I
The Tragedy of Polish Jewry
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Bibi. JagieR.
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The Tragedy of Polish Jewry
B o o k le t N o . 1
B ib lio te k a J a g i e l l o ń s k a
1 0 0 2 2 2 9 9 9 6
J o i n t C o m m i t t e e f o r t h e A i d o f t h e J e w s o f P o l a n d
-V 511
Printed in P alestine Azriel Press Jerusalem
Bibl. Jagieli.
CONTENTS.
Page Introduction ... 3
I-a. The Sufferings of the Jew s of Poland, and of the Jew s of Warsaw in particular, im m ediately after the German
Occupation ... 6 b y A. Ha r t g l a s,
President of the Zionist Organization of Poland and former member of the Polish Sejm.
I-b. The Situation in W a r s a w ...21 b y M. Ke r n e r,
Member of the M unicipal Council of Warsaw and former member of the Polish Senate.
II. Eastern Galicia ...30
The Situation of the Jew s in general and of the Halutz M ovement in particular im m ediately after the Russian Occupation
b y Mr. He l l m a n n,
R epresentative of Hehalutz.
III. Jew ish R efugees from Poland in R u m a n ia ...35
b y A. Re i s s,
Chairman of the Central Palestine Bureau of Warsaw.
IV -a. Jew ish R efugees from Poland in Hungary and Slovakia .. 39
b y S. L i p s k y ,
Representative of Hehalutz in Hungary.
IV -b. Jew ish R efugees from Poland in Hungary and Slovakia .. .. 42 b y Dr. L . Fu c h s,
Chairman of the Zionist Committee of Włocławek.
V -a. Jew ish R efugees in the Russian-O ccupied Territory of
Poland and in Lithuania ...45 b y Dr. M . Kl e i n b a u m,
Chairman of the Central Committee of the
V -b. Jew ish R efugees in the R ussian-O ccupied Territory of Poland and in Lithuania ...
b y Dr. K . Sc h w a r t z,
Former m em ber of the Polish Sejm and chair
man of the U nited Poale Zion-H itachduth Party in Eastern Galicia.
56
V -c. Jew ish R efugees in the R ussian-O ccupied Territory of Poland and in Lithuania ...
by S. Ze i d m a n,
Chairman of the Central Committee of the Jew ish National Fund (K eren Kayem eth le - Israel) in Poland and m em ber of the last P olish Sejm.
60
A PPEND IX A : The R efugee Problem in L it h u a n ia ...
APPEND IX B : The Situation of the Jew s of Eastern Galicia
63
7i
IN T R O D U C T IO N
T h e rep o rts n o w p u b lish ed in th is p am p h let w e re o rig in a lly g iv e n a t m eetin gs h eld in J e ru sa le m on F e b r u a r y 15 and M a rch 17, 1940. S o m e of th e sp e ak e rs w e re liv in g in W a rs a w a t th e tim e of th e siege an d w itn esse d th e G e rm a n b a rb a ritie s fo r th re e m on ths a fte r th e fa ll of th e city. T h e o th ers h ad p erso n al e x p e rie n c e of th e m ild e r B o ls h e v is t regim e in th e R u ssian -o ccu p ied sectio n of P olan d , and th en fle d fo r th e ir liv e s to n e ig h b o rin g co u n tries w h e re th e y rem ain ed fo r som e m on ths as refu ge es.
A l l th ese rep o rts a re fa ith fu l and re lia b le acco u n ts of th e ev en ts in q u estio n b y m en w h o a re in n o w a y p ron e to e x a g g e ra tio n or overstatem en t.
If, n e ve rth e le ss, m in or errors, am b igu ities, o r incon sisten cies m a y b e noted, th is is d u e to th e fa c t th a t it w a s n a tu ra lly im pos
sib le fo r th e n a rra to rs to h a v e b ee n on th e sp ot w h e n a ll th e in cid en ts o ccu rred . In som e cases th e y h a v e b ased th e ir rep o rts on th e te stim o n y of o th er re lia b le persons, o r on fa c ts too w id e ly k n o w n to re q u ire v e rific a tio n b y eye-w itn esses. N o one in d ivid u a l co u ld h a v e se en a ll th a t h ap p en e d e v e n in a sin gle city, and c e r ta in ly not in a g re a t c ity lik e W a rsaw , e sp e c ia lly a t a tim e w h e n th e J e w s k e p t ind oors as m u ch as p ossib le fo r fe a r of b ein g k id n a p p ed b y G erm an s fo r fo rc e d lab or, and w h e n tra n sp o rt had b ro k e n d ow n o w in g to th e tren ch es, b arricad e s, an d h eap s of ru in s th at b lo c k e d th e streets. T o o b tain and v e r ify first-h a n d rep o rts of w h a t h ap p en ed in o th er lo ca litie s w a s e v e n m ore d ifficu lt, sin ce fo r som e m on ths a fte r th e G e rm a n con q u est com m u n ication s b e tw e e n W a rs a w an d th e p ro v in c ia l tow n s w e re alm ost co m p le tely cu t off. T h en , too, th e rep o rts of b o th th e n a rra to rs an d th e ir in form an ts w e re m ade fro m m em ory. N e v e rth e le ss, th e se r e p o rts co in cid e in th e m ain, and corresp on d v e r y c lo s e ly to th e facts, so th a t an a c c u ra te p ic tu re of th e situ atio n em erge s b efo re th e m ind of th e read er.
3
T h a t situ atio n is d ism al an d d ish ea rten in g in th e e x tre m e : th e e x iste n ce of th e w h o le of P o lish J e w r y h an gs in th e b a h ee.
A g a in st a b a ck g ro u n d of sy stem a tic d estru ctio n of b o th th e tem p o ra rily d efea ted P o lish S ta te and th e P o lish people, th e G erm an s a re p roceed in g to e x te rm in a te th e J e w is h p o p u la tio n w ith u n sp e a k a b le c ru e lty . In th e G erm an -o ccu p ied a rea s of P olan d , th e J e w s a re su b je cte d to m on strou s p h y sic a l an d p sych o lo g ica l te r rorism . T h e m ethods em p loyed in c lu d e m ass-b u tch ery, sta rv a tion, and v ile s a n ita ry conditions th a t g iv e rise to ep id em ics ; r u th less cru sh in g of th e w ill to liv e and to c a r r y on th e s tru g g le of e x is t e n c e ; arrests ; to rtu re s th a t h u m b le th e h u m an d ig n ity of th e victim s to th e d u s t ; confiscation of w o rk sh o p s and o th er p rop e r ty ; b a rrin g of a n y an d a ll op p ortu n ities to ea rn a livelih o o d . T h e P o lish J e w s a re also b ein g d e p riv e d of th e ir in te lle c tu a l classes. T h e ir sch ools a re closed, a ll fo rm s of J e w ish c u ltu ra l a c t iv ity a re p roh ib ited . In th e R u ssian -o ccu p ied te rrito ry , sim ilar
“ a ch ie v e m e n ts” h a v e b ee n a tta in ed b y a rap id an d d rastic change in the econom ic o rd e r w h ich , e x c e p t in a fe w cases, h as h ad the e ffe c t of th ru stin g a ll J e w s u n fitte d fo r m an u al lab o r o utsid e th e p a le of n o rm a l ex isten ce. E v e r y fo rm of J e w ish c u ltu ra l life is b an n ed as co u n te r-re vo lu tio n a ry .
A n d so, b y th e one p rocess o r th e other, th e 3,500,000 P o lish J e w s a re b ein g cru sh ed to e a rth in b o th a re a s of th e co n q u ered te rrito rie s. U n less th e w a r en ds soon, or som e m ira cle com es to pass, no tra c e w ill be le ft of th e J e w is h co m m u n ity e x c e p t a va st ce m e te ry on P o lish soil. A la r g e an d im p ortan t section of th e J e w is h p eo p le — th at se ctio n w h ic h is m ost stro n g ly im b u ed w ith th e n a tio n al sp irit, w h ic h h as th e g re a te st ca p a c ity fo r c re a tiv e effort, w h ic h h as a lon g h isto ry of n o b le a ch ie ve m e n t — n o w lie s on th e b r in k of ann ih ilation, ago n izin g in th e th ro es of a lin g e rin g death. W h a t e ffe ct th e im p en d in g fa te of P o lish J e w r y w ill h a v e upon th e fu tu re of th e J e w is h p eo p le as a w h o le and u p on th e u p b u ild in g of th e N a tio n a l H om e in P a le stin e , can re a d ily be im agined.
W e a re liv in g in th e m ost tra g ic era of J e w is h h isto ry sin ce th e d a rk e st d ay s of th e M id d le A g e s and th e C ru sa d e s. T h e p rim
itiv e s a v a g e r y th at w e h ad b e lie v e d to b elo n g to th e rem ote past, w ith o u t p o ssib ility of recru d escen ce, h as n o w fla re d u p again b e fo re o u r eyes. T h e “ civ iliza tio n ” of A ttila and G h e n gh iz K h a n is w in n in g n e w victo ries. T h e e ffects of th ose vic to rie s w ill b e d e scrib ed an d ap p raisals of th e p rese n t situ atio n m ad e in th e fo l
lo w in g pages. P e rh a p s th ese reco rd s w ill y ie ld sig n ifica n t h isto r
ic a l m a te ria l to fu tu re stu d en ts of th e J e w is h m a rty ro lo g y and of th e d e clin e of civ iliza tio n as a w h o le. O r p erh a p s th e y a re d estin ed to s e rv e as e v id en ce w h e n th e h o u r a rr iv e s fo r se ttin g up n e w p o litica l conditions a fte r th e d o w n fa ll of th e b a rb aria n s w h o n o w do e v e ry th in g in th e ir p o w e r to p lu n g e th e w h o le w o rld into a sea of blood and tears.
A . H A R T G L A S .
THE TRAGEDY OF POLISH JEWRY
I.
T H E S U F F E R I N G S O F T H E J E W S O F P O L A N D , A N D O F T H E J E W S O F W A R S A W IN P A R T I C U L A R , I M M E D I A T E L Y
A F T E R T H E G E R M A N O C C U P A T I O N (S ep tem b er— D e cem b er, 1939)
A . R e p o rt of A . Ha r t g l a s,
President of the Zionist Organization of Poland and former m em ber of the Polish Sejm .
B e fo r e th e G erm an s to o k W a rsa w , th e J e w s an d th e P o le s su ffe re d e q u a ll y : th e re w e re k ille d and w o u n d ed am on g b o th peoples. O n th e d a y th e w a r b ro k e ou t h u n d re d s of th ou san ds of p eo p le fle d fro m th e ir hom es. A l l th e h ig h w a y s an d b y w a y s w e re cro w d e d w ith re fu g e e s — m en an d w om en , old an d you n g. M ost w e n t on foot, no w agon s or m otor v e h ic le s b e in g o btainable. A l l th e co n v e y an ce s had b een co m m an d eered b y th e m ilita ry a u th o r
ities, an d th e re w a s no p e tro l in a n y case. In th e con fusion w iv e s w e re se p ara te d fro m th e ir h u sban ds, an d ch ild ren fro m th e ir p arents. A ll th e w h ile G e rm a n a ero p lan es d roned overh ead, m ow in g d ow n th e re fu g e e s w h ic h e v e r w a y th e y tu rn ed . T en s of th ou san ds w e r e k ille d on th e road s. M ost of th e victim s w e re J e w s, b e c a u se th e m a jo rity of th e re fu g e e s w e re tow nsp eop le. T h e v illa g e rs rem ain e d a t hom e.
T h e sie g e of W a rs a w co n tin u ed fro m th e 8th to th e 29th of S e p te m b e r. T h ro u g h o u t th e sie g e th e c ity w a s co n tin u o u sly bom b
ed b y aerop lan es and sh e lled b y a rtille ry . A b o u t 35% of th e houses w e re co m p le te ly dem olished, and m ost of th e o th ers so b a d ly d am aged as to b e u n in h a b itab le. S e p te m b e r 25 w a s th e h a rd est d a y of th e siege. A b o u t 250 G e rm a n a ero p lan es raid e d th e c ity fro m n in e o ’clo c k in th e m orn in g till s ix in th e aftern oon . A t first th e a n ti-a ir c ra ft b a tte rie s rep lie d , b u t th e ir fir e w a s soon silen ced ; th e ir cre w s la y d ead b esid e them . T h o u g h th e w e a th e r w a s fa ir, th e a ir w a s so fu ll of sm o ke and d u st th at th e c ity w a s d a rk as n ight. F ire s b ro k e ou t in e v e r y q u a rte r of th e city,
b u t it w a s not p ossib le to b rin g th em u n d e r co n trol b e c au se th e re h a d been a w a te r sh o rta g e fo r se v e ra l d ays. T h e J e w is h q u a rte r w a s bom bed on th e e v e of R osh H ash an a an d a ga in on Y o m K ip - p u r. N e verth e less, th e pious J e w s w e n t to sy n ag o g u e as u su al.
T h e G erm an s en tered W a rs a w on S e p te m b e r 29, and im m e d ia te ly b egan to d istrib u te b re a d to th e pop u lation , w h ic h h ad had none fo r th re e w e ek s. C e r ta in in cid en ts o ccu rre d in th e J e w ish q u a rte rs b ecau se th e p eo p le th e re w e r e also in w a n t of bread.
T h e n e x t d a y th e m a y o r an n ou n ced th a t th e G e rm a n a u th o rities w o u ld p erm it no d iscrim in ation a gain st th e J e w is h inh abitan ts.
T h e a u th o rities d id not k e e p th e ir w ord.
D u rin g th e e a r ly d ay s of th e G e rm a n occu p ation , b read and soup w e re d istrib u ted to th e J e w s as to th e others. B u t it w a s not lon g b efo re th e J e w s w e re fo rc e d ou t of th e q u eu es an d d e
p riv e d of th e ir share.
A t th e ou tset th e J e w s of th e G erm an -occu p ied te r r ito r y as
sum ed th at th e y w o u ld b e a cco rd ed th e sam e tre atm e n t as th e J e w s of G erm an y , b u t th e y w e re soon o b lig ed to ab an d on th at hope. L o o tin g b eg a n im m ed iately. G e rm an soldiers and o fficers e n tered th e shops, to o k w h a te v e r th e y w an ted , and w a lk e d out w ith o u t p ayin g. A f t e r th e lo o tin g h ad gon e on fo r tw o d ays, th e G e rm a n com m andant issu ed an o rd er p ro h ib itin g th e soldiers fro m en terin g shops w ith o u t sp ecial p erm ission, an d th e sh o p k ee p ers fro m se llin g to th e soldiers. T h e J e w s w e r e re lie v e d , b u t o n ly fo r th e m om ent. T h e p lu n d erin g contin ued. A t firs t J e w ish hom es w e re sp ared, b u t p re se n tly th e loo tin g w a s e x te n d e d to th em as w e ll, and w e n t on a t a ll h o u rs of th e d a y and night. T h o se w h o v e n tu re d to com plain to th e a u th o ritie s w e re e ith e r tu rn e d a w a y w ith a ru d e an sw er, o r va n ish ed and w e re n e v e r h e a rd of again.
O n O cto b er 4, 1939, th e G estap o d isso lved th e J e w is h C o m m u n ity C o u n cil of W a rsa w and set u p a “ C o u n c il of E ld e rs ” in its place. T h is n e w C o u n c il is com posed of tw e n ty -fo u r m em b ers u n d er th e ch airm an sh ip of M r. T ch a rn ia k o ff, an en gin eer. T h e fu n ctio n of th is n e w C o u n c il is not to a d m in ister J e w ish a ffairs, b u t — as d efin ed in th e le tte rs of ap p oin tm en t to its m em b ers — to c a r r y out th e ord ers of th e G estap o. T h is su p rem e b o d y does
n o t re p re se n t th e o rg a n ized com m u n ity, an d h as no m ean s of p ro v id in g fo r th e com m u n al needs. T h e J e w is h sch ools a re closed. T h e C o u n c il cann ot u n d e rta k e so cia l se rv ic e a ctiv itie s fo r la c k of m eans. In a n y e ven t, it is g iv e n no o p p o rtu n ity to fu n ctio n p ro p e rly . W h e n e v e r it is on th e point of doing som eth in g w o rth w h ile , th e G estap o in terven es. N o sooner w a s th is C o u n c il set u p th an it w a s o rd ered to ta k e a cen su s of th e J e w ish popu lation , a ta s k w h ic h ab so rb ed th e en e rg ie s of a ll its m em bers. A t th e en d of O cto b e r th e cen su s w a s com p lete, and th e C o u n c il w a s m ak in g p lan s fo r u se fu l w o r k w h e n th e N a zi sch em e fo r a G h e tto fo r th e J e w s of W a rsa w w a s th ru s t u pon its atten tio n . W h e n th e G h e tto m atter w a s d isposed of (this w a s on N o v e m b e r 10 ), it w a s su cc e e d e d in tu r n b y th e p rob lem of th e le vie s, th e p ro b lem of th e J e w is h h ospital, and th e p rob lem of th e epidem ics. O th e r J e w is h com m u n ities h ad sim ila r e x p erien ces.
A C o u n c il of E ld e rs w a s also set u p in L o d z. A fe w d ays la te r a ll th e m em b ers b u t one w e re a rre s te d and se n t o ff to no one k n o w s w h e re . O n ly M r. R a m k o v sk y , an e ld e rly m an, w as a llo w e d to rem ain in L o d z, th o u g h e v e n h e d id not g e t o ff w ith o u t a beating. N o w h e m u st c a r r y on a ll th e w o r k of th e C o u n c il sin gle-h an ded.
T h e G erm an s o b v io u sly do n o t in ten d to a llo w th e J e w s to re o rg an ize th e ir life. T h e y a re a im in g u n s w e r v in g ly a t a sin gle g o a l : th e u tte r p h y sic a l and econom ic d estru ctio n of th e Jew s.
A l l th e ir acts a re d esign ed to s ta rv e th e J e w s to death , o r to d e
g ra d e th em into a m ob of h u n ted and torm en ted cre a tu re s th at w ill be g ra te fu l to a n y o n e w h o w ill r e lie v e th em of th e ir m iser
a b le liv es. S u c h h as b ee n th e G e rm a n p o lic y fro m th e outset.
O n e of th e m ost h a ra ssin g fo rm s of econom ic op p ression is th e p ra c tic e of se izin g J e w s in th e stre e ts or th e ir hom es fo r fo rce d lab or. N o rm a l b u sin ess a c tiv ity b ecom es im p ossib le if n e ith er em p lo y ers n o r em p lo y ees can b e ce rtain of re a c h in g th e ir des
tin a tio n w h e n th e y sta rt ou t in th e m orning. E v e n em p lo y ees of th e C o u n c il of E ld e rs h a v e b ee n seized on th e ir w a y to w o rk .
A c u rre n c y re g u la tio n issu ed in L o d z on S e p te m b e r 19 and in W a rsaw on O cto b er 13, 1939, p ro h ib its in d iv id u a l J e w s fro m h a v ing m ore th an 2,000 zlo ty s in th e ir possession a t a n y one tim e.
T h e su rp lu s m u st b e d eposited in a re stric te d b a n k acco u n t ( S p e r r k o n to ). B a n k s m a y not p a y o ut m ore th an 250 zlo ty s a w e e k to th e ir J e w is h depositors. S om e J e w s h it u p on th e d e vice of d epositin g th e ir fu n d s in se v e r a l b a n k s o r openin g se v e ra l a c
cou n ts in one ban k. W h e n th e G erm an s g o t w in d of this, an or
d e r w a s issu ed p ro v id in g th a t each in d iv id u a l’s su rp lu s fu n ds m ust be d eposited in a sin gle acco u n t in one b an k . L a r g e r sum s th an th e w e e k ly allotm en t m a y b e d ra w n fo r b u sin ess purposes, b u t a sp e cial p erm it is re q u ire d fo r each w ith d ra w a l, an d th e p riv ile g e ex ists o n ly on p ap er. E v e n th e w e e k ly ratio n of 250 zlo ty s cann ot b e d ra w n w ith o u t d iffic u lty . W h ile as a r u le th e ban k s a re a llo w ed to p a y o ut th is sum , th e d epositors m u st p re
sent sp ecial p erm its fo r each w ith d ra w a l, and th e c u r re n c y b u re a u is in no h u r r y to issu e su ch perm its. T h e p riv ile g e of retain in g 2,000 zlo ty s in cash is o n ly a sn are, sin ce G e rm an soldiers, officers, and G estap o o fficials se arch J e w ish hom es d a y and n ig h t fo r arm s and fo re ig n c u rre n cy . W h a te v e r cash is fo u n d d u rin g su ch se arch es is co n fiscated a t once. E v e n sum s of 40 zlo ty s h a v e b een p ilfered . I f th e G erm an agen t h ap p en s to b e a “ k in d ly ” in d iv id u al, h e m ay le a v e th e o w n e r a fe w zlo ty s w h ile h e p o ck e ts a con
sid e ra b le sum . W h en h idd en m o n ey is fou nd , th e e n tire sum is co n fiscated an d th e o w n e r arrested .
F u rth e rm o re , th e G erm an s h a v e sto len o r co n fiscated — I do not k n o w w h ic h term ap p lies — a ll th e le a th e r goods and te x tile s.
T h e shops in F ra n zisk a n i S tr e e t (th e cen tre of W a rs a w ’s le ath e r tra d e) w e re p illa ge d co n tin u o u sly fo r s e v e ra l w e e k s. L o rrie s cam e d a y a fte r day, and w e re load ed from m orn in g to night. T h e w o r k of load in g w a s done p e rfo rce b y th e sh o p k ee p ers th em se lv e s and b y lab o rers fu rn ish e d b y th e C o u n c il of E lders. It is estim ated th a t th e goods th u s seized w e re w o rth m illion s of zlotys.
T h e J e w s of L o d z a re p erm itted n e ith e r to b u y nor to se ll te x tile s an d le a th e r goods. A J e w is h co b b le r is u n a b le to m end a p a ir of shoes fo r la c k of leath er. In th e o r y h e h as th e rig h t to
a p p ly to th e h ead of th e p o lice d ep artm en t fo r a p erm it to b u y th e le a th e r h e needs, b u t th is righ t, too, e x ists o n ly on p ap er.
J e w s a re fo rb id d en to se ll or lease th e ir bu sin ess esta b lish m ents w ith o u t sp ecial p erm its fro m th e G e rm an au th o rities. T h e id ea is to p re v e n t th e tra n sfe r of J e w ish firm s to n o n -Jew ish nam es. T h is w a s th e first ap p lication of th e “ A r y a n clause ’ in P olan d . C o n v e rte d J e w s a re not exem p t.
A l l J e w s a re re q u ire d to w e a r a d istin gu ish in g badge. E v e r y J e w ish b u sin ess firm , and e v e r y d o cto r’s an d la w y e r ’s o ffice m ust d isp la y a la r g e S h ie ld of D a v id . C h ristian s w e re th u s to b e dis
co u ra g ed fro m h a v in g a n y d ealin gs w ith J e w s, b u t th e resu lts h a v e not ju s tifie d th e N a zi hopes. S till, th is is one m ore m ethod of g iv in g e ffe ct to th e “ A r y a n cla u se .”
O n D e c e m b e r 18, 1939 an o rd er w a s issu ed re q u irin g th e J ew s to re g is te r a ll th e ir possessions, in clu d in g h ou seh o ld e ffe cts and cloth ing, v a lu e d a t m ore th an 2,000 zlotys.-
T h e ob vio u s p u rp ose of th e G h e tto sch em e is to im p ov erish th e Jew s. T h e G erm an s k n e w v e r y w e ll th a t th e 150,000 or
160,0000 J e w s liv in g o utsid e th e a re a d esig n ate d fo r th e G h etto w o u ld not b e a b le to m o v e th e ir fa m ilie s and b elo n g in g s w ith in th re e d ays. T h e streets w e re still b lo c k e d w ith d eb ris an d b a r
ricad es, so th at v e h ic le s co u ld n o t pass, assum in g a n y h ad b een obtain able. A b o v e all, th e q u a rte r d esign ated fo r th e G h e tto w a s a lre a d y a p p a llin g ly congested. T h e id ea w a s to fo rce th e J e w s to le a v e a ll th e ir possessions b eh in d th em , so th a t th e G erm an s w o u ld b e a b le to ra n sa ck th e ir hom es a t leisu re.
T h e an ti-J ew ish m easu re s in th e econom ic sp h ere in clu d ed dism issal of J e w ish d octors from th e p an els of th e S ic k F u n d s, and fro m m u n icip a l and o th er in stitu tion s. A P o lish la w y e r w as ap p oin ted as a sp ecial com m issar fo r th e co u n cil of W a rs a w la w y e rs. T h is m an w a s a G estap o official. A s soon as h e too k u p h is ap poin tm ent, h e an n ou n ced th a t h e w o u ld com pile a n e w re g is te r of la w y e rs , w h ic h w o u ld b e lim ited to 300 old resid en ts of W a r
sa w and 300 re fu g e e s fro m th e p ro vin ces. T h e nam es of J ew ish la w y e r s w o u ld b e s tr ic tly e x c lu d e d fro m th e n e w registe r.
E con om ic p ressu re is also th e purp ose of th e so-called “ con
trib u tio n s.” In W a rsa w th e fin an cial b u rd e n of th ese le v ie s w as not in tolerable, as 300,000 zlo ty s fo r a J e w ish co m m u n ity of th at size is not e x ce ssiv e . T h e L o d z co m m u n ity also p aid r e la tiv e ly in co n sid erab le sum s. B u t th e le v ie s im posed u pon th e sm aller com m un ities w e re c r u e lly op p ressive. P re te x ts fo r e xtortio n s w e re n e v e r lack in g. In W a rsaw , th e e x c u se w a s th e m u rd e r of a P olish con stab le ; in S ied lce, fu n ds w e re o sten sib ly co llected fo r th e d estitu te re fu g e e s w h o p o u red in to th e tow n. W h en th e G e r m an consul of C r a c o w and h is w o m an s e c re ta ry d isap p eared in th e v ic in ity of O tw o ck and F a le n ica, sm all tow n s n e a r W arsaw , a re w a rd of 2,000 zlo ty s w a s o ffered fo r in form ation of th eir w h ereab o u ts. T h e ir bodies w e re fin a lly fo u n d in a fo rest n ear F a le n ica, and th at w a s deem ed a su fficie n t reason fo r im posing a fin e of 150,000 zlo ty s upon th e tw o tow ns.
T h o u gh no sto ck rem ain s in th e J e w ish shops, th e ir doors m u st be k e p t open. O th e rw ise the id le sh o p k eep ers a re lia b le to ch arges of “ sab otage,” th e p en alties fo r w h ich in clu d e th e d eath
O n t h e e v e o f e x e c u t i o n : Je w s a r r e s t e d w h i l e a t p r a y e r.
sentence. A ll bu sin ess is p a ra lyzed . T h e J e w s h a v e no a lte rn a tiv e b u t to s ta rv e to death.
T h e p h y sic a l d estru ctio n of th e J e w s is p roceed in g sy ste m a tic a lly . J e w s a re b r u ta lly a ssau lte d a t e v e r y turn . M a n y of th e victim s ta k e to th e ir bed s an d n e v e r rise again. T h e G e rm a n s e n te r J e w is h hom es at a ll h o u rs of th e d a y and nigh t, on th e p re t e x t of m ak in g search es, and a ssau lt th e occupants. T h e torm ents a re b eyo n d h u m an en du ran ce. S u icid e s d u rin g su ch visitatio n s a re n ot in freq u en t. W h e n th e G estap o sent fo r a ce rtain J e w ish m erch an t of W a rsa w w h o liv e d in O gro d o w a S tre e t, h e ju m p ed ou t of th e w in d o w of h is hom e and w a s k illed . H e k n e w th at he w a s to b e q u estio n ed ab o u t h is business, and p re fe rre d se lf-in flic te d d eath to su ch qu estion ing. A J e w ish la d y nam ed M m e.
S u ssm an also ju m p ed ou t of a w in d o w in o rd er to fr e e h e rse lf fro m th e ex to rtio n s of th e G estapo.
T h e J e w s of W a rsa w n e v e r h a v e m ore th an tw o or th ree h o u rs of u n e a s y sleep d u rin g th e nigh t. T h e ir n e rv e s h a v e been strain ed to su ch an e x te n t th at th e y a re a ll b u t out of th e ir m inds.
M u rd e rs of J e w s a re of d a ily o ccu rren ce. O fte n th e y a re m as
sa cred b y scores or h u n d r e d s . . . T h e re w a s th e case of S tep h a n L u x e m b o u rg , a J e w ish goldsm ith of W a rsaw . W h e n G e rm an soldiers attem p ted to loot his p lac e of busin ess, h e shouted fo r help . T h e soldiers le ft, b u t o th ers soon cam e w h o se arch ed th e p rem ises and “ fo u n d ” G e rm an r ifle b u lle ts w h ich , of cou rse, th e y h ad b ro u g h t th em selves. L u x e m b o u rg w a s th e n ta k e n out and shot. M r. H ochm an, th e p ro p rie to r of th e C a fe E sp lanad e an d a w e ll-k n o w n citizen of W a rsaw , w a s e x e c u te d on a ch a rg e of “ sa b o tag e ,” w h ich consisted in le a v in g h is jo b w h e n set at forced labor.
W h en th e G e rm a n troops q u a rte re d a t L a s k a re w , a sm all to w n n e a r W a rsaw , w e r e w ith d ra w n , th e p o p u latio n rejo iced . B u t n o t fo r long. S e v e r a l d ay s late r, a sq u a d of fo u rte e n or fifte e n G e rm a n so ld iers cam e to th e tow n and seized 37 J ew s, a ll of w hom w e r e le d out of th e to w n and shot. A l l th e J e w ish m en w e re d e
p o rted fro m O stro w M a zo w ie ck i or W y s o k i M az o w ie ck i. A fte r th at, w h e n a fir e b ro k e out in th e tow n , the. J e w s w e re blam ed,
an d a ll w h o rem ain ed — 530 w o m en and ch ild ren — w e re ta k e n to th e ou tsk irts and m u rd ered . S u c h m ass-b u tch eries h a v e b een ca rrie d out tim e and again. E ig h t h u n d re d J e w s of P rz e m y ś l a re sa id to h a v e b een le d across th e b rid g e to th e R u ssian -o ccu p ied p a rt of th e tow n, w h e re m ost of th em w e r e p u t to death.
T o rtu re and a b u se of J e w s go on co n tin u ally. In L o d z J e w ish w om en w e re o rd ered to sc ru b floors. T h e w o r k in its e lf w a s not u n d u ly h ard, b u t th e y w e re g iv e n no cloths, an d h ad to ta k e off th e ir u n d e rw e a r — u n d er ord ers — and u se it fo r w ip in g the floors. A sto ry is c u rre n t (w h ich can n ot be v e rifie d ) th a t one d a y fift y J e w ish g irls w e re se ized in W a rsaw , ta k e n to a n ap art
m en t fo rm e rly occu p ied b y a w e a lth y J e w is h fa m ily and n o w ta k e n o ve r b y G e rm an officers, and th e re raped. O n e n ig h t a p a rty of G erm an s en tered a J e w ish hom e in W a rsaw , lo ck e d th e hu sb an d and w ife in th e bathroom , an d co m p elled th e ir y o u n g d a u g h te r to disrobe. T h e n sh e w a s o rd ered to sit dow n. T h e g irl seated h e rse lf on a ch air. N o, sh e m u st sit on th e flo o r ! S h e sat d ow n on a ru g. N o, on th e b a re flo o r ! T h e h om e of a J e w ish w om an la w y e r w a s en tered one ev en in g w h ile she w a s e n tertain ing som e w o m en frien d s and a y o u n g cou ple. A ll th e w o m en w e re fo rc e d to strip and d an ce on th e tab le, an d th e y o u n g co u p le to co h ab it in th e p resen ce of a ll th e others. E v e r y ap artm en t in W a r
sa w is n o w occu p ied b y s e v e ra l fa m ilies of re la tiv e s or friend s.
W h en houses a re search ed , a ll th e inm ates a re assem bled and com p elled to u n d ress co m p le tely, so as to m ak e ce rtain th e y a re not co n cealin g an yth in g.
T o sum up, th e J e w s a re not g iv e n a m om en t’s resp ite b y d a y or b y night. E v e r y J e w is lia b le to lose his life o r h is p ro p e rty at a n y m om ent. In W a rs a w m ost of th e victim s a re Jew s, b u t in th e a re a s an n ex ed to th e R e ich (ex te n d in g to K u tn o and N o w y - D w o r ) , the P o le s fa re no b e tte r th an th e Jew s.
A ll J e w s m ust w e a r th e badge. In th is w a y th e y can b e im m e d ia te ly id e n tified w h e n w a n te d fo r fo rce d lab or. B esid es, the sigh t of the bad ge aro u ses th e passion s of th e P o lish m ob. W e a r
ers of th e J e w ish bad ge h a v e no rig h ts w h a tso e v e r, and m ay be assau lte d w ith o u t a n y fe a r of punishm en t. F o r exam p le, w h en
se v e ra l J e w is h y o u th s seized a J e w -b a itin g y o u n g P o le an d tu rn ed him o ve r to a P o lish policem an, th e y w e re s e v e r e ly beaten b y G erm an s fo r th e ir “ p resu m p tion .”
T h e G erm an s a re d eterm in ed to d estro y th e J e w ish in te llig e n t
sia an d to w ip e ou t a ll tra ce of c u ltu re am ong th e Jew s. T h e sam e p o lic y is d ire cte d again st th e P oles. P o lish as w e ll as J e w ish in te lle c tu a ls h a v e b een arrested . In th e W a rsaw d istrict m ost of th e a rrests w e re m ad e am ong th e Jew s. T h e d a y a fte r th e G e r m ans en tered W a rsaw , th e y arre ste d D r. Z am enh off, a n e p h ew of th e in v e n to r of E sp eran to, and h is fa m ily . D r. Z am en h o ff is said to h a v e fro ze n to d eath in prison. O n D e cem b er 10, 1939 m ass a rrests of J e w is h in tellig en tsia w e re m ade. A lm o st a ll h a v e sin ce b een rele ased e x c e p t th e p h ysicia n s and th e la w y e rs, w h om th e G erm an s re ga rd as p a rtic u la r ly in flu en tia l. A la w y e r nam ed G e rm a n ik o ff d ied in prison. D u rin g th e la tte r p a rt of D e c e m b e r o v e r 150 J e w is h in te lle ctu a ls w e re arre ste d in W arsaw . T h e p re
t e x t w a s an attem p ted a ssau lt upon a P o lish constable w h o d is
c o ve re d a se cre t P o lish b road castin g station. T h e w o u ld -b e as
sa ilan t w a s a co n v erted J e w b y th e nam e of K u t, w h o is a m em b e r of th e P o lish S o cia list P a rty . T h e C o u n c il of E ld e rs w as o r
d ere d to d e liv e r th is m an u p to th e a u th o rities ; o th erw ise 500 o f th e J e w ish in tellig en tsia w o u ld be arrested .
T h e J e w ish schools rem ain closed. T h e P o lish schools w e re a llo w ed to re-open, and th en o rd ered to close again. A fe w d ays a fte r th e occupation , a n u m b e r of p riv a te J e w ish schools (not in clu d e d in th e com m u n al system ) w e re g iv e n p erm ission to open, b u t th e p erm ission w a s q u ic k ly w ith d ra w n . N o w th e Jew ish ch ild ren h a v e no sch oolin g fa c ilitie s w h a te v e r. T h e U n iv e rs ity o f W a rsa w is still closed, b y th e w a y . R e a s o n : T h e re a re no te x t
book s fit fo r u se u n d er a N a zi regim e.
A ll th e J e w s h a v e b een e x p e lle d fro m P o m era n ia and G d yn ia.
T h e P o le s too h a v e been e x p e lle d fro m th ose localities and v a rio u s others. In W a rta g a an d th e n e w E ast P ru ssia (w h ich in clu d e s th e w e ste rn and n o rth w e ste rn p ro v in ces of P olan d ) the J e w s a re b ein g fo rced out of th e cities. M ost of th e J e w s of S ie rp c w e re d ep o rted in a sin gle d ay. T h e r e w e re sim ila r
deportations from S ie ra d z and fro m Z d u n ska-W ola. T h e e x ile s w e re fo rce d to co ve r g re a t d istan ces on foot. E v e n at that, h o w e v e r, th e y w e re b e tte r o ff th an th ose tran sp o rted b y train. F o r exam p le, 4,000 J e w s fro m th e K a lis h d istrict w e re sent in sealed r a ilw a y ca rria ge s to L u k o v , a sm all to w n w h ic h had been p ra c tic a lly w ip e d out d u rin g th e bom bardm ents. W h en th e ca rria ge s w e re opened in th e p rese n ce of re p re se n ta tive s of th e A m e ric a n Jo in t D istrib u tio n C om m ittee, scores of dead, w ou nd ed , and sick w e re ta k e n out. T h e congestion in th e tra in w as fr ig h t
fu l, and th e p eop le had b een k e p t w ith o u t food or d rin k fo r s e v e r a l d ays. P erm ission to p ro v id e th em w ith food a t stations en ro u te w a s u n ob tain ab le. S e v e n th ou san d J e w s from S ie ra d z a rriv e d in W a rsaw in one day.
So fa r the p lan of so lvin g th e J e w is h p rob lem b y settin g up a P a le of S e ttlem e n t at L u b lin is little m ore th an talk . N o th in g has b een done b eyo n d b u ild in g som e huts. T h e J e w ish C o m m u n ity C o u n c il of L u b lin w a s o rd ered to b u ild th ese h u ts at its ow n e x pense. W h ere it w o u ld g et th e fu n ds th e G erm an a u th o rities did not care. T h o u gh ab o u t 7,000 J e w s w e re a c tu a lly sent from C z e ch o slo v a k ia and A u s tr ia to L u b lin , it is said th at 6,000 escaped to R ussia.
B o th J ew ish and P o lish in te lle ctu a ls w e re d ep o rted from L od z. T h e y w e re h u stled into r a ilw a y carriages, an d lo ck ed in w ith o u t e v e n bein g told th eir destination. S o m e of th e c a rria g e s w e re ro u ted to C ra c o w and others to K ie lsc e , w h e re th e e x ile s w e re rele ased and told th e y w e re fr e e to go a n y w h e re th e y pleased, b u t m u st on no acco u n t re tu rn to L od z. T h e n th e J e w ish C o m m u n ity C o u n c il of L o d z w a s g iv e n ord ers to send no less than 1,500 J e w s out of the c ity e v e r y d ay. T h is w e n t on u n til D e ce m b e r 10, w h e n th e o rd er w a s su sp end ed — fo r h o w lon g no one kn ow s. Som e p eop le a re u n d er th e im p ression th at it w ill b e r e n e w e d in M arch 1940. (T h e fa c t th a t th e o rd e r w a s su sp en d ed on D e ce m b e r 10 did not p re v e n t th e ex p u lsio n of J e w s fro m L o d z b e tw e e n D e ce m b e r 16 an d 20).
E pid em ics a re an in e v ita b le concom itant of su ch conditions.
T h e first d isease to sp read w a s typ h oid. It w a s fo llo w e d b y an
ep id em ic of typ h u s. N o sa n ita ry m easu re s can a v a il w h ile p eople a re fo rc e d to liv e in a p p a llin g ly con gested q u a rters, w ith o u t fa c il
itie s fo r bathin g, w ith o u t p ro p er nou rish m ent, an d w ith o u t fun ds.
T h e refu ge es, w h o w a n d e r fro m c ity to c ity and sleep in th e sy n a gogu es, also sp read d isease. A ll this is o n ly one m ore m eans of d e stro y in g th e P o lish Jew s.
S e v e r a l w e e k s ago an o rd e r w as issu ed th at a ll J e w s b etw e en th e ages of 14 and 60, b o th m en an d w om en, m u st re g is te r fo r fo rce d lab or. T h e o rd er w a s fo llo w e d b y an ann ou ncem en t th at fo r th e tim e b ein g th e w o m en w e re ex em p t, an d b y a n o th e r th at th e d ate of re g istra tio n w a s postponed to M a rch 2, 1940. T h e n — so th e J e w s w e re in form ed — a ll th e m en w o u ld b e set at fo rced lab o r (w h ich is e q u iv a le n t to send ing th em to a con cen tration ca m p ). A s fo r th e P oles, o n ly th e u n em p lo yed w e re re q u ire d to registe r, and th e se w e re told th at w h ile th e y w o u ld not be p aid at first, th e y w o u ld re c e iv e w a g es la te r on. T h e J e w s a re allo w ed no su ch concessions. A ll of th em — and not o n ly th e u n em p loy-
Je w s s e i z e d b y t h e Na z i s f o r f o r c e d l a b o r.
ed — a re su b je ct to fo rce d lab o r w ith o u t com pensation. T h is is one m ore m eth od of e x te rm in a tin g th e J ew s.
T h e G h e tto p lan h as n o t b een abandoned, b u t o n ly postpone^ . T h e G erm an s sa y th a t it w ill c e r ta in ly be p u t in to effect. T h e latest w o rd is th at a ll th e J e w s of W a rs a w w ill b e com p elled to m ove into th e P ra g a q u a rte r of th a t c ity in M a rc h 1940. P r a g a w as o rig in a lly o utsid e th e confin es of th e prop osed G h etto , b u t n o w it seem s th at a ll th e J e w s w ill b e h erd e d in to th a t q u a rte r, w h ic h w a s alm ost co m p le te ly d estro y ed d u rin g th e siege.
G re a t n u m b ers of J e w s fle d to th e a re a o ccu p ied b y th e R u s
sians. T h is w a s n o t a v e r y d iffic u lt m atter d u rin g th e e a rly w e e k s of th e occupation. T h e G erm an s strip p ed th e re fu g e e s of a ll th e ir belongin gs, b u t le t th em proceed , and th e B o ls h e v ik i did n ot stop th em from en terin g th e te r rito r y u n d er th e ir control. S in c e th e la t
te r p a rt of N o ve m b er, h o w e v e r, J e w s h a v e b ee n d en ied adm is
sion to th e R u ssian -o ccu p ied te rrito ry , th o u g h P o le s a re a llo w e d to e n te r fre e ly . T h e J e w s h a v e often b een told b y R e d so ld iers :
“ W e do not n eed a n y m ore J e w s !” T h e gu a rd s a re m ore len ien t w ith th e w om en, b u t m ost of th e m en a re tu rn e d b ack. N o w it is rep o rted th at conditions a re so try in g in th e R u ssian -o ccu p ied te r r ito ry th at m an y re fu g e e s a re leavin g . A l l th e b a n k s an d fa c to ries w e re nation alized b y th e R u ssian s w ith in a w e e k a fte r th e occupation. T h e sh o p k eep ers w e re not m olested at first, b u t w h e n th e ir sto ck s w e re sold out th e y w e re n ot p e rm itte d to r e p len ish them . A ll p riv a te tra d in g is said to b e p ro h ib ited sin ce J a n u a ry 1, 1940. N o w no a lte rn a tiv e rem ain s b u t ille g a l trad in g, w h ich is v e r y s e v e r e ly p unish ed. 0jbl. Jag
It is rep o rted th at h ouses a re se arch ed in th e R u ssian -o ccu p ied te r rito r y as w e ll. S in ce life is so h a rd th ere, m an y re fu g e e s w is h to re tu rn to th e ir hom es, b u t th e G erm an s re fu se th em re-e n try . T h e G e rm an fro n tie r g u a rd s h a v e w e ll-tra in e d dogs, an d th e y shoot at all w h o a re d etected w h e n try in g to slip across th e b or
der. H u n d red s of p eop le a re said to h a v e b een shot or to h a v e fro ze n to d eath in th e attem pt.
N u m ero u s syn ag o g u es h a v e b e e n b u rn e d to th e ground.
M a n y rab b is, in clu d in g R a b b i K a h a n a of W a rsaw , had th e ir
b eard s p lu c k e d out w h e n G erm an s se arch ed th e ir hom es. J e w s a re often a ssau lte d on th e ir w a y to houses of w orsh ip . O n se v e ra l occasions G erm an s en tered syn ag o g u es d u rin g se rv ice s and b ea t th e congregation.
C o n ce rn in g th e p resen t a ttitu d e of th e P o le s to w a rd th e J ew s, I w o u ld s a y th e fo llo w in g : T h e relation s a re good in th e a rea s an n e x e d to th e R eich . T h e sam e k in d of tre atm en t is m eted o ut to both peoples. In P o se n th e P o le s h a v e at tim es e v e n b e tra y e d a ce rtain je a lo u sy of th e J ew s b ecau se th e y th em selves fa re w o rse at th e hands of th e G erm an s. In th e W a rsa w d istrict th e relation s h a v e im proved. W ith fe w excep tion s, th e P o lish in te lle ctu a ls a re fr ie n d ly to w a rd th e J e w s and h elp th em w h en th e y can. T h e sam e is tru e of th e organ ized w o rk in g m e n and o th er th in k in g people. B u t th e a ttitu d e of th e P o lish m asses rem ains u nchanged.
It is su ch p eop le w h o p oint out J e w ish h ouses to th e G erm an s and h elp th em p lu n d e r th e Jew s. O cca sio n a lly th e y a tta c k J ew ish p assersb y, b u t su ch a tta ck s a re not com m on. T h e re is also an^
o th er sid e to th e p ictu re. P o le s often rise and o ffe r th e ir seats w h e n w o m en w e a rin g th e J e w ish b a d g e en ter tram s. O n ce a G e rm an so ld ier cam e into a tram sh ou tin g “ J u d e n ‘rau s !” T h e r e u p on a d ign ifie d e ld e rly P o le rose and said, “ If the J e w s go, w e go too !” H e le ft th e tra m and w a s fo llo w e d b y a ll th e o th er P o le s present. It is tru e , h o w e v e r, th a t th e re h a v e b ee n instances of e ld e rly J e w s b ein g fo rce d o ff tram s b y P o lish you th s. B u t a ll in all, th e P o lish a ttitu d e to w a rd th e J e w s is fa r m ore fa v o ra b le than p re v io u sly . T h e P o lish an ti-S em ites h a v e not jo in ed forces w ith th e G erm an s. M a n y of th e an ti-S em itic lead ers sum up th eir a t
titu d e in som e su ch w a y as th is : “ W e sh all se ttle o u r accoun t w ith th e J e w s som e day, b u t not at th e b eh est of th e G erm an s. If th e G erm an s insist, w e sh a ll h a v e no a lte rn a tiv e b u t to o b ey ; b u t w e sh all not act v o lu n ta r ily a t th is tim e.” O n ly one of th e anti- S e m itic grou p s, th e “ P h a la n g a ,” m ad e o v e rtu re s to th e G erm an s, su gge stin g th at it be co-opted in g o v ern in g th e Jew s, sin ce its program m e w as a k in to th a t of th e N azis. T h e G erm an s bru sh ed this prop osal aside. T w o N a zi d ailies a re p u b lish ed in W arsaw , th e P o lish “ N o v y K u r ie r W a rs h a v s k y ,” and th e G erm an “ W ar-
sc h au e r Z e itu n g .” T h e G erm an p ap er aim s its sh afts not at th e Jew s, b u t at th e P oles. T h e P o lish p ap er is con cern ed m ain ly w ith th e Jew s. T h e P oles a re in cited again st th e J ew s, th e G e r m ans against th e P oles.
M a n y fo rm e rly p a trio tic P oles h a v e su d d e n ly p roclaim ed th em selves as “ V o lk sd e u ts ch e .” A m o n g th ese is th e b ro th er of a P o lish e x -C a b in e t M in ister nam ed U lrich , w h o liv e s in K a lis h . T h e re a re tw o catego ries of “ V o lk sd e u tsc h e .” O ne in clu d es th e G erm an resid en ts of L od z, w h o a re o rgan ized in a c iv ic gu ard . M ost of th e assailan ts of J e w s belon g to this group. A G erm an m ilitia is also b ein g o rgan ized in W arsaw . T h e second gro u p of “ V o lk sd e u ts c h e ” a re p eople w h o d eclared th em selves su ch in ord er to p la y safe. T h ese p seudo-“ V o lk sd e u ts c h e ” oc
ca sio n a lly h old out a h elp in g h and to th e Jew s. S om e of th e fo r m er G erm an resid en ts of P o la n d fle d a fte r th e o ccu p ation to th e R u ssian -o ccu p ied te rrito ry , b e lie v in g th at w h e n th e G erm an troops le a v e P o la n d th e re w ill b e a w h o lesa le m assacre of G e r m ans.
W e h a v e o u r S c h u tzju d e n , — agen ts of th e G estapo. W h en a J e w ish p a sserb y sees G erm an p olice or soldiers, w h o a re lik e ly to seize him fo r fo rced lab or, he g iv e s th em th e slip b y tu rn in g d ow n an o th er street. B u t w h e n he sees a J e w standing at the lo w e r end of th e street he fe e ls safe — and w a lk s into th e trap.
If th e w a r lasts m u ch lon ger, th e J ew ish co m m u n ity of P o lan d w ill be u tte r ly d estroyed . So w ill the en tire P o lish in tel
ligen tsia. T h e Jo in t D istrib u tio n C o m m ittee is active, b u t ill-su p p lied w ith funds. T o send m on ey to W a rsa w is im p ra ctica b le b e
cau se th e o fficia l ex ch a n g e ra te fo r th e d ollar is o n ly 3-5 zlotys, th ou gh th e re a l v a lu e of th e d ollar is from 60 to 100 zlo ty s and e v e n m ore. T h e n again, an yon e w h o re c e iv e s m on ey fro m abroad is com p elled to tu rn it o v e r to th e G erm an s th e v e r y sam e day.
F u n d s sent to th e Jo in t D istrib u tio n C o m m ittee w o u ld sh are th e sam e fate. It is th e re fo re b e tte r to send fo o d stu ffs and clothing, th ou gh th e re can b e no c e rta in ty th a t e v e n th ese w o u ld re a c h th e Jew s. M ed ica l su p p lies sent to th e J e w ish C o m m u n ity C o u n
c il of W a rs a w a fte r a re p re se n ta tiv e of th e In te rn ation al R e d C ro ss a t G e n e v a h ad co n ferred w ith th e C o u n cil, w e re ap p ro p riat
ed b y th e G erm an s. S till, it seem s lik e ly th at shipm en ts of food
•and cloth in g w o u ld not b e confiscated.
B . T H E S I T U A T I O N IN W A R S A W R ep o rt of M . Kern er,
M em ber of the Municipal Council of Warsaw and former member of the Polish Senate.
Im m ed ia tely upon th e o u tb rea k of w ar, a J e w ish com m ittee w a s form ed to aid in th e d efen se of th e S ta te . T h is com m ittee w a s e lected b y re p re se n tative s of fo rty -e ig h t J e w is h in stitu tio n s w h o w e re co n ven ed b y th e J e w ish C o m m u n ity C o u n cil of W a r
saw . B y S e p te m b e r 4, 1939, th e com m ittee h ad a lre a d y d isinte
gra ted b ecau se m an y of its m em b ers h ad fle d fro m th e city. T h e J e w ish com m u n ity of W a rsa w w a s th u s le ft w ith o u t a n y o fficia l b o d y a u th o rized to sp eak in its b eh alf. A fe w d ay s la te r a J e w ish com m ittee fo r civ ilia n a ffa irs w a s form ed, w ith m y s e lf as ch a ir
m an. T h e fu n ctio n s of this com m ittee w e re to re lie v e distress, p ro v id e le g a l aid, and rep resen t th e J e w ish p o p u latio n of W a rsa w vis-a -vis th e P o lish au th o rities. A co-ordin ating com m ittee of re p resen tatives of th e J e w ish so cial and p h ilan th ro p ic in stitu tion s of W a rs a w w a s o rganized a t th e sam e tim e, w h ic h d istrib u ted food and cloth in g and p ro v id ed m ed ical treatm en t fo r th e w ounded.
T h e J e w is h civ ilia n com m ittee b ecam e th e su p rem e re p re se n tativ e b o d y of th e J e w s of W a rsaw , an d w a s reco gn ized as su ch e v e n b y th e m em bers of th e J e w ish C o m m u n ity C o u n c il w h o still rem ain ed in th e city.
A P o lish c ivilia n com m ittee had b ee n fo rm ed on w h ic h th e J e w s w e re n ot rep resen ted. T h e J e w is h civ ilia n com m ittee r e q u ested th e a u th o rities to a rra n g e fo r its rep resen tation on th e P o lish civ ilia n com m ittee, b u t th is w a s refu se d . W h e n a citizen s’
m ilitia w a s organized, m an y J e w s en listed. T h e J e w ish civilian com m ittee th en a sk ed th e m ilita ry g o v e rn o r of W a rs a w to in clu d e J e w s in th e com m and of th e citizen s’ m ilitia. T h e r e p ly w a s fa vo rab le, b u t noth ing w a s done.
O w in g to th e continuous a ir raid s o v e r W a rsaw , it w a s alm ost im p ossible to hold m eetings of th e com m ittee. O fte n th e b u ild in g in w h ich it m et on one d a y w a s d estroyed b y th e n e xt. T h e com m ittee n a tu ra lly had v e r y g re a t d iffic u lty in fu n ctio n in g u n d er th e circu m stan ces. Its le g a l aid departm ent, w h ic h w a s h ead e d b y
M r. H artglas, had a lre a d y b e g u n its w o r k w h e n it w a s fo rce d to stop b y th e d estru ctio n of its offices.
S u c h w as th e situ atio n in W a rsa w d u rin g th e siege. A fte r th e G erm an s e n tered th e city, e v e ry th in g stopped. A ll p u b lic ac
tivities, w h e th e r J e w ish or P olish , w e re p a ra lyzed .
O n O cto b er 4, w h ile th e J e w ish civ ilia n com m ittee w a s in session in th e C o m m u n ity B u ild in g , G estap o agen ts fo rced th e lo ck e d door of th e m eeting-room . B ran d ish in g th e ir w h ip s, th e y o rd ered th e m em b ers ou t of th e bu ild in g, and p roceed ed to m ak e a th oro u gh se arch of e v e r y room . T h e sum of 97,000 zlo ty s w as a b stracted fro m th e C o m m u n ity ’s safe b y G estap o officers. M r.
T ch a rn ia k o ff, th e C h a irm a n of th e C o m m u n ity C o u n cil, w a s sum m oned to th e G estap o h e a d q u a rters and in stru cted to appoint a co u n cil of tw e n ty -fo u r m em b ers to adm in ister th e J e w ish com m u n al a ffairs. A m o n g those appoin ted w e re rep resen tatives of th e J e w is h p a rties and institutions.
T h e first ta s k im posed u p on th e n e w ly constitu ted C o u n cil w a s to ta k e a cen su s of th e J e w ish p op u lation of W arsaw . T h e o rd e r w a s accom p an ied b y a th re a t th at th e liv e s of a ll th e m em b ers of th e C o u n c il w o u ld b e fo rfe it in th e ev en t of non-com pli
an ce. A tim e-lim it of ten d ay s w a s fix e d . T h e w o rk w a s planned and c a rrie d ou t v e r y efficie n tly , as e v e n th e N a zi a u th o rities ad m itted. H u n d red s of y o u n g p eo p le a cted as en um erators. T h e census sh o w e d th at th e J e w ish co m m u n ity of W a rs a w at th at tim e co u n ted 364,000 souls.
N e x t th e C o u n cil w a s re q u ire d to ta k e a sp ecial census of J e w s in th e professions, — la w y e rs, en gineers, ph ysician s, jo u rn a l
ists, etc. A p a rt fro m th ese censuses, th e C o u n cil w a s forbidd en to en gage in a n y a c tiv ity w h a te v e r. Im m ed ia tely a fte r the occu
pation, a ll th e d ep artm en ts of th e J e w is h C o m m u n ity O rgan iza
tion, w ith th e ex ce p tio n of th a t in ch a rg e of b u ria ls, w e re closed b y o rd er of th e G e rm an a u th o rities. A f t e r m u ch petitioning, the se cre ta ria t w a s a llo w ed to re su m e its w o rk . S till m ore petition in g w a s re q u ire d b efo re th e so cia l s e rv ic e d ep artm en t w as given p erm ission to fu n ction. W h e n C o m m u n ity rep resen tatives asked th e a u th o rities h o w th e so cia l se rv ic e s co u ld b e finan ced, seeing
