This lady had stayed on the Soviet side for eighteen months. She was mostly among non-Jews, and she generally cared little about the Jewish question. After the German invasion, she was regarded as an Aryan there, and currently she makes a living going from Grodno to Warsaw and back as well (as an Aryan) and taking care of a variety of requests.
The Jews in the Soviet Union were guaranteed full equality and had access to all professions and posts. Their nationality was not an obstacle in the slightest, and they benefited from the care and support of the state on a par with other citizens.
The situation of Jews in the Polish territories occupied by the Soviets was very good. With innate cleverness and ability, they were able to live most comfortably.
When the Bolsheviks entered the Polish territory, they approached the large Polish population with distrust, while they were fully trusting of the Jews. More influential Poles and those who held important positions before the war were deported into Russia by the Bolsheviks, and all offices were manned mostly by the Jews, who also held managerial positions. For these reasons, the Polish population generally immediately responded with hostility.
Much hatred arose, even stronger than [2] before the war. The Poles, however, could not find any outlet for that hate, so they swallowed it and
BIA ŁY STO K AN D THE WESTERN BE L ARUS [ 12] 116
