Date unknown, Warsaw ghetto, author unknown. Testimony ”כעלם
“ פֿאַר דער צייַט פֿון 30.11.39 ביז יאַנואַר 1940 [Chełm in the period from
30 November 1939 to January 1940]. Situation of the Jews during
the first months of the occupation: establishment of the Judenrat,
forced labour, death march in December 1939; good relatins with
the Poles.
[1] Chełm in the period from 30 November 1939 to January 1940
With the capture of the Chełm region by the occupier, difficult times began
for the local Jewish population.²⁰⁸
The Jewish community numbers about 10,000 souls.²⁰⁹ Until now, Jews
had been living very well. Trade and small-scale handicrafts flourished there,
from which the Jewish population drew their livelihood.
With the occupation of the city by the Germans, the economic life in
one of Poland’s well-organised Jewish communities is disrupted. The former
Jewish community administration is replaced by new people, who create the
Judenrat. Its leadership is assumed by a certain Mr Mark Frenkiel, who is
a simple Jew, a wealthy man, the owner of a large mill.
In Polish times, he had been close to government circles. He was treasurer
of the main committee in carrying out the loan for air defence. He is not
distinguished by any personal characteristics or merits. The only thing he has
is “contacts”. The Chełm Jewish community pays a high price, with many victims,
for his lack of social and political experience.
It happened in the following manner: On 30 November 1939, the local
German commander turned to the Judenrat with the demand that it supply
1,200 Jewish men for forced labour.
Chairman Frenkiel immediately issued an announcement in the town
that all Jews aged between 12 and 60 were to appear at 6 the following morning
208 The Germans captured Chełm on 7 October 1939. Soviet troops had been stationed there since 25 September.
209 Before the war, Chełm had 15,000 Jewish inhabitants, in 1940 approximately 10,000. See T. Brustin-Berenstein, “Martyrologia,” table 4.
