September 1940 [10] First quietly, then more and more loudly, news travels from mouth to mouth; first as a rumour, and then as a confirmed fact: “A ghetto, there is to be a ghetto.”
The people in Żoliborz are alarmed. It is good here, it is nice here, it is relatively safe here. Are we to be moved to the ghetto as well? Or maybe Żoliborz will be excluded? That was how it was to be according the first plan of the ghetto.
Pessimists, or rather those more realistically inclined, are convinced that we will have to leave our ideal Żoliborz.
So begins the pilgrimage to secure housing in the future Jewish district.
At the same time, a decree is issued that Jews are allowed to ride only in specially designated trams bearing the Star of Zion. In the early days, there were no Jewish trams in Żoliborz.
Every day, although there has been no explicit decree yet, the most prudent can be seen moving some of their possessions to the city centre. The bravest use trams for transportation, of course, without the armbands the Jews are obliged to wear (a blue star of Zion on a white background).
The thing was made flesh. A decree is put up on the city walls, announcing the establishment of the Jewish district, with a detailed map of the streets. Żoliborz is one of the districts in which it is forbidden for Jews to live.
Up until 1 November 1940, the exchange of flats is allowed between Jews residing in the designated Polish quarter and Polish residents of the designated Jewish district. Such transactions must be made through the accommodation office, of course without any profit.
According to the decree, neither party can draw income from the enforced exchange of houses.
[11] The city is abuzz. People are rushing like crazy. Everyone wants to “grab” a flat. Walls are pasted all over with advertisements of flats to swap.
Despite the ban, Poles are demanding compensation from the Jews. The amount and form of such compensation depends on the individual audacity of these “gentlemen”. In general, the Jews will pay any sum. Often, they bid higher themselves.
The danger of being left without housing is looming near, especially affecting people of nervous disposition, like the Jews tend to be.
The Jews of the Warsaw Housing Co-operative find themselves in particularly difficult circumstances. As civil servants and teachers, they are
