So, now we have a ghetto here, too? The first ghettos in the whole General
Government? Nothing has worked, not even money! But the Christians’ money
did work. Only now, did we learn that initially the ghetto was to be established
in Swoboda and Cichoraj[ka], but the Christians bought themselves out.
We were assigned the summer resort Nowy Otwock. It was uninhabitable in
winter. Our heads are spinning. What should we do first? Should we move our
things into the ghetto or go for disinfecting? For the time, my father runs to
Nowy Otwock to rent a flat. Thanks to our friends who owned a villa there,
he manages to rent a room with a kitchen. Truly hectic days begin. We are
neither here nor there. We begin to carry out things at 5 a.m., simultaneously
thinking about the disinfection conducted by Dr. Lensky. Everybody has to
be bathed before moving into the ghetto. As if it were not enough, we also
fear searches conducted in the ghetto. We do not know which to fear more.
Lensky organises round-ups and captures women for disinfection, while the
gendarmerie is surrounding houses and conducting searches. They take away
all kinds of raw products and sometimes money as well.
As soon as I arrive in the ghetto with some of our things and the midday
meal for my father, our friends come running.
– They have surrounded the second house from ours. Yours is next –
they say.
I quickly grab our more valuable things and I return, trying not to be
seen. I suddenly hear shouts, halt!⁹⁴³ I do not look around. I just flee, hiding
behind buildings. I hear shouts. I can see the gendarmes approaching and
I recognise the silhouette of the gendarme, Szmul. I cannot figure out which
building they are about to surround. I flee without a moment’s delay, hiding
behind trees. Before I can reach (17) a safe place I hear halt! again. Lensky is
capturing women for disinfecting. It is all too much. I jump to the side, tear
off my armband, and run to the side, toward the road. Finally…
I reach the road. My heart is pounding from running and anxiety. I am
still thinking about the group of gendarmes, who are about to surround
my home. I walk down the road in scorching heat, very uncomfortable, and
Bratoszewice, Dmosin, Domaniewice, Łyszkowice, Lubianków, and Bielawy communes were to move to Głowno by 12 May. J. K. Petelewicz, Dzieje ludności żydowskiej w Łowiczu, part I, p. 114.
943 (German) Stop!
