the Union of Craftsmen, which—as we have pointed out—was supervised by the authorities.510
Let us return to carpentry. It is highly likely that the very fact of entrusting the furnishing of the Brühl Palace to Jews led the official Jewish agents to believe that Jews would find employment and earning opportunities in carpentry, and—most importantly—that work in carpentry would be centralised and subordinated to the Jewish Council. The fact that Chairman Czerniaków himself took part in the conferences held by the Union of Craftsmen regarding the issue is the best evidence of how significantly carpentry was regarded in official circles.
However, in this case as well, private initiative was ahead of the official operations. While sub-committees and sections were debating at their green tables about the organisation of carpentry work, Jewish workshops had long been labouring on bulk deliveries for the Germans. These deliveries were carried out through private channels, with the participation of a network of intermediaries. As early as the end of 1940, they achieved extensive scope, providing a source of income for thousands of craftsmen and labourers. Let us try to analyse why these deliveries fell into Jewish hands.
First and foremost, the objective reasons. With [13] the military economy in the government stabilising, and taking into account the implementation of the principle that military formations cover their demand for different items within the government, the need arises for a craftsman-manufacturer of bulk goods. This is due to the fact that military units are stationed in barracks, staying in one place for a long time, depending on the development of the overall military situation. Such stabilisation was evident especially after the successful completion of the campaign on the western front in May–June 1940, which allowed the army staying within the government to settle more comfortably into the barracks. The first issue is furniture: double cots (beds), cabinets (brystolki), tables, stools, etc. Who is to make all these things? After a short period of care afforded to Jewish craftsmanship the interest of the official German agencies wanes. However, private entrepreneurship still exists.
