He was officially ordered to appear at the Landrat once again, this time
with the entire Council. [8] The news about the “resettlement” spread in a flash
among the Jewish population. Indescribable panic seized everyone. People were
preparing for the worst. In the meantime, the chairman worked out a list of
1,500 Jews, selected by the Community for resettlement: predominantly aliens
and poor people. At 3 o’clock sharp, the entire staff of the Judenrat appeared
in a big room at the Landrat. The Landrat told the terrified Jews that within
45 minutes the Judenrat must supply 2,000 Jews for resettlement (the Gestapoman added another 500, that is 2,500 souls); and if they would not appear at the indicated time at the market place, the authority would carry it out on its
own. When asked if the Jews could hold a brief meeting, the Landrat screamed:
“You just need to carry out our orders, and not to babble!” (Authentic words.)
How did the Judenrat approach the task of gathering people? Every person
took several houses and told the Jews that everyone, except those who
work, must appear at the assembly place. However, there [9] were zealots
among the members of the Judenrat who told everyone without exception to
go to the square, where they would already segregate the workers, families,
etc. Moreover, the Germans (I mean here only the local authority) “promised”
the Jews, that they would come in to some houses and shoot everyone without
exception, as simple as that, also the children in cradles and helpless old
people. Within a few minutes, a few dozen Jews were shot. The crowd, which
already had been “ready to go” started rushing to the square. In no time,
the square swarmed with the “people.” Some 3,000 people gathered there;
those who came later were already sent away by the Germans: “Weg nach
Hause!”⁴⁰⁰ All the assembled people formed a [. . .] that, after not a long wait,
started moving toward the train. People were going to the side track, which
[. . .] was located opposite the Izbica camp. On the way to the train approximately
400 children and old people were shot. During the loading onto the
freight cars 153 persons were killed, and were (according to Jewish workers,
who worked in the Izbica camp) thrown [10] into the cars together with the living
ones. Two carriages went along with the masses of Jews (after the train had
departed), onto which Jewish children and old people that had been shot on the
way had been loaded. Surely you are curious to know where the deported Jews
were taken? The train left at 6 a.m. on the following day. Special emissaries
400 (German) Go home!
