|
July
20, 1942
At
the Gestapo at 7:30 in the morning. I asked Mende how much
truth there was in the rumors. He answered that he had heard
nothing about it. After this I asked Brandt; he answered that
he knew nothing of the kind. To the question whether a thing
like that could nevertheless happen, he answered that he knew
nothing. I came away unsure. I went to his superior officer,
Commissar Boehm. He said that it was not his department, that
perhaps Hoheman* might be able to make some statement in
connection with the rumors. I observed that according to the
rumors the deportation was due to start at 19:30 today. He
answered that he would certainly know something if it were so.
For
lack of any other choice I went to Scherer, the Deputy
Director of Section 3. He said he was amazed at the rumor and
claimed that he too knew nothing about it.
Finally
I asked whether I could inform the population that there was
no reason for fear. He said I could, that all the reports were
nonsense and rubbish (Unsinn und Quatsch).
I
gave orders to Lejkin that he should make this known through
the area station....
July
22, 1940 [1942]
At
the Community at 7:30 in the morning. The borders of the small
ghetto are guarded by a special unit in addition to the usual
one....
At
10 o'clock Sturmbannfuehrer Hoefle appeared with his
people. We disconnected the telephone lines. The children were
moved out of the little garden opposite.
It
was announced to us that the Jews, without regard to sex or
age, apart from certain exceptions, would be deported to the
East. Six thousand souls had to be supplied by 4 o'clock
today. And this (at least) is how it will be every day....
Sturmbannfuehrer
Hoefle (Beauftragter [person in charge] of the
deportation) called me into the office and informed me that my
wife was free at the moment, but if the deportation failed she
would be the first to be shot as a hostage.**
A.
Czerniakow, Yoman Getto Varsha ("Warsaw Ghetto
Diary") September 6, 1939-July 23, 1942, edited by
N. Blumental, A. Tartakower, N. Eck, J. Kermish, Jerusalem
19592, pp. 325-327.
*
The reference is apparently to Hoemann, an SS officer in
Warsaw.
**
The next day Czerniakow committed suicide. |
