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Announcement
by
Order of the Gebietskommissar of Vilna of July 12,
1942, I have assumed full responsibility for the ghetto as
Representative of the Ghetto and Chief of Police.
The
basis of existence in the ghetto is work, discipline and
order. Every resident of the ghetto who is capable of work
is a pillar on which our existence rests.
There
is no room among us for those who hate work and in devious
ways engage in crime. In the belief that all the inmates of
the ghetto will understand me, I have given orders to free all
persons now under arrest in the ghetto. I hereby proclaim a
general amnesty, in this way permitting the criminals of
yesterday to return to better ways, in the understanding that
this is in their own interest. But let no one doubt that in
time of need I will not hesitate to use stringent methods in
the struggle against criminal elements wherever they may
appear.
I
believe that all inmates of the ghetto without exception will
support this declaration and have given the following orders:
1.
All charges of administrative character will be cancelled and
crimes committed within the ghetto by occupants of the ghetto
up to 7 p.m. on July 13, 1942, will be pardoned.
2.
All investigations and court procedures will be closed with
regard to offenses referred to under Para. 1, regardless of
the stage reached in the investigation.
3.
Persons serving prison sentences with respect to offenses
under Para. 1 will be released on the basis of my decision.
4.
Fines imposed, but not yet collected, with respect to offenses
under Para. 1, are herewith cancelled.
5.
The orders set out under Paras. 1-4 do not apply to persons
who committed the following offenses:
a)
Murder;
b)
Grievous or serious personal injury;
c)
Insulting or physically attacking a policeman carrying out
his official duties, or in connection with these duties;
d)
Offenses against the authorities;
e)
Disciplinary offenses (on the part of officials of the
ghetto management or ghetto police).
6.
Persons in illegal possession of permits or Bread Cards will
benefit from the amnesty if they return the illegal permits or
Bread Cards voluntarily by 7 p.m. on July 28, 1942. They
should be returned to the appropriate Police Station in the
Registration Office or to the Housing Office.
7.
The closing of investigation or court procedures and the
remission of sentences already imposed, on the basis of this
amnesty, do not release a person from an order to pay
compensation either to individuals or to the ghetto
management.
8.
The prison sentences or fines cancelled by this amnesty can be
reactivated by a court order or other appropriate authority in
the event of the offender committing any other offense, or
failing to obey instructions, or showing lack of discipline at
his place of work or when he is sent to work, within three
months of the date of publication of this amnesty.
Vilna
Ghetto, July 15, 1942
Representative
of the Ghetto and Chief of Police
Gens
Moreshet
Archives, D. 1.352. |
