belonged to the hospital, next to the separating bench. They behaved very calmly, and eyed the audience that hovered in the court side-lines with—so to speak—listless [3] curiosity. They never talked to anyone, nor showed any surprise when, for example, a Polish barrister cordially greeted his armband-wearing colleague, or when they listened to lively conversations between people with and without armbands. It is safe to say that there were many fewer people with legitimate business with the court or the tax office than those who came to the court for social meetings, for business, trade, smuggling, and even, so to speak, for lovers’ trysts. Many a time I have seen a young couple on the fourth floor in the court. Him—a boy maybe 22 years of age, blond with blue eyes, and her—black hair, slim, with the face of Judith. They were both beautiful with that strange love of theirs, the joy that radiated from their youth, and the strange sadness, which only served to underscore their dire position. There were times that I was at the court every day. I always met them in the same place, their faces always [4] asking the desperate question: what is going to happen now. Besides, walking in the side-lines of the court, it was immediately and at first glance obvious who was there on legitimate business, and who came for a meeting. Legitimate visitors were either queuing in front of the tax office, or stayed in a courtroom. It was striking, given the relatively small number of legitimate visitors, that the courthouse would be intended only for meetings. In addition, until mid-October, it was the easiest way to the Aryan side, although from July or August 1941, German gendarmerie posts were erected on either side of the building. It should be noted, however, and it is outstanding, that German gendarmes at these posts in front of the court behaved with complete passivity. On two or three occasions, the court was searched. I was not a witness to any such events, nor do I know who carried them out. In any case, the searches have not deterred people; both meetings and smuggling [5] continue. Getting to the other side ceased only with the threat of the death penalty for leaving the Jewish district. In the court, wearing an armband did not entail any sense of discrimination; Jews were only denied access to two rooms. On the door to the barristers’ room and to the court refectory, notices were placed reading “Forbidden for Jews.” There were also separate changing rooms for Aryans and Jews. A notice on one of the tax office desks said “Aryans and doctors will be served first.”
