of Miłosna packed and told us to be ready too. The night of Wednesday was
for us a leyl shimurim. A bitter premonition told us that it could happen
on this night.
At 5 o’clock in the morning, we heard the noise of automobile motors.
Some passenger cars and trucks stopped by the Jewish community, from
which alighted gendarmes of brown-uniformed soldiers, as well as a large
group of Polish police. A larger group of gendarmes on horses also arrived.
We learned of the order: At 8 o’clock we must leave Okuniew. At 5 past 8,
no living Jew would be found any longer in Okuniew.
The head of the village council provided podwody,¹²⁴⁸ that is, 5 wagons to
transport the children, [and] the luggage, if there was [enough] room.
All had to assemble at the marketplace. The men separately, the women
separately, the children up to the age of 10 years, on the wagons. We ourselves
had to carry all the belongings from the Jewish homes. The head of the village
council ordered the peasants to take out everything, which they did on
the spot, and set it on fire.
[4] Calmly and leisurely the gendarmes started stealing whatever they
could. The Polish police assisted; whenever a valuable item was found,
they shoved [it] into their pockets or placed the item in the trucks, whether
it was bottles of spirits, wine, or socks and good clothing which one had not
managed to put on.
The Polish police specifically pointed out homes to the gendarmes where
one could find various good things and objects, so that they would have their
hands free in other homes.
Whatever they could not steal, they destroyed. The gendarmes with
sabres cut open the bedding that some women had packed into bundles to
take with them. They took with them kitchen items that have value, such
as wringers!!
Once all were assembled in the market, a lieutenant came out and asked
if we had gold, diamonds, or other jewels; nobody responded. A woman showed
her engagement ring, but that, he said, one does not need to give away.
Precisely at 8 [o’clock], they started to chase us out. Those who were
not at the site were shot on the spot. Thus, Shiye and Rivka Zysman, an
old couple, were shot; Leye Rotsztajn, over 40 years [of age], while lying in
1248 (Polish) means of transportation with staff.
