n ty -y e a r-o ld a n d sick w o m a n w a n te d to ta ke a b la n k e t w it h h e r to p u t o n th e flo o r o f th e c a ttle tru c k s (g e n e ra lly used fo r th e e v ic te d ). T h e G e rm a n s co n fisca te d it , fo rc in g h e r to tra v e l in th e te r rib le fro s t w it h o u t a n y c o v e rin g .

24 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

THE TRAINS OF DEATH

O n 16th D e c e m b e r 1939, w it h 180 C e n tig ra d e o f fro s t, a tr a in sto p p e d in S k ie rn ie w ic e . I t was a goods tr a in w it h h e rm e tic a lly closed c a ttle tru c k s , f u ll o f p e o p le e v ic te d fr o m P o zn a n . T h e y h a d been tw e n ty -e ig h t h ours en route, d u r in g w h ic h tim e th e y h a d n e v e r been p e rm itte d to g e t o u t. T h e y re ce ive d n e ith e r fo o d n o r d r in k , n o t even w a te r— n o th in g a t a ll. I n a tr u c k w h e re th e re w ere 23 w o m e n , 12 m e n , a n d 10 c h ild re n , th e re was o n ly one b u n d le o f s tra w in th e w a y o f b e d d in g , a n d b e fo re le a v in g e ve ry ru g , even a fu r co a t, h a d been ta k e n a w a y b y the G e rm a n soldiers. T h e u n fo rtu n a te p e o p le d id n o t k n o w w h e re th e y w e re b e in g sent. T h is t r a in was fo llo w e d b y m a n y others.

I n th e m id d le o f D e c e m b e r a tr a in f u l l o f p e o p le ex­

p e lle d fr o m G d y n ia sto p p e d in S iedlce. T h e y h a d tra v e lle d in h e rm e tic a lly closed c a rria g e s fo r fo u r days a n d fiv e n ig h ts , w it h a te m p e ra tu re o f 2 0 °-2 5 ° C e n tig ra d e o f fro st.

D u r in g a ll th is tim e th e y also d id n o t receive fo o d o r d r in k . O n a r r iv a l i t was fo u n d th a t six persons w e re dead a n d one c h ild h a d been b o rn . I n a n y case th e G e rm a n s d id n o t p e r m it a n y h e lp to be g iv e n . O n th e S iedlce s ta tio n a n o ld ra ilw a y p o rte r tr ie d to g iv e th e u n fo rtu n a te p e o p le some fresh w a t e r : g u a rd s shot a t h im . A w o m a n w h o o n th e same s ta tio n tr ie d to g e t o u t o f th e

tr a in to g e t some fo o d fo r h e r c h ild — d y in g o f h u n g e r—

was sh o t dead.

I n th e firs t days o f F e b ru a ry , w it h 3 5 0 o f fro s t, a goods t r a in w it h h e rm e tic a lly closed c a ttle tru c k s a rriv e d a t O tw o c k . W h e n i t s to p p e d a fe w p e o p le w h o w e re o n th e s ta tio n w e re shocked b y a te r rib le c r y c o m in g fr o m th e t r a in : “ H e lp ! H e lp ! N e a rly a ll o u r c h ild re n are a lre a d y d e ad, th e o th e rs are d y in g ! F o r fiv e days a n d s ix n ig h ts w e ha ve been w it h o u t fo o d ! H e lp ! ”

I t is im p o s s ib le to describe th e voices o f these h a lf-c ra z y m o th e rs whose c h ild re n h a d fro z e n to d e a th in th e ir arm s.

I n th is tr a in th e re were sixty frozen children. W o m e n o n th e s ta tio n tr ie d to g iv e th e to r tu re d p e o p le some h o t t e a : th e y w e re b e a te n a n d d riv e n a w a y b y th e G e rm a n soldiers.

T h e tr a in s ta rte d s lo w ly , w it h a n a c c o m p a n im e n t o f h e a rt-b re a k in g c rie s : “ H e l p ! ! ! ” T h is w o rd “ H e lp ” echoed fo r a lo n g tim e a m o n g th e trees o f th e O tw o c k forest.

W h e n th e t r a in a rriv e d a t L u b lin n e a rly a ll th e c h ild re n w e re fro z e n to d e a th — d e lib e ra te ly k ille d b y th e G erm ans.

T h e m o st im p re ssive th in g w as to see a t O tw o c k these soldiers, p ro b a b ly s im p le peasants fr o m B a v a ria o r S a xo n y, w h o c o u ld see w o m e n a n d c h ild re n d y in g a n d a llo w no one to h e lp th e m . N o o rd e r c o u ld h a ve p re v e n te d th e m fr o m tu r n in g th e ir backs a n d m o v in g a fe w y a rd s a w a y a n d p re te n d in g to see n o th in g . T h e y m ig h t a t least h a ve k e p t some tra c e o f h u m a n fe e lin g in th e ir souls. O n th e p la tfo r m o f th is lit t le s ta tio n one needed g re a t fo rc e a n d g re a t fa ith to keep a b e lie f in h u m a n n a tu re .

I n F e b ru a ry a goods tr a in a rriv e d a t C ra c o w . W h e n th e c a ttle tru c k s w e re o pened nobody cam e o u t. T h e re w e re in s id e — only dead bodies.

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26 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

IN THE TOWNS

I n L o d z p e o p le e v ic te d fr o m th e ir h o m e w e re firs t sh u t u p in ru in e d fa c to ry b u ild in g s . In s id e th e re w e re io ° —20°

o f fro s t, a n d w it h in tw e lv e days fo r ty -fiv e c h ild re n a n d th re e o ld m e n fro ze there.

I n L o d z th e fo llo w in g e v e n t o c c u rre d . A w o rk e r’ s w ife ju s t s ta rte d to g iv e b ir t h to a c h ild , w h e n tw o G e rm a n officers a rriv e d a t h e r h o m e a n d o rd e re d h e r to le a ve th e house a t once. T h e h u s b a n d a n d th e m id w ife begged fo r p e rm is s io n to re m a in th e re t i l l th e c h ild was b o rn . T h e G e rm a n s asked h o w lo n g i t w o u ld be. A n d w h e n , n a tu r a lly , i t was im p o ssib le to say e x a c tly , th e y in siste d u p o n ta k in g th e w o m a n o u t. She was lo a d e d w it h h e r b e d o n a lo r r y a n d c a rrie d to th e a b o v e -m e n tio n e d r u in e d b u ild in g , w h e re , i n 15° o f fro s t, she gave b ir t h to th e c h ild , w h o , o f course, d ie d a t once.

I n a v e ry p o o r d is tr ic t o f W ło c ła w e k a n o rd e r was g iv e n to th e p e o p le to le a ve th e ir hom es a n d e v e ry th in g th e y possessed. D e s p a irin g , th e y d id n o t c a r r y o u t th e o rd e r a n d re m a in e d a t h o m e . T h e n th e G e rm a n s set a ll th e d is tr ic t o n fire a n d so fo rc e d th e p o p u la tio n to leave.

EVICTIONS FROM THE COUNTRY

P eople w ere b a n ishe d n o t o n ly fr o m th e tow ns b u t also fr o m th e c o u n tr y d is tric ts . F ro m th e m a n o r houses th e g e n try w e re g e n e ra lly d riv e n a w a y b y lo w e r o ffic ia ls w it h v e ry b r u t a l p ro c e d u re , a n d o fte n in q u ite senseless fa sh io n . H e re is a n e x a m p le : D o ro ta M ., a s ix -m o n th s -o ld b a b y , was a rrested o n a special w r it te n o rd e r. I t is necessary to a d d th a t th e c h ild h a d n o t th e same n a m e as its m o th e r, a n d n o m ista ke was possible. W h e n th e G estapo a rriv e d th e nurse (th e m o th e r was o u t lo o k in g in th e h o sp ita ls fo r th e w o u n d e d fa th e r) tr ie d to persuade th e G e rm a n s th a t

i t was s tu p id to ta ke a b a b y to p ris o n . Seeing th a t h e r protests w e re useless she asked to be ta k e n w it h th e b a b y . T h e o ffic e r answ ered th a t he h a d no o rd e r to a rre s t th e nurse a n d he w o u ld n o t d o i t . A fte r w h ic h he .to o k th e c h ild a w a y.

A t la st th e a u th o ritie s p e rm itte d th e nurse to be im ­ p ris o n e d w it h th e b a b y . A fte r a fe w days’ im p ris o n m e n t in R a c o t th e y w e re p u t o n a n e v a c u a tio n tr a in a n d sent to th e east.

A ft e r a lo n g jo u r n e y in fre e z in g c o ld , a n d w ith o u t fo o d , th e y w e re released in a n e m p ty fie ld , a n d fin a lly th e nurse a rriv e d o n fo o t a t W a rs a w w it h th e b a b y in h e r arm s.

THE CAMP OF CRUELTY

I n a n o th e r p a r t o f P o la n d (n e a r K u tn o ) , a fte r h a v in g a rre ste d th e m e n o f th e b e tte r classes, th e G e rm a n a u th o ritie s s u d d e n ly im p ris o n e d th e w o m e n a n d c h ild re n , s e n d in g th e m to th e c o n c e n tra tio n c a m p n e a r L o d z . T h is c a m p , f u ll o f u p p e r a n d profe ssio n a l class peo p le , w as n o to rio u s fo r its te r rib le c o n d itio n s . T h e p e o p le h a d n o t even s tra w , a n d sle p t o n th e b a re ce m e n t, w it h 150 G. o f fro s t. T h e sheds w e re so o v e rc ro w d e d th a t n o one c o u ld c h a n g e his p o s itio n d u r in g th e n ig h t. T h a t is w h y a s e v e n ty -th re e -y e a r-o ld L a d y W . g o t sores o n h e r b a c k , b y ly in g to o lo n g u p o n i t , a n d a t la s t d ie d — lik e m a n y others.

N o t o n ly th e g e n try , b u t e ve ry m o n th m o re peasants w e re e v ic te d fr o m th e ir homes.

INDIVIDUAL EVICTION AND INDIVIDUAL FLIGHTS

Besides th e mass expulsions thousands o f fa m ilie s w ere e v ic te d in d iv id u a lly . T h e y w e re o fte n ro b b e d b y th e G e rm a n s d u r in g th e ir jo u rn e y . F o r in sta n ce , p e o p le fro m W a b rz e z n o w e re s trip p e d i n P lo c k u n d e r p re te n ce o f e x a m in a tio n . T h e soldiers stole even th e ir boots.

T H E T E R R IB L E W IN T E R IN P O LA N D 27

O th e r fa m ilie s in th e te rrito rie s in c o rp o ra te d in th e R e ic h w e re fle e in g fr o m th e ir homes. T h e y d id so ( i ) to a v o id th e te r rib le d a n g e r o f e v a c u a tio n tra in s , w h ic h m e a n t d e a th fo r c h ild re n , (2) to save m o re o f th e ir personal b e lo ng in g s, (3) to a v o id s e p a ra tio n fro m th e ir fa m ily .

THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES

I n m a n y d is tric ts (L o d z , etc.) th e fa th e r was sent to one place, th e m o th e r to a n o th e r, a n d th e c h ild re n separated fr o m b o th .

O n 2 2 n d M a r c h th e re a rriv e d a t C ra c o v a t r a in w it h 1100 c h ild re n , fr o m tw o to fo u rte e n years o f age. T h e y h a d been ta k e n a w a y fr o m th e ir p a re n ts, w h o h a d n o h ope o f d is c o v e rin g th e m . A b a b y w h o is n o w o n ly tw o a n d does n o t k n o w its o w n n a m e !

THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF TRAGEDIES

T h e re are thousands a n d thousands o f such exam ples, a n d n o b o d y w h o hears o f th e m , n o b o d y w h o reads these w o rd s , ca n im a g in e th e im m e n s ity o f th is tra g e d y . I t is one th in g to re a d a s ta te m e n t th a t 80,000 p e o p le w e re e v ic te d fr o m G d y n ia a n d 100,000 fr o m P o zn a n , a n d a n o th e r to see these faces d ro w n e d in tears, these s h iv e rin g bodies, th e h a lf-c ra z y eyes o f m o th e rs whose c h ild re n h ave fro z e n to d e a th in th e ir arm s, fro z e n because th e G e rm a n s p ro h ib ite d a n yo n e fr o m g iv in g th e m a glass o f h o t tea.

T he d e s p a ir o f these w o m e n , w h o saw h e lp so n e a r a n d w e re u n a b le to re a c h i t ! A n d y e t a n o th e r to h e a r m e n in th e c a ttle tru c k s tr y in g to b re a k o p e n th e closed doors w it h th e ir bodies in o rd e r to g e t o u t a n d b rin g h e lp to th e ir lo v e d ones d y in g in th e tr a in .

T h is d e s p a ir a n d th is tra g e d y are im p o ssib le to e x p la in a n d im p o ssib le to describe. T h e y m u s t be seen.

28 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

T H E T E R R IB L E W IN T E R IN P O LA N D 29

THE FATE OF THE EVICTED PEOPLE

T h e Poles d riv e n a w a y w ere sent to th e G o v e rn m e n t G e n e ra l, som etim es to a to w n o r v illa g e (g e n e ra lly v e ry p o o r an d q u ite u n a b le to s u p p o rt these u n fo rtu n a te p e o p le ), b u t m o st fre q u e n tly th e y w e re released a n d p u t o u t o f th e tr a in a t n ig h t in a n e m p ty fie ld , fa r fr o m h u m a n h a b ita tio n , helpless a n d h a lf-fro z e n .

I t is im p o ssib le to describe th e m is e ry o f a ll these p e ople, w h ic h increased e ve ry day.

THOSE WHO REMAIN IN THE REICH m

T h e p e o p le w h o s till re m a in e d in th e ir hom es (in th e te rrito rie s in c o rp o ra te d in th e R e ic h ) h a d n o lo n g e r a n y s e c u rity a n d th e G e rm a n a u th o ritie s persecuted th e m w it h a ll sorts o f a n n o y a n c e s : fo r in sta n ce , th e y m u s t d e fe r to a n y o ffic e r, N .C .O ., o r o ffic ia l, a n d g ive w a y to h im . W h e n a tra d e s m a n fr o m P lo c k d id n o t do so, tw o soldiers tra m p le d h im u n d e rfo o t a n d b e a t h im t i l l he fa in te d .

I f a n y b o d y in P o zn a n le ft his house fo r a fe w h o u rs he was o b lig e d to g ive u p th e k e y, th u s a llo w in g th e G e rm a n s to co n fisca te th e a p a rtm e n t a t a n y m o m e n t.

I n th e s m a ll to w n o f G ., in th e so-called Warthegau, i t was p ro h ib ite d to go o u t a fte r 5 p.m., p ro h ib ite d to fig h t th e a p a rtm e n t, a n d even to ta lk th e re a fte r 9 p.m., a n d w o rs t o f a ll— i t was p ro h ib ite d to lo c k a n y d o o r, so th a t th e G estapo c o u ld com e in a t a n y tim e .

A n d th e G estapo officers lik e d to amuse them selves:

fo r in sta n ce o n C h ris tm a s E ve , 1939, th e y ra n th ro u g h th e streets o f th is to w n s h o o tin g a t th e closed w in d o w s o f th e houses a n d p u rs u in g th e w o m e n . T h e y c a u g h t a t la s t a th irte e n -y e a r-o ld g ir l (a n o n ly c h ild ) , d ra g g e d h e r o u t o f h e r house, a n d v io la te d h e r, a fte r w h ic h th e y p u t fiv e b u lle ts in to h e r a n d th re w h e r o n th e d u n g h ill, lik e a dead dog.

I n P ia te k a t th e e n d o f D e c e m b e r s ix ty -fiv e persons w ere k ille d , n o b o d y k n e w w h y — p r o b a b ly fo r th e same reason w h ic h was g iv e n to L a d y H . w h e n , w e e p in g , she asked th e G estapo w h y h e r h u s b a n d was shot d e a d : “ H e was a Pole— th a t is e n o u g h ,” said th e N azis.

I n th e P o lish te rrito rie s in c o rp o ra te d in th e R e ic h th e p e o p le liv e d u n d e r savage te rro r, in in d e s c rib a b le fe a r o f e v ic tio n , th a t is o f to r tu re , d e a th , o r— in th e best case—

e x tre m e p o v e rty .

THE GOVERNMENT GENERAL AND ITS ECONOMIC SITUATION

T h o u sa n d s o f beggars, thousands o f p e o p le b a n ishe d fr o m th e ir hom es, o v e rra n th e G o v e rn m e n t G e n e ra l.

E v e ry o n e th o u g h t i t w o u ld be easier to liv e there.

I n th e G o v e rn m e n t G e n e ra l P o lish p ro p e rty existed in p rin c ip le , a n d re s tric tio n a n d c o n tro l w ere p e rh a p s a lit t le less. B u t th e chaos a n d a d m in is tra tiv e in co h e re n ce w e re m u c h g re a te r, th e cost o f liv in g a n d s c a rc ity enorm ous.

T h e e co n o m ic s itu a tio n a n d — i f i t is s till possible to c a ll i t so— th e e co n o m ic life w e re c a ta s tro p h ic . F o r in sta n ce th e b u ild in g com panies, w h ic h a fte r b o m b a rd m e n t o u g h t to h a ve h a d m a n y o p p o rtu n itie s , d id n o t w o rk o n a b ig scale because th e a u th o ritie s co n fisca te d fr o m th e m a ll m a te ria l o f m o re th a n $100—150 v a lu e . T h e fa c to rie s w e re closed, w it h th e e x c e p tio n o f those w h ic h w o rk e d fo r G e rm a n s o n ly , a n d those— v e ry fe w — w h ic h , th a n k s to th e cleverness o f th e ir ow ners, re ce ive d fr o m th e G e rm a n s th e necessary r a w m a te ria ls .

T h e la c k o f ra w m a te ria ls was th e firs t o f th re e p r in c ip a l reasons fo r s ta g n a tio n . S e co n d ly, e ve ry b a n k a c c o u n t b e in g b lo c k e d th e businesses h a d n o m o n e y to s ta rt th e ir a c tiv ity . T h ir d ly , m a n y k in d s o f p ro d u c tio n w e re e n tire ly p ro h ib ite d .

30 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

A n o th e r d iffic u lty in th e e co n o m ic life was th a t th e wages o f th e w o rk e rs a n d artisa n s w e re fix e d b y th e a u th o ritie s , a n d th e e m p lo ye rs h a d n o p o w e r to re d u ce o r increase th e m . T h e re s u lt was th a t a p ro fita b le b u s in e s s c o u ld n o t g ive m o re m o n e y to its p e o p le , w h o o fte n le ft i t , p re fe rrin g to set u p o n th e ir o w n . F o r in s ta n c e a shoe­

m a k e r w h o h a d increased th e wages o f his assistant was fin e d 1000 zl.

A n d o n th e c o n tr a ry a n e m p lo y e r whose business was d o in g b a d ly c o u ld n o t re d u ce th e wages, even i f th e e m ­ ployees, a g re e in g to e a rn less, w e re w illin g to .c o n trib u te to th e m a in te n a n c e o f th e u n d e rta k in g .

T h e salaries o f clerks a n d m a g istra te s w ere also b ro u g h t d o w n to a v e ry lo w le v e l. F o r in sta n ce a g re a t p a r t o f th e m w e re re d u c e d b y m o re th a n h a lf, a n d i t is necessary to a d d th a t th e cost o f liv in g increased th re e to fiv e tim es.

COST OF LIVING

T h e G e rm a n a u th o ritie s fix e d th e m a x im u m prices fo r e v e ry a rtic le o f p r im a r y necessity. T o ch a rg e m o re was p ro h ib ite d u p o n p a in o f d e a th . T h a t m e a n t i f som ebody b o u g h t b re a d fo r fiv e cents above th e fix e d p ric e he a n d th e seller ra n th e same risk.

I n sp ite o f th is s e v e rity a ll these orders re m a in e d q u ite s te rile . T h e fix e d prices w e re so lo w th a t e ve ry a rtic le m e n tio n e d in th e orders im m e d ia te ly d isa p pe a re d fr o m th e le g a l co m m e rce , to becom e a n o b je c t o f w id e ly e xtended ille g a l tra ffic .

T h e fix in g o f prices w h e n fo o d was b e in g c a rrie d a w a y to G e rm a n y , a n d th e la c k o f i t in c re a s in g e ve ry d a y , re s u lte d in a v e ry s m a ll n u m b e r o f p e ople, w h o s till h a d m u c h m o n e y , b e in g a b le to b u y n e a rly e v e ry th in g , b u t oth e rs— thousands a n d thousands— sta rve d in th e cities.

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32 S P R IN G H E L D N O H O PE

MISERY AND HUNGER

T h e re w e re r a tio n cards fo r fo o d , b u t th e ra tio n s w e re v e ry s m a ll a n d v e ry ir r e g u la r ly o b ta in a b le : fo r in s ta n c e u p to A p r il fats w e re n o t even once d is trib u te d .

H e re are exam ples o f p o v e rty in W a rs a w : a lit t le b o y o f n in e m o n th s was n o u ris h e d o n ly w it h s p o n g y b ro w n b re a d a n d h o t w a te r. A n o th e r one, a c h ild o f fiv e years, in th e d epths o f w in te r d id n o t e a t a n y th in g h o t, even tea, fo r tw o weeks.

THE LACK OF CLOTHING

Besides foo d stu ffs, c o n tro l was exercised o v e r m a n y o th e r a rtic le s a n d goods. F o r in s ta n c e a ll te x tile m a te ria ls , etc.

I t was necessary to h a ve special p e rm is s io n to b u y clothes, o r even a p o c k e t-h a n d k e rc h ie f. B u t to ask fo r th is p e r m it was dangerous. A P o lish d o c to r requested a so-called

“ b o o t- c a rd ” a n d re ce ive d i t fa ir ly easily, o n ly his n a m e a n d address w e re n o te d . H e b o u g h t th e shoes a t a lo w p ric e a n d was v e ry satisfied, b u t th e n e x t d a y a c o m ­ m issio n a rriv e d a t his house a n d co n fisca te d a ll th e o th e r boots w h ic h he h a d a t h o m e , le a v in g o n ly th e n e w p a ir . T h e a u th o ritie s d e c id e d th a t m o re th a n one p a ir was to o m u c h fo r a d o c to r in P o la n d .

A t la st, fre e a n d u n c o n tro lle d tra d e was possible o n ly in c h ild re n ’ s toys, s ta tio n e ry , p o rc e la in , ja m w it h o u t sugar, a n d a fe w o th e r th in g s.

DISEASE WITHOUT HELP

Besides p o v e rty a n d a disastrous e co n o m ic s itu a tio n th e c o u n tr y was ra v a g e d b y disease. S tru g g le a g a in s t i t was v e ry d iffic u lt fo r m a n y rea so n s:

1. I n th e to w n s, pipes b e in g d a m a g e d , th e w a te r was in fe c te d , in d e e d in some cases th e re was n o s u p p ly a t a ll.

2. T h o u sa n d s o f b u ild in g s w e re ru in e d , a n d those s till

s ta n d in g w ere t e r r ib ly o v e rc ro w d e d : som etim es six fa m ilie s liv e d in one a p a rtm e n t.

3. B y reason o f G e rm a n c o n tro l, soap was a lm o s t u n ­ o b ta in a b le .

4. F o r th e a b o v e -m e n tio n e d reasons th e re was a g re a t la c k o f clothes a n d u n d e rw e a r. M a n y p e o p le lo st th e ir possessions in th e b o m b a rd m e n t a n d fire , others— th e e v ic te d — h a d th e irs stolen.

5. T h e re was la c k o f m e d icin e s. M a n y chem ists b e in g ru in e d , in n u m e ro u s d is tric ts i t was im p o ssib le to fin d even

a s p irin . *

I n spite o f n o is y G e rm a n p ro p a g a n d a , th e h y g ie n ic c o n d itio n s in P o la n d w e re p e rfe c tly te r r ib le d u r in g th is p e rio d .

LIVING IN FEAR

M o re o v e r, in sp ite o f a ll th a t has been said, th e p e o p le in G o v e rn m e n t G e n e ra l liv e d in c o n s ta n t fe a r :

1. F e a r o f arrest. I t was a b s o lu te ly im p o ssib le to u n d e rs ta n d fo r w h a t reason persons w e re im p ris o n e d : som etim es th e y w e re p o litic ia n s , som etim es v e ry s im p le a n d o r d in a r y w o rk e rs , b o th m e n a n d w o m e n , o fte n even c h ild re n . N o a m o u n t o f care o r g ood b e h a v io u r c o u ld keep one free o f arrest.

2. F e a r o f b e in g sh o t dead. T h e s h o o tin g o f m a n y p e o p le to o k p la ce e v e ry n ig h t in th e P a rlia m e n t G a rd e n . Besides th a t e ve ry p ro s titu te co n sid ere d diseased was k ille d , ju s t lik e a n yo n e w h o stole m o re th a n once, th o u g h th e th e fts in th is y e a r o f te r rib le p o v e rty w e re p e rfe c tly u n d e rs ta n d a b le .

3. F e a r o f special events lik e th e fo llo w in g : in th e m id d le o f F e b ru a ry th e G estapo cam e one d a y to tw o b ig a n d o v e rc ro w d e d cafés in W a rs a w a n d a rre ste d a ll th e w o m e n (m a n y o f th e m o f th e best society) in spite o f th e p ro te s t o f th e ir husbands. T h e y w e re ta k e n to th e

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