early the Jews came, they went round the houses even earlier in order to catch
everyone at home. When the Jews went to the commander’s headquarters at
6 a.m., they went round even earlier, just to catch them at home and to be able
to drive them out. That was the real reason why we approached the authorities
with the proposal that we ourselves would supply as many labourers as
needed every day. Some among the authorities and the locals, who were concerned only with work and not something else, agreed to this and ordered
a list to be drawn up and a certain number of people to be supplied every day.
However, the higher authorities and some of the locals, who had in mind only
the maltreatment of Jews rather than work, did not agree and refused to give
their assent, especially not to Jews having their representatives. So things
went on every day as before, until only a couple of families remained, and they
are still working to this day. Both men and women work now. Craftsmen are
exempt from forced labour. One more year has passed and, as I mentioned,
they receive partial payment from the authorities and, if not for the locals,
the authorities would treat them much better.
20 May 1941
ARG I 712 (Ring. I/796)
Description:
a) duplicate (2 copies), handwritten (MS*), pencil, Yiddish, 148×210 mm, 6 sheets,
6 pages. In the margins: “0” [?]; on p. 1 the Hebrew letter “ פ” (ink).
Edition based on first copy of duplicate, 3 sheets, 3 pages.
b) duplicate, handwritten (MS*), pencil, Yiddish, 148×210 mm, 7 sheets,
7 pages. In the margins the Hebrew letter “ ע”. On p. 1 in the margin the sign “+”
(red pencil).
Docs. (a) and (b) have continuous page numbers.
