On the contrary, she underlined the subsequent good relations with the Poles which developed as they worked together in various [18(35)] enterprises,institutions, schools, and universities.
A primary-school teacher from Warsaw named Golder became a teacher in a village school. At first he had some trouble getting on with his pupils. He could feel their prejudice. But his year-long activity there led to a good relationship between them, as was evident in the help they gave him during the troubled times following the outbreak of the Soviet–German war. His pupils hid him from the Germans, supplied him with food, and gave him every type of assistance. There were many more such cases.
All of this took place despite hateful propaganda from reactionary elements that were grouped around the Catholic churches,170 where antisemitic sermons, and more general sermons against Jews and Bolsheviks, were oftenpreached.
However, for the sake of truth, it must be stressed that the same priest who had preached anti-Jewish sermons under Soviet rule appealed for aid and sympathy for the Jews after the Germans arrived.
The outbreak of war with Germany came unexpectedly. The population of Białystok was not well informed of the situation. Initially, the Russian authorities were in full control, and order was maintained everywhere. Then the evacuation of government offices began, and with it came confusion. There were cases of robbery. The military took over and [18a] restored order.
Białystok had no interregnum. Power passed from the Russians to the Germans overnight.
German rule in Białystok began with the burning of the synagogue andthe establishment of a ghetto.
Salomea L. lived in the district where the synagogue was located. Towardsdawn everyone was suddenly awakened by bright flames shining through thewindows. People got up fearfully. No one dared go out because of the compul-sory curfew. No one knew what had happened or what awaited them. Peopleassumed that the Germans had started a fire. No one knew how it wouldend. Some thought the Germans had set fire to the whole neighbourhood.
