ZGIERZ
Date unknown, Warsaw ghetto, author(s) unknown, account(s) recorded
by Hersh Wasser. Description of wanderings along the route Żyrardów-
Wiskitki-Łowicz-Zgierz-Stryków (5–16 September 1939).
[1] M. R.,¹¹⁰⁹ Zgierz¹¹¹⁰, 5 to 16 Sept[ember] 1939¹¹¹¹
Night of 5 to 6 September, 2 a.m., [I] showed the child the burning town.
Ruins. Darkness. Piles of glass and bricks. “Remember, my child, what consequences war brings.” 6 a.m., Wednesday 6 Sept[ember]. [We] set out in a group of five, leaving family in Zgierz. Mood at departure. [My] wife bore up heroically, saying, “My husband, may we see each other again.” Intending to join
the army as volunteers.
1) Zgierz-Stryków. Motorway thronged with refugees. Their behaviour imbued
with enormous fear. Aeroplanes overhead till Stryków. People paid up to
a thousand zlotys for a place on a cart in order to get to Warsaw.
2) Stryków. Głowno. Heavy bombardments. Had to take cover all the way.
3) Głowno. Łowicz. Very friendly attitude of Polish peasantry. Peasants standing
outside every hut with water, bread. Had a wash. Dreadfully hot. Group
filled with despair and hopelessness, people actually weeping. Bombing more
persistent. Anti-aircraft units not strategically placed. Łowicz burning.
Bombing from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Large groups loudly bewailing their tragic
fate. Stayed in Łowicz with an acquaintance. Welcomed with heartfelt tears.
Road from Zgierz to Łowicz — 14 hours, 70 km, 10 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday
on the road to Warsaw.
4) Łowicz–Sochaczew.
1109 Perhaps initials of the author, or a person who delivered the text to the Archive. It could have been Dr Moyshe Rejnhold, see Docs. 105, 111.
1110 Before the outbreak of the war around 4,800 Jews lived in Zgierz. Many of them fled to the General Government or Łódź. On 26 or 27 December over 2,500 Jews were deported to Głowno. A few dozen remained in Zgierz, mainly craftsmen with their families. In January 1942 they were deported to the Łódź ghetto.
1111 In the original, 1940, by mistake.
