The owner of the salt bends over with great effort. He bravely walks a few more steps when, as if from under the ground, a huge, broad-shouldered “Aryan” emerges, a workman type, or rather a “lumpenproletarian”, and begins to pull the man’s bag, crying aloud: “This Jew stole the salt, take it from him, it’s not for him, give it to the poor!” Teenagers reappear—happily encouraging the man to take the salt, whistling all the way, shoving other passing Jews.
Struggling, the giant spills half of the salt into the street, and he forcefully grabs the rest and quickly jumps onto a passing wagon, carrying the salt high on his shoulder.
* * *
Ochota district. Vegetable yards.
There are no owners. Hundreds of people bent over mother-earth. With hoes, knives, sticks, or hands, they dig out potatoes, carrots, turnips, and onions.
In this mass of people several Jews stand out because of their clothing or appearance.
They have picked only a handful of vegetables, when screams can be heard: “Get out of here, Jews.” The vegetables they’ve collected spill to the ground. The people divide them up among themselves.
The Jews, hungry and with a sense of futility, leave with their sacks empty.
* * *
15 October 1940
Gęsia Street—manufactured goods trade centre.
Shops are half-closed. Soldiers are going back and forth, sniffing after something.
A soldier takes cigarettes away from a juvenile street trader and hands them out to Polish boys. To the delight of the army man—the boys then giggle as they shove and beat passing Jews.
