|
...In
the military field the demands of the Jews were directed
towards obtaining arms and technical instruction for the
preparation of the last, final battle for the Warsaw ghetto.
The Jewish Fighting Organization took a decisive stand, saying
that the fate of the Warsaw ghetto, like the fate of all the
other concentrations of Jews, had been decided, and that total
annihilation awaited it sooner or later. In view of this they
asked to die with honor that is, with arms in their hands. In
December (1942), after insistent requests, the Jewish Fighting
Organization received 10 revolvers and a limited amount of
ammunition, by order of the Central Command. These weapons
were in very poor condition and only a part were fit for use.
The Jewish Fighting Organization considered this gift as
covering only a very small part of their requirements. It
therefore demanded incomparably more efficacious help, and
said it was willing to budget a large part of the funds2*
which it had at its disposal at its central offices for the
purchase of arms. This request could be satisfied only in very
small part. Prior to January 17,3* 1943 (the date
of the liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto, which then numbered
50,000 souls), the Jewish Fighting Organization received
another 10 revolvers,4* instructions for sabotage
action, a formula for the production of bottle fire-bombs and
instruction in military operations. The period up to January
17, 1943, was marked by feverish preparations by the Jewish
Fighting Organization for the coming struggle, persistent,
continuous calls for help to the army, which reacted to these
appeals with lack of confidence and much reserve. The
liquidation of the ghetto, which began on January 17, 1943,
met with stubborn armed resistance that undoubtedly caused
consternation among the German troops and caused the Aktion
to be stopped after four days. The Jewish Fighting
Organization judged its success to mean the postponement for a
time of the final liquidation, and with unshaken vigor
continued preparations for a second struggle, all the while
with growing persistence demanding help from the army. by
order of the Chief Commander I held three consultations with
the Commander of "Drapacz,"5* Mr. Konar.6*
Konar agreed to aid the Warsaw ghetto with materials and
instructions and spoke of the possibility of our units helping
from outside the ghetto. Work was begun immediately under the
direction of Chirurg.7* Contact was established
between Jurek8* of the Jewish Fighting Organization
and our officers. The Jewish Fighting Organization received 50
revolvers, a larger quantity of bullets, about 80 kgs. [170
lbs.] of material for the preparation of "bottles"
and a certain number of defensive grenades. A workshop was put
into operation in the ghetto for the manufacture of bottles.
In addition, it was made easier to obtain the arms which the
Jewish Fighting Organization was providing for itself. The
plan for the struggle in the ghetto was worked out jointly,
and took into account help to be given by our unit. On March
6, 1943, Jurek was arrested (in the apartment in Wspolnej
Street). This fact stopped the work process which had been
carried out jointly by the Jewish Fighting Organization and
"Drapacz." More than ten days after the arrest, I
had a conversation with Konar. The subject of the conversation
was defining the aims of the cooperation between our units and
the ghetto fighters. The aim had been supposed to be to get as
many Jews as possible away from Warsaw and give them shelter,
something that I could do at any time. This plan was not
carried out. No units moved out into the designated area. The
Jewish Fighting Organization decided that it was to be avoided
that their people should have to force their way through a
distance of hundreds of kilometers, and the base for materials
and shelter established by the order of Edward of
"Len"9* for "Hreczka"10*
proved to be insufficient help. It proved to be impossible to
take Jews into our military units in the areas of
"Drapacz" and "Cegielnia."11*
Instead, Konar agreed to organize the Jews into units for
passive resistance. One such unit was set up in Warsaw. One of
the officers was appointed to train this unit. He came to the
place where the training was to be carried out, and arranged a
meeting, but failed to come to the meeting. As a result of
many interventions the above officer did come once more to the
training area, but he arrived drunk. Further requests failed
to produce results. The Jewish rebel unit received no military
training and ceased to exist....
B.
Mark, Powstanie w getcie warszawskim ("The Warsaw
Ghetto Revolt"), Warsaw, 1963, pp. 345-347.
1*
The man in charge of Jewish affairs in the AK was Henryk
Wolinski, whose name in the Underground was
"Waclaw."
2*
The reference is to funds obtained by the Jewish Fighting
Organization in the ghetto for the purchase of arms.
3*
The date is incorrect; it should read January 18. January 18
also was not the date of the final liquidation of the ghetto,
which began only on April 19, 1943.
4*
Receipt of this consignment is not confirmed by Jewish
sources.
5*
The secret name of the AK in the Warsaw District.
6*
The Underground name of General Antoni Chrusciel, Commander of
the AK forces in the Warsaw District.
7*
The AK Chief of Staff in the Warsaw District, Stanislaw Weber.
8*
Arie Wilner, representative of the Jewish Fighting
Organization on the Aryan side of Warsaw.
9*
AK Lublin District.
10*
AK Volhynia District.
11*
A district in the neighborhood of Warsaw. |
