After 6 April 1941, Warsaw ghetto, author unknown (feldsher from the
Jewish hospital in Płock), “1941 גירוש פלאָצק ” [The expulsion from Płock
1941]. The expulsion of the approximately 4,000 Płock Jews on 21 February
1941 to the camp in Działdowo, and then via Jędrzejów to Chmielnik.
[1] The Expulsion from Płock 1941
Related by a 54-year-old Jewish feldsher from the Jewish hospital.
On 20 February 1941 it became known in Płock that all of the Jews were to be
expelled. Everyone made preparations, packed their essentials, put everything
into rucksacks and were all set to leave. That evening a rumour spread, which
everyone accepted as true, that the Jews were to be allowed to remain for a further
6 months. Earlier that day, the Jews had organised a collection of gold in
order to bribe the SS, and we had heard that the gold, half a kilogram, had
been put in a pair of new boots and delivered to the commandant, Borg.¹⁶⁵⁸ So it
seemed clear to everyone that the information about remaining in the town
was reliable. In town there was great rejoicing. I embraced all the patients in
the hospital. Acquaintances ran up to me in the street, shook my hand and
wished me all the best. However, the fear that they had felt previously was
so great that the Jews dispersed and returned to their homes, turned off the
lights and went to bed much earlier than usual.
Suddenly, around 4 o’clock in the morning, we all heard loud banging
on the hospital gate. At that time the hospital was already located outside the
ghetto, in the former home for old people and beggars.¹⁶⁵⁹ When the Germans
had transferred the hospital, they had driven the old people — more than
40 of them — out of town on a truck and shot them all. I was still dressed
because I was at work in the hospital, and before we could even think about
whether to open the gate or not, [2] the soldiers broke it down. Twelve officers
came in, shouting: “ In 5 minutes you’ll be ready to march out, understood?”
I stood there bewildered, not knowing what to do first, what would happen to
1658 Borg was responsible for arranging official matters between the Płock Judenrat and the town authorities.
1659 i.e. in the Flatau Family Jewish Old Age Home.
