expected. Namely, the Germans told the POWs from Lipowa Street that the
Jewish community had offered or would offer to pay two million zlotys if they
took the POWs instead of the Jews from Lublin. cIt remains unknown if it was
true or if it was just a bluff on the part of the Germans.c¹⁵⁰ When the POWs
learned about that, 100 of them volunteered, saying that, if that was the case,
they were ready to help capture the Jews. The Germans eagerly accepted that
help. Their newly acquired allies indeed showed more zeal than the occupiers.
Even the work detail labourers and Gruppenführers¹⁵¹ were deported as
a result of that round-up. The Jewish Arbeitsamt, which was at daggers drawn
with the latter, acted to their detriment. All those arrested from the prison
were co-opted, too. A few hundred people were shot during those round-ups.
The fate of those detained at Majdanek was horrible. Those who were released
in exchange for many thousand [zlotys] cwere half-mad, exhaustedc . They
told tales that made one’s blood curdle. The guards were Lithuanians and
each guard would shoot a Jew after breakfast for dessert, or two Jews if he
was in an exceptionally good mood. The prisoners were not given food and
they were exhausted by hard labour and penal drills. Moreover, the camp had
special instruments for torture. The town inhabitants could see those poor
souls only when they were escorted somewhere, usually to wash themselves.
During the worst freeze, the prisoners walked barefoot or in clogs, wearing
striped paper clothes. When that sad procession walked along the street, the
escort beat the pedestrians to drive them into the gates. God forbid, if somebody
threw them as much as a loaf of bread. God forbid, if such a “Majdaner”
bent down to pick it up. At Majdanek, there were no [3] sick people, as they
were immediately killed.
In the winter of 1942, the Jews were ordered to submit all fur and wool.¹⁵²
(As for the demanded amount of wool, there are various versions, some claiming
that a contingent of 1,500 kilos had been specified. 3,500 kilos were collected.)
In order to stimulate the Jews’ generosity, seven Councellors were arrested and
forced to stand barefoot on snow. Two hours later, they were locked in the
infamous bunker (dungeon) on Lipowa Street and the Germans announced
150 c-c Throughout the text: inserted from the margin, as indicated by the author.
151 A reference to the Jewish commanders of labour Kommandos.
152 The ordinance regarding requisition of furs and fur accessories was issued on 25 December
1941.
