Front matter (continued 17)

Our forces: as on the previous day.

Our losses: 3 members of the Waffen-SS and one member of the Security Police wounded.

Total losses up to date:

Waffen SS 27 Wounded

Police 9 Wounded

Security Police 4 Wounded

Wehrmacht 1 Wounded

Trawniki men 9 Wounded

————

50 Wounded

and 5 dead:

Waffen SS 2 Dead

Wehrmacht 2 Dead

Trawniki men 1 Dead

————

5 Dead

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 26 April 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab/St/Wdt—16 07—Journal Nr. 550/43 secret.

Re: Ghetto operation—supplementary report.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

1. The operation on 25 April 1943, was terminated at 2200 hrs.

2. General effects of the execution of this operation.

The Poles resident in Warsaw are much impressed by the toughness of our operations in the former Ghetto. As can be seen from the daily reports, the general situation has greatly calmed down since the beginning of that operation within the city area of Warsaw. From this fact one may conclude that the bandits and saboteurs resided in the former Ghetto, and that now all of them have been destroyed.

In this connection the fact may be of some interest, that an illegal ammunition store was seen to explode when we burned down a certain building in the dwelling area on which we were working at the time.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified Copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 26 April 1943.

Ref. Nr.: I ab/St/Wdt—16 07 Journal Nr. 551/43 secret.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Start of operation: 1000 hrs.

The whole of the former Ghetto was once more combed through today by the same search parties, each of them allotted to the same district as before. In this way I tried to bring about that the leaders of these parties work in thoroughfares, blocks of buildings, and courtyards which they know already and that thus they are able to penetrate deeper and deeper into the maze of dug-outs and subterranean passages. Almost every search party reported resistance, which however they broke either by returning fire or by blowing up the dug-outs. It becomes clearer and clearer that it is now the turn of the toughest and strongest among the Jews and bandits. Several times dug-outs have been forcibly broken open, the inmates of which had not come to the surface during the whole of this operation. In a number of cases the inmates of the dug-outs were hardly in a condition, when the dug-out had been blown up, to crawl to the surface. The captured Jews report that many of the inmates of the dug-outs became insane from the heat, the smoke, and the explosions. Several Jews were arrested who had kept close liaison with the group of Polish terrorists and collaborated with it. Outside the former Ghetto we arrested 29 Jews. During today's operation several blocks of buildings were burned down. This is the only and final method which forces this trash and subhumanity to the surface. We again captured arms, incendiary bottles, explosive charges and considerable amounts of cash and foreign currency. Today I also arranged that several so-called armament and defense enterprises will evacuate their stores from the buildings at once, so that these buildings in which the Jews now have taken refuge, under the protection of the army of the German Wehrmacht and police, can be combed out. In one case we again discovered, as previously, that in a building which had been said to contain a giant enterprise there existed in fact almost no stores or goods. One factory was closed without further ado, and the Jews were evacuated.

Result of today's operation:

30 Jews evacuated, 1,330 Jews pulled out of dug-outs and immediately destroyed, 362 Jews killed in battle. Caught today altogether: 1,722 Jews. This brings the total of Jews caught to 29,186. Moreover, it is very probable that numerous Jews have perished in the 13 dug-outs blown up today and in the conflagrations.

At the time of writing not one of the Jews caught still remains within Warsaw. The scheduled transport to T. II had no success. [Note of translator: This probably means that no Jews were available for regular transport to the extermination camp.]

Strength: as on preceding day. Our losses: none.

End of today's operation at 2145 hrs. Will be continued on 27 April 1943 at 0900 hrs.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 27 April 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 555/43 secret.

Re: Ghetto Operation

To: the Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of operation on 27 April 1943. Start: 0900 hrs.

For today's operation I formed 24 raiding parties with the same task as on several days of last week; they had to search the former Ghetto in smaller groups. These search parties pulled 780 Jews out of dug-outs and shot 115 Jews who resisted. This operation was terminated about 1500 hrs.; some of the parties had to continue to operate because they had found more dug-outs.

At 1600 hrs. a special battle group, 320 officers and men strong, started cleansing a large block of buildings situated on both sides of the so-called Niska Street in the Northeastern part of the former Ghetto. After the search the entire block was set on fire, after having been completely cordoned off. In this action a considerable number of Jews were caught. As before, they remained in the dug-outs, which were either below the ground or in the lofts of the buildings until the end. They fired their arms to the last moment, and then jumped down into the street, sometimes from as far up as the fourth floor, having previously thrown down beds, mattresses, etc., but not until the flames made any other escape impossible. A total of 2,560 Jews were caught today within the former Ghetto, of whom 547 were shot. Moreover, Jews in a not ascertainable number perished when dug-outs were blown up, or in the flames. The sum total of Jews, formerly residing in the Ghetto caught in this action, now amounts to 31,746.

We learned from an anonymous letter that there were a considerable number of Jews in a block of buildings adjoining the Northeastern part of the Ghetto, but outside of it. A special raiding party under the command of 1st. Lt. of Police Diehl was dispatched to attack these buildings. The raiding party discovered a gang of about 120 men, strongly armed with pistols, rifles, hand grenades, and light machine guns, who resisted. They succeeded in destroying 24 bandits in battle and arresting 52 bandits. The remainder could not be caught or destroyed, since darkness intervened. The buildings, however, were surrounded at once, so that an escape will hardly be possible. This cleansing action will be continued tomorrow. Moreover, we arrested 17 Poles, among whom 2 Polish Policemen, who should have been aware, among other things, of the existence of this gang. In this operation we captured 3 rifles, 12 pistols, partly of heavier caliber, 100 Polish "pineapple" hand grenades, 27 German steel helmets, quite a number of German uniforms, tunics and coats which were even furnished with ribbon of the East medal, some reserve magazines for machine guns, 300 rounds of ammunition, etc. The leader of the raiding party had a difficult task because the bandits were disguised in German uniform, but despite this fact, he did his duty with great efficiency. Among the bandits who were caught or killed, there were some Polish terrorists who were identified with certainty. Today we succeeded furthermore in discovering and liquidating one of the founders and leaders of the Jewish-Polish resistance movement. The external appearance of the Jews whom we are catching now shows that it is now the turn of those Jews who were the leaders of the entire resistance movement. They jumped from the burning windows and balconies, abusing Germany and the Fuehrer and cursing the German soldiers.

SS-men who descended into the sewers discovered that a great number of corpses of perished Jews are being washed away by the water.

Our strength:

288 German Police }

200 Trawniki-men }

From 0700 to 1900 hrs. 140 Polish Police } Cordoning

From 1900 to 0700 hrs. 288 German Police } forces.

250 Waffen-SS }

140 Polish Police }

Strength in the operation: 3/115 German Police 4/400 Waffen-SS 1/6 Engineering Serv. 2/30 Security Police 2/21 Engineers. Our losses: 3 wounded: 2 Waffen-SS 1 Trawniki-man

Termination of operation: 2300 hrs. Will be continued on 28 April 1943 at 1000 hrs.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Maj. Gen. of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 28 April 1943.

Ref. Nr. I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal Nr. 562/43 secret.

Re: Ghetto operation

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of operation on 28 April 1943. Start 1000 hrs.

Today, 10 raiding parties were formed for combing out the whole of the Ghetto. These raiding parties again discovered proceeding step by step, a number of dug-outs, which were found to have been prepared as far ago as the middle of last year for use in the resistance of the Jews. A total of 335 Jews were forcibly pulled out of these dug-outs. Apart from these operations, we continued to cleanse the resistance center used by the Jewish military organization, situated at the borders of the Ghetto. We succeeded in shooting 10 more bandits, and in arresting 9, beyond those caught yesterday, and in capturing more arms, ammunition, and military equipment. In the afternoon a battle group again was directed against a block of buildings which had already been combed out; the block was set on fire during this operation. As on previous days, masses of Jews emerged, forced out by the flames and the enormous clouds of smoke. At another point an Engineer officer, attached by the Wehrmacht to the units with great trouble opened a dug-out situated about 3 meters below ground. From this dug-out, which had been ready since October of last year and was equipped with running water, toilet, and electric light, we pulled out 274 of the richest and most influential Jews. Today again we encountered very strong resistance in many places and broke it. It becomes clearer every day that we are now encountering the real terrorists and activists, because of the duration of the operation.

Result of today: 1,655 Jews caught for evacuation, of whom 110 were killed in battle.

Many more Jews were killed by the flames; moreover, Jews in an unascertainable number were destroyed by the dug-outs being blown up. By the results of today the number of Jews caught or destroyed rises to 33,401 altogether. This number does not include the Jews who were killed by fire or destroyed in the dug-outs.

Our strength: as on the previous day. Our losses: 3 wounded (1 Police, 2 Waffen-SS)

Termination of operation: 2200 hrs. Will be continued on 29 April 1943. 1000 hrs.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 29 April 1943.

Ref. Nr. I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal Nr. 566/43 secret.

Re: Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation of 29 April 1943. Start 1000 hrs. As on the previous day I formed search parties, who had the special task of searching those blocks of buildings which had been recently separated. A larger raiding party was detailed to clean a certain block of buildings (formerly the Hallmann concern) and to burn this block down. 36 more dug-outs used for habitation were discovered altogether, and from them and other hideouts and from the burning buildings, 2,359 Jews were caught, of whom 106 were killed in battle.

Captured are 2 rifles, 10 pistols, 10 kilograms of explosives, and ammunition of various types.

When a large dug-out was blown up, the entire building collapsed and everyone of the bandits perished. In the ensuing conflagration loud detonations and darting flames showed that the building must have contained large stores of ammunition and explosives. Some sewer entrances were blown up. Two exits discovered outside the Ghetto were also made unusable by blowing them up or walling them up.

The depositions of some of the inmates of the dug-outs are to the effect that these Jews have been unable to leave the dug-outs for the last 10 days and that their food, etc., is now beginning to grow short because the large-scale operation has lasted so long. Furthermore, the Jews testify that bandits appeared at night who were Jews or sometimes Poles, wearing black masks, who walled the dug-outs up from the outside and admonished them not to give any signs of life, so that they could continue to live in the Ghetto when the action was finished. Some of the armaments factories are being evacuated very slowly. In several cases one gains the impression that this is done intentionally. Thus I discovered with regard to one firm, Schulz and Co., which I had visited on Easter Monday and then instructed to start evacuation at once and to have it completed within 3 days, that up till today, Thursday, nothing had been done.

Our strength: as on the previous day. Our losses: none.

Termination of operation at 2100 hrs. Will be continued on 30 April 1943, 0900 hrs.

Total caught or destroyed: 35,760.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 30 April 1943.

Ref No.: I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 579/43 secret.

Re: Ghetto operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 30 April 1943. Start 0900 hrs.

Combing out by search parties was continued. Although some giant blocks of buildings now are completely burned out, the Jews continue to stay in the dug-outs 2 to 3 meters below ground. In many cases we are not able to discover those dug-outs unless some Jew, whom we have already caught, gives us a hint as to their whereabouts. Repeatedly, during the last few days, Jews have testified that some armed Jews emerge at night from some hideouts or dug-outs and threaten the other Jews with shooting if they give any signs of life. We were able to ascertain beyond all doubt that several dug-outs had been closed from the outside by these bandits, who tried in this manner to prove that they meant business. Altogether, 30 dug-outs were discovered, evacuated, and blown up today. Again we caught a great number of bandits and subhumans. Apart from the bombing-out operations effected by small parties, two larger battle groups were occupied with bombing out and destroying by fire several inter-connected blocks of buildings.

A total of 1599 Jews were caught today, of whom 179 were killed in battle. The sum total of Jews caught up to date thereby rises to 37,359. 3,855 Jews were loaded today. The number of Jews in possession of arms was much higher than before among the Jews caught during the last few days. Today, we again captured arms and particularly parts of German uniforms from them. The operation against Fort Traugutta did not have any positive results. So far as we were able to discover subterranean exits, we either occupied them or blew them up. In attacking one of the blocks we had to use a gun today.

Our strength:

Used in the operation:

Police 5/133

Security Police 3/36

Waffen SS 6/432

Engineer 2/40

Staff 3/7

Cordoning forces:

Waffen SS 3/318

German Police 2/89

Trawniki men 200

moreover some Polish Police

Our losses: 1 wounded (Police)

Termination of today's large scale action: 2100 hours. Will be continued on 1 May 1943, 0900 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, May 1, 1943.

Ref: Nr.: I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 583/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large scale operation on 1 May 1943. Start 0900 hrs.

10 searching parties were detailed, moreover a larger battle group was detailed to comb out a certain block of buildings, with the added instruction to burn that block down. Within this block of buildings there existed a so-called armament factory which had not yet been entirely evacuated, although it had had enough time to do so. It was not exempted from the operation. Today's operation a total of 1,026 Jews were caught, of whom 245 were killed, either in battle or while resisting. Moreover, a considerable number of bandits and ringleaders were also caught. In one case a Jew who had already been made ready for transport fired three shots against a 1st Lieutenant of Police, but missed his mark. All the Jews caught today were forcibly pulled out of dug-outs. Not a single one gave himself up voluntarily, after his dug-out had been opened. A considerable part of the Jews caught were pulled out of the sewers. We continued systematically blowing up or blocking up the sewer entrances. In one case the Engineers laid a strong concentrated charge and had to proceed to an adjoining entrance where they had something to do. In the meantime a Jew emerged from the sewer, removed the fuse from the concentrated charge, and appropriated the charge. In the further course of this operation we succeeded in catching the Jew, still in possession of the concentrated charge.

In order to ascertain the movements of the Jews during the night, today I used for the first time 5 scouting parties, each 1/9 strong, at irregular intervals during the night. In general, it has to be stated that our men need extraordinary diligence and energy to discover the Jews who are still in so-called dug-outs, caves, and in the sewerage system. It can be expected that the remainder of the Jews who formerly inhabited the Ghetto will now be caught. The sum total of Jews caught so far has risen to 38,385. Not included in this figure are those who died in the flames or in the dug-outs. One patrol discovered an unascertainable number of corpses floating in a main sewer under the Ghetto. Outside of the Ghetto, in the immediate vicinity of Warsaw, the gendarmerie has shot a total of 150 Jews who could be proved to have escaped from Warsaw.

Again we captured pistols and explosives.

Our strength, used in the operation:

Police (German) 4/102

Security Police 2/1

Waffen SS 7/350

Engineers (Wehrmacht) 2/38

Engineering Emergency Service 1/6

Cordoning Units:

Waffen SS 300

German Police 1/71

Trawniki 250

Our losses: 1 Policeman—wounded yesterday died from wounds.

Termination of today's large-scale action: 2200 hours. Will be continued on 2 May 1943, 1000 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 2 May 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 584/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 2 May 1943, start 1000 hrs. 9 raiding parties combed out the whole area of the former Ghetto; moreover a larger detachment was detailed to clean out or destroy one block of buildings grouped around the two armament enterprises Transavia and Wischniewski. To find more dug-outs, the raiding parties took along with them some Jews caught on the previous day to act as guides. In these operations the raiding parties pulled out 944 Jews from dug-outs; 235 more Jews were shot on this occasion. When the block of buildings mentioned above was destroyed, 120 Jews were caught and numerous Jews were destroyed when they jumped from the attics to the inner courtyards, trying to escape the flames. Many more Jews perished in the flames or were destroyed when the dug-outs and sewer entrances were blown up. The Jews were removed from two armaments concerns and the managers were requested to evacuate within a short time.

Altogether we caught today: 1,852 Jews. The sum total of Jews caught thereby rises to 40,237 Jews. 27 dug-outs were discovered, forcibly opened and destroyed, arms and ammunition captured. When the external barricade was shot at and when some Jews who broke out from a sewer entrance outside the Ghetto made an attack, we suffered 7 losses, 4 Policemen and 3 Polish Policemen. The scouting parties used during the night encountered armed resistance from some Jews who under the protection of darkness ventured to emerge from their holes and dug-outs. We did not suffer losses thereby. On the other hand, a considerable number of Jews were killed or wounded in this operation.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 3/98

Security Police 3/12

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Engineers (Wehrmacht) 2/37

SS-Gren 11/409

SS-Cav 3/7

Cordoning forces:

SS-Gren 1/300

German Police 2/9

Trawniki 200

Our losses: 4 Policemen wounded 3 Polish policemen wounded

Present at today's large-scale operation was the Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger.

Termination of operation: 2030 hours. Will be continued on 3 May 1943, 0900 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 3 May 1943.

Ref. Nr.: I ab-St/Gr—16 07—Journal Nr. 597/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 3 May 1943, start 0900 hrs. In the combing-out operation of the former Jewish Ghetto today 19 more dug-outs were discovered and the result was as follows:

Pulled out of dug-outs 1,392 Jews

Shot 95

Evacuated from former armament factories 177

The sum total of Jews caught thereby rises to 41,806 Jews. In most cases the Jews offered armed resistance before they left the dug-outs. We had two casualties (wounded). Some of the Jews and bandits fired pistols from both hands. Since we discovered several times today, that Jewesses had pistols concealed in their bloomers, every Jew and bandit will be ordered from today on, to strip completely for the search. We captured among other things, one German rifle, model 98, two 08 pistols and other calibers, also home-made hand grenades. The Jews cannot be induced to leave their dug-outs until several smoke candles have been burned. According to depositions made yesterday and today, the Jews were asked during the second half of 1942 to erect air-raid shelters. At that time under the camouflage of erecting air-raid shelters, they began to build the dug-outs which they are now inhabiting, in order to use them for an anti-Jewish operation. Some of the scouting parties used in the Ghetto were shot at last night. One casualty (wounded). These scouting parties reported that groups of armed bandits marched through the Ghetto.

Strength: as on the previous day. Losses: 3 SS-men wounded.

Termination of today's operation: 2100 hrs. Will be continued on 4 May 1943. 0900 hrs.

3,019 Jews were loaded.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 4 May 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab-St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 603/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 4 May 1943, start 0900 hrs.

For mopping up the dug-outs a raiding party was used, 1/60 strong and reinforced by an Engineers' detachment provided by the Wehrmacht. This raiding party pulled 550 Jews out of dug-outs and killed in battle 188 Jews. Discovering the dug-outs becomes more and more difficult. Often they can only be discovered by betrayal through other Jews. If the Jews are requested to leave their dug-out voluntarily, they hardly ever obey; they can only be forced to do so by the use of smoke-candles.

The main forces were detailed about 1100 hours to comb out, mop up, and destroy two large blocks of buildings, containing the former firms Toebbens, Schulz and Co., and others. After these blocks had been completely cordoned off, we requested the Jews who were still within the buildings to come forward voluntarily. By this measure, we caught 456 Jews for evacuation. Not until the blocks of buildings were well aflame and were about to collapse did a further considerable number of Jews emerge, forced to do so by the flames and the smoke. Time and again the Jews try to escape even through burning buildings. Innumerable Jews whom we saw on the roofs during the conflagration perished in the flames. Others emerged from the upper stories in the last possible moment and were only able to escape death in the flames by jumping down. Today we caught a total of 2,283 Jews, of whom 204 were shot and innumerable Jews were destroyed in dug-outs and in the flames. The sum total of Jews caught rises to 44,089.

As is learned from depositions made by the Jews, today we caught part of the governing body of the so-called "Party." One member of the committee which leads the gang will be used tomorrow for mopping up some more fortified dug-outs with armed Jews inside. When the armament enterprises were evacuated, we again observed that the goods carted away were by no means valuable military equipment, as had been pretended, but trifles, like used furniture and other requisitioned items. We took appropriate measures against this at once.

The scouting parties who patrolled during the night in the former Ghetto again reported movements of the Jews in the burned out and destroyed streets and courtyards. In order to be better able to take the Jews by surprise, the scouting parties at night tie rags and other stuff round their shoes. In skirmishes between the scouting parties and Jews, 30 Jews were shot.

We captured 1 carbine, 3 pistols, and some ammunition. During the conflagration a considerable amount of stored ammunition exploded.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 4/101

Security Police 2/14

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Engineers 2/41

Waffen SS 11/407

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 25 1/300

German Police 2/87 1/11

Trawniki 200

Our losses: None.

Termination of operation: 2330 hours. Will be continued on 5 May 1943, 1000 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 5 May 1943.

Ref. Nr.: I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 607/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 5 May 1943. Start 1000 hrs. In the beginning of today's operations the raiding parties seemed to have less results than on the preceding days. When the operation terminated, however, quite a number of dug-outs had again been discovered, owing to the tracking ability of the men and to betrayal; 40 of these dug-outs were destroyed. As far as possible, the Jews in these dug-outs were caught (1,070 altogether). The combing out patrols shot about 126 Jews. Today again the Jews resisted in several places until they were captured. In several cases the entrances (hatches) of the dug-outs were forcibly held or bolted from the inside, so that only by using a strong explosive charge could we force them open and destroy the inmates. Today, we again captured arms and ammunition, including one pistol. From one enterprise still in existence (so-called Prosta) 2,850 Jews were caught for evacuation. This figure was included in the sum total reported earlier, so that only 1,070 have to be added; the present sum total therefore is 45,159.

Our strength: as on the preceding day. Our losses: 1 SS man wounded, 1 Policeman wounded. Sum total of losses to date: 8 dead, 55 wounded.

Termination of operation: 2200 hrs. Will be continued on 6 May 1943, 0900 hrs.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop. SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 6 May 1943.

Ref. Nov: ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 614/43 secret.

Re: Ghetto large-scale operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 6 May 1943, start 0930 hrs.

Today we combed especially those blocks of buildings which were destroyed by fire on 4 May 1943. Although it was hardly to be expected that any living person could still exist in those blocks, we discovered quite a number of dug-outs in which a burning heat had developed. From these dug-outs and from other dug-outs which we discovered in other parts of the Ghetto, we pulled out 1,553 Jews. While resisting, and in a skirmish, 356 Jews were shot. In this skirmish the Jews fired from 08 pistols and other calibers and threw Polish "pineapple" hand grenades. One SS Unterscharfuehrer was wounded and a total of 47 dug-outs were destroyed.

2 men of the external cordoning forces were wounded. The Jews who had broken out from the Ghetto seem to be returning now with the intention of assisting the Ghetto Jews by force or liberating them. One Jew who had escaped from Lublin was caught just outside of the Ghetto wall. He was armed as follows: 1 08 pistol, ample reserve ammunition, 2 Polish "pineapple" hand grenades. It could not be reliably ascertained so far whether the so-called "Party Directorate" of the Jews ("PPR") have been caught or destroyed. We are on their traces. It is to be hoped that tomorrow we shall succeed in tracing down this so-called Party Directorate. In order to enable us to intercept more effectively the Jews and bandits who approach the Ghetto, covering detachments of the external barricade were shifted farther inside the Aryan part. The former miniature Ghetto "Prosta" was searched by raiding parties today. We caught some Jews who had stayed behind. The firm Toebbens was requested to evacuate, this miniature Ghetto by noon on 10 May 1943. The so-called library, situated outside the Ghetto, was put at their disposal for temporary storage of their raw materials, etc.

The sum total of Jews caught so far rises to 47,068. The Polish Police take pains to deliver to my office every Jew who turns up within the city, because they are eager to win such premiums as have been paid in earlier cases. The undersigned received some anonymous letters in which he was notified of the fact that some Jews are staying in the Aryan part of the city. One anonymous letter draws a parallel between Katyn and the large-scale action within the Ghetto.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 4/101

Security Police 2/14

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Engineers 3/72

Waffen SS 10/500

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 25 1/300

German Police 2/87 1/11

Trawniki 200

Polish Police 1/180 1/180

Our losses: 1 Policeman dead 1 Policeman seriously wounded 1 SS Unterscharfuehrer less seriously wounded

Termination of operation: 2100 hours. Will be continued on 7 May 1943, 0930 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 7 May 1943.

Ref. Nr.: I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal Nr. 616/43 secret

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 7 May 1943, start 1000 hrs.

The combing-out parties today obtained the following results: 49 dug-outs discovered. Part of the Jews were caught. A considerable, not ascertainable, number of Jews who refused to leave the dug-outs and offered armed resistance were destroyed when the dug-outs were blown up. Altogether 1,019 Jews were caught alive today, 255 shot. The sum total of Jews caught so far rises to 48,342. Today we again encountered armed resistance in several cases, whereby we lost 1 SS man (wounded). We captured 4 pistols of various calibers and some stores of ammunition.

The location of the dug-out used by the so-called select "Party Directorate" is now known. It is to be forced open tomorrow. The Jews testify that they emerge at night to get fresh air, since it is unbearable to stay permanently within the dug-outs owing to the long duration of the operation. On the average the raiding parties shoot 30 to 50 Jews each night. From these statements it was to be inferred that a considerable number of Jews are still underground in the Ghetto. Today we blew up a concrete building which we had not been able to destroy by fire. In this operation we learned that the blowing up of a building is a very lengthy process and takes an enormous amount of explosives. The best and only method for destroying the Jews therefore still remains the setting of fires.

Our strength: as on the preceding day. Our losses: 1 Waffen-SS man wounded.

Termination of operation: 2100 hours, will be continued on 8 May 1943 1000 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy; SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 8 May 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab/St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 624/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of operation on 8 May 1943, start 1000 hours.

The whole former Ghetto was searched today by raiding parties for the remaining dug-outs and Jews. As reported some days a number of subhumans, bandits, and terrorists still remain in the dug-outs, where heat has become intolerable by reason of the fires. These creatures know only too well that their only choice is between remaining in hiding as long as possible or coming to the surface and trying to wound or kill off the men of the Waffen-SS, Police, and Wehrmacht who keep up the pressure against them.

We continued today the operation against the dug-out of the so-called select "Party Directorate" which we had discovered yesterday, as reported in my teletype message yesterday. We succeeded in forcing open the dug-out of the Party Directorate and in catching about 60 heavily armed bandits. We succeeded in catching and liquidating Deputy Leader of the Jewish Military Organization "ZWZ" and his so-called Chief of Staff. There were about 200 Jews in this dug-out, of whom 60 were caught and 140 were destroyed, partly owing to the strong effect of smoke-candles, and partly owing to heavy explosive charges which were laid in several places. The Jews whom we caught had already reported that innumerable Jews had been killed by the effect of the smoke-candles. The fight of the first six days was hard, but now we are able to state that we are catching those Jews and Jewesses who were the ringleaders in those days. Every time a dug-out is forced open, the Jews in it offer resistance with the arms at their disposal, light machine guns, pistols, and hand grenades. Today we again caught quite a number of Jewesses who carried loaded pistols in their bloomers, with the safety catch released. Some depositions speak of 3 to 4,000 Jews who still remain in underground holes, sewers, and dug-outs. The undersigned is resolved not to terminate the large-scale operation until the last Jew has been destroyed.

A total of 1,091 Jews were caught today in dug-outs; about 280 Jews were shot in battle, innumerable Jews were destroyed in the 43 dug-outs which were blown up. The sum total of Jews caught has risen to 49,712. Those buildings which had not yet been destroyed by fire, were set on fire today and we discovered that a few Jews were still hiding somewhere within the walls or in the staircases.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 4/101

Security Police 2/14

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Engineers 3/69

Waffen SS 13/527

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 1/300

German Police 1/87 1/36

Trawniki 160

Polish Police 1/160 1/160

Our losses: 2 Waffen SS dead 2 Waffen SS wounded 1 Engineer wounded

A policeman wounded on 7 May 1943 died today from wounds. We captured about 15 to 20 pistols of various calibers, considerable stores of ammunition for pistols and rifles, moreover a number of hand grenades, made in the former armament factories.

Termination of action: 2130 hours, will be continued on 9 May 1943 1000 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 9 May 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab/St/Gr 1607 Journal No. 625/43.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 9 May 1943, start 1000 hours.

The operation carried out today had the following result: The raiding parties at work today discovered 42 dug-outs. From these dug-outs we pulled out alive 1,037 Jews and bandits. In battle 319 bandits and Jews were shot, moreover an uncertain number were destroyed when the dug-outs were blown up. The block of buildings which formerly contained the "Transavia" concern was destroyed by fire; in this operation we again caught a number of Jews, although this block had been combed through several times.

Again we captured some pistols and hand grenades.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 4/103

Security Police 2/12

Engineers 3/69

Waffen SS 13/547

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 1/300

German Police 1/87 1/36

Trawniki 160

Polish Police 1/160 1/160

Our losses: None.

The total of Jews caught up to date has risen to 51,313. Outside the former Ghetto 254 Jews and bandits were shot.

Termination of operation: 2100 hours, will be continued on 10 May 1943, 1000 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw, Warsaw, 10 May, 1943.

Ref. Nr. I ab St/Gr 16 07 Journal No. 627/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale action on 10 May 1943 start 1000 hrs.

Today raiding parties again combed out the area of the former Ghetto. As on preceding days we again pulled out of the dug-outs, against all expectations, a considerable number of Jews. The resistance offered by the Jews had not weakened today. In contrast to the previous days, it seems that those members of the main body of the Jewish battle group who are still in existence and have not been destroyed have retired into the ruins still within their reach, with the intention of firing from there against our men and inflicting casualties.

Today we caught a total of 1,183 Jews alive, 187 bandits and Jews were shot. Again a not ascertainable number of Jews and bandits were destroyed in the blown-up dug-outs. The total of Jews caught up to date has risen to 52,693.

Today at 0900 hours a truck drove up to a certain sewer in the so-called Prosta. Someone in the truck exploded two hand grenades, which was the signal for the bandits who were standing ready in the sewer to climb out of it. The bandits and Jews—there are always some Polish bandits among them—armed with carbines, small arms, and one machine gun, climbed into the truck and drove away in an unknown direction. The last man of the gang, who stood sentry in the sewer and had the duty of closing the sewer lid, was captured. It is he who gave the above information. He testified that most of the members of the gang, which had been divided into several battle groups, had either been killed in battle or had committed suicide because they had realized the futility of continuing the fight. The search for the truck, which was ordered at once, had no results. The bandits testified further that the Prosta is now the refuge for the still existing Jews because the Ghetto has become too hot for them. For this reason, I resolved to deal with the Prosta in the same manner as with the Ghetto, and to destroy this miniature Ghetto.

Today, we again captured small arms and some ammunition. The Security Police yesterday succeeded in capturing a workshop outside the Ghetto which manufactured 10,000 to 11,000 explosive charges and other ammunition.

Our strength: as on the preceding day. Our losses: 3 SS men wounded.

Owing to the excellent understanding between us and the Wehrmacht, the detachment of Engineers was reinforced. Moreover, a considerable amount of explosives was put at our disposal.

Termination of operation: 2200 hours. Will be continued on 11 May 1943, 0930 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 11 May 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab-St/Gr—16 07 Journal No. 629/43 secret.

Re: Ghetto large-scale Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 11 May 1943, start 0930 hours.

The scouting parties sent out last night again reported that there must still be some Jews within the dug-outs, since some Jews were seen in the ruined streets. The scouting parties shot 12 Jews. On the basis of these reports, today I again formed raiding parties who in combing-out operations discovered, captured, and destroyed a total of 47 dug-outs. Today again we caught some Jews who had taken refuge in ruins which were still protected by a roof. The Jews and bandits are still seeking this new refuge, because staying in the dug-outs has become unbearable. One dug-out was discovered which contained about 12 rooms equipped with plumbing, running water, and separate bathrooms for men and women. Considerable amounts of food were captured or secured, in order to make it more and more difficult for them to get necessary food.

A total of 931 Jews and bandits were caught. 53 bandits were shot. More of them perished when dug-outs were blown up and when a small block of buildings was destroyed by fire. The total of Jews caught up to date has risen to 53,667. We captured several pistols, hand grenades, and ammunition.

We have not been able to smoke out the sewers systematically once more, since we are short of smoke-candles. "OFK" is ready to provide new smoke-candles.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 6/126

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Security Police 2/14

Engineers 4/76

Waffen SS 12/308

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 1/130

German Police 1/112 1/86

Trawniki 160

Polish Police 1/160 1/160

Our losses: 1 SS man wounded.

Total of losses up to date: 71 wounded, 12 dead.

Termination of today's operation: 2145 hours, will be continued on 12 May 1943, 0930 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 12 May 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab-St/Gr—16 07—Journal No. 637/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 12 May 1943, start 0930 hours.

When the raiding parties combed out the area for remaining dug-outs in which Jews were hiding, they succeeded in discovering 30 dug-outs. 663 Jews were pulled out of them and 133 Jews were shot. The sum total of Jews caught has arisen to 54,463.

Furthermore today the units cordoning off the miniature Ghetto were reinforced and destroyed by fire. Probably a considerable number of Jews perished in the flames, no accurate information in this regard could be obtained since the fire was still burning when darkness set in. One concrete building in the Prosta, from which Jews had been removed, was heavily damaged by blowing-up operations in order to make it impossible for the bandits to use it as a base later.

It is noteworthy that the Poles, without having been warned, took appropriate measures for protecting their window-panes, etc., before the blowing-up started.

The transports of Jews leaving here will be directed to T.II beginning today.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 5/126

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Security Police 2/14

Engineers 4/74

Waffen SS 12/508

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 1/300

German Police 1/112 1/86

Trawniki 160

Polish Police 1/160 1/160

Our losses: 1 Waffen SS man wounded.

Termination of today's operation: 2100 hours, will be continued on 13 May 1943, 1000 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 13 May, 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab/ St/Gr 16 07 Journal No. 641/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 13 May 1943, start 1000 hours.

In combing out the Ghetto and the miniature Ghetto (Prosta) today we found 234 Jews. 155 Jews were shot in battle. Today it became clear that the Jews and bandits whom we are catching now belong to the so-called battle groups. All of them are young fellows and females between 18 and 25 years of age. When we captured one, a real skirmish took place, in which the Jews not only fired from 08 pistols and Polish Vis pistols, but also threw Polish "pineapple" hand grenades at the Waffen-SS men. After part of the inmates of the dug-out had been caught and were about to be searched, one of the females as quick as lightning put her hand under her shirt, as many others had done, and fetched from her bloomers a "pineapple" hand grenade, drew the safety-catch, threw the grenade among the men who were searching her, and jumped quickly to cover. It is only thanks to the presence of mind of the men that no casualties ensued.

The few Jews and criminals still staying in the Ghetto have for the last few days been using the hideouts they can still find among the ruins, retiring at night into the dug-outs whose location is known to them, to eat and get provisions for the next day. Lately we have been unable to extract information on the whereabouts of further dug-outs from the captured Jews. The remainder of the inmates of that dug-out where the skirmish took place were destroyed by using heavier explosive charges. From a Wehrmacht concern we evacuated 327 Jews today. The Jews we catch now are sent to T.II.

The total of Jews caught has risen to 55,179.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 4/182

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Security Police 2/14

Engineers 4/74

Waffen SS 12/517

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 1/300

German Police 2/137 1/87

Trawniki 270

Polish Police 1/160 1/160

Our losses: 2 Waffen SS dead 3 Waffen SS wounded 1 Policeman wounded.

The 2 Waffen SS men lost their lives in the air attack against the Ghetto.

33 dug-outs were discovered and destroyed. Booty: 6 pistols, 2 hand grenades, and some explosive charges.

Termination of today's operation: 2100 hours, will be continued on 14 May 1943, 1000 hours.

My intention is to terminate the large-scale operation on 16 May 1943 and to turn all further measures over to Police battalion III/23. Unless ordered otherwise, I am going to submit to the conference of SS and Policefuehrers a detailed report of the operation, including an appendix containing photos.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 14 May 1943.

Ref. No. I ab/St/G 16 07 Journal No. 646/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 14 May 1943, start 1000 hours.

The raiding parties formed today went to work within the areas allotted to each of them under orders to force open further dwelling dug-outs and to catch the Jews. In this way a considerable number of bandits and Jews were caught, especially as some traces had been discovered during the night which were now followed up with good results. The night patrols clashed with armed bandits several times. These bandits fired a machine gun and small arms. In this operation we had four casualties—3 Waffen-SS men and 1 Policeman. Repeatedly, shots were fired from the Aryan part against the external barricade. In the skirmishes about 30 bandits were shot and 9 Jews and bandits, members of an armed gang, were captured. One dug-out was taken during the night, the Jews captured, and some pistols, among them one of 12-mm caliber, were captured. In one dug-out inhabited by 100 persons, we were able to capture 2 rifles, 16 pistols, some hand grenades and incendiary appliances. Of the bandits who resisted, some again wore German military uniform, German steel helmets and "knobeloecher." Apart from the carbines, we captured 60 rounds of German rifle ammunition. One raiding party had a skirmish with a gang, 10 to 14 strong, on the roofs of a block of buildings at the border of the Ghetto (Aryan part). The bandits were destroyed; we suffered no losses.

The captured bandits repeatedly testify that still not all persons in the Ghetto have been caught. They confidently expect that the action will soon be over, and that they will then be able to continue to live in the Ghetto. Several bandits stated that they had long been in a position to kill off the leader of the action, the "General," as they call him, but that they would not do so, since they had orders to that effect to avoid the risk of a further intensification of the anti-Jewish measures.

Today again some concrete buildings in which the bandits find refuge time and again were blown up by the engineers.

In order to force the bandits in the sewers to come to the surface, 183 sewer entrances were opened at 1500 hours, and smoke-candles were lowered into them at an ordered x-time, thereupon the bandits, seeking escape from what they supposed to be poison gas, crowded together in the center of the former Ghetto, and we were able to pull them out of the sewer entrances there.

I shall come to a decision after tomorrow's operations regarding termination of the action.

Today SS-Gruppenfuehrer and Lieutenant General of Waffen-SS von Horff was present during the operations.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 4/184

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Security Police 2/16

Engineers 4/73

Waffen SS 12/510

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 1/300

German Police 2/138 1/87

Trawniki 270

Polish Police 1/160 1/160

Our losses: 5 wounded, 4 Waffen SS, 1 Police

A total of 398 Jews were caught today, furthermore 154 Jews and bandits were shot in battle. The total of the Jews caught has risen to 55,731.

Booty: rifles, pistols, and ammunition. Further, a number of incendiary bottles (Molotov cocktails).

Termination of action: 2155 hours, will be continued on 15 May 1943 0900 hours.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, May 15th 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab/St/Gr 16 07 Journal No. 648/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 15 April 1943. Start 0900 hours.

The 5 scouting parties who patrolled the Ghetto last night reported that they encountered Jews only sporadically. In contrast to the preceding nights, they were able to shoot 6 or 7 Jews. The combing-out actions today also had little result. 29 more dug-outs were discovered, but part of them were no longer inhabited. A total of 87 Jews were caught today and 67 bandits and Jews were shot in battle. In a skirmish which developed around noon, and in which the bandits again resisted by using Molotov cocktails, pistols, and home-made hand grenades, the gang was destroyed; but subsequently a policeman was wounded by a shot through the right thigh. A special unit once more searched the last block of buildings which was still intact in the Ghetto, and subsequently destroyed it. In the evening the chapel, mortuary, and all other buildings on the Jewish cemetery were blown up or destroyed by fire.

The sum total of Jews caught has risen to 55,885.

Our strength, used in the operation:

German police 4/184

Engineering Em Service 1/6

Security Police 2/16

Engineers 4/74

Waffen SS 12/510

Cordoning forces:

Day Night

Waffen SS 1/300

German Police 2/138 1/87

Trawniki 270

Polish Police 1/160 1/160

Our losses: 1 Policeman wounded.

We captured 4 pistols of larger calibers, 1 infernal machine with fuse, 10 kilograms of explosives, and a considerable amount of ammunition. Termination of operation: 2130 hours. Will be continued on 16 May 1943, 1000 hours.

I will terminate the large-scale operation on 16 May 1943 at dusk, by blowing up the Synagogue, which we did not succeed in accomplishing today, and will subsequently charge Police Battalion III/23 with continuing and completing the measures which are still necessary.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, May 16th, 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab-St/Gr 16 07 Journal Nr. 652/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

Progress of large-scale operation on 16 May 1943, start 1000 hours.

180 Jews, bandits, and subhumans were destroyed. The former Jewish quarter of Warsaw is no longer in existence. The large-scale action was terminated at 2015 hours by blowing up the Warsaw Synagogue.

The measures to be taken with regard to the established banned areas were handed over to the commander of police battalion III/23, whom I instructed carefully.

Total number of Jews dealt with 56,065, including both Jews caught and Jews whose extermination can be proved.

No losses today.

I will submit a final report to the Conference of SS Police Fuehrer on 18 May 1943.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigade Fuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Copy Teletype message From: The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw Warsaw, 24 May 1943.

Ref. No.: I ab-St/Gr 16 07 Journal Nr. 663/43 secret.

Re: Large-scale Ghetto Operation.

Ref: Your teletype message Nr. 946 of 21 May 1943.

To: The Higher SS and Police Fuehrer East, SS-Obergruppenfuehrer and General of Police Krueger—or deputy.

Cracow

I beg to reply to the above teletype message:

No. 1:

Of the total of 56,065 caught, about 7,000 were destroyed in the former Ghetto during large-scale operation. 6,929 Jews were destroyed by transporting them to T.II; the sum total of Jews destroyed is therefore 13,929. Beyond the number of 56,065 an estimated number of 5 to 6,000 Jews were destroyed by being blown up or by perishing in the flames.

No. 2:

A total of 631 dug-outs were destroyed.

No. 3 (booty):

7 Polish rifles, 1 Russian rifle, 1 German rifle.

59 pistols of various calibers.

Several 100 hand grenades, including Polish and home-made ones.

A few 100 incendiary bottles.

Home-made explosive charges.

Infernal machines with fuses.

Large amounts of explosives, ammunition for all calibers, including machine-gun ammunition.

With regard to the bag of arms one must take into consideration that in most cases we were not able to capture the arms themselves, since the Jews and bandits before they were captured threw them away into hideouts and holes which we could not discover or find. The smoke which we had developed in the dug-outs also prevented our men from discovering and capturing the arms. Since we had to blow up the dug-outs at once we were not in a position to search for the arms later on.

The hand grenades, explosive charges, and incendiary bottles captured were used at once against the bandits.

Furthermore, we captured:

1,240 used uniform tunics (partly equipped with medal ribbons, Iron Cross, and East Medal).

600 pairs of used trousers.

Pieces of equipment, and German steel helmets.

103 horses, 4 of them in the former Ghetto (hearse).

We counted up to 23 May 1943:

4.4 million Zloty. We captured moreover about 5 to 6 million Zloty, not yet counted, a considerable amount of foreign currency, including—

$14,300 in paper. $9,200 in gold.

Large amounts of valuables (rings, chains, watches etc.)

No. 4:

With the exception of 8 buildings (police barracks, hospital and accommodations for working parties) the former Ghetto has been completely destroyed. Where blowing-up was not carried out, only partition walls are still standing. But the ruins still contain enormous amounts of bricks and scrap material which could be used.

The SS and Police Fuehrer in the District of Warsaw. Signed: Stroop SS-Brigadefuehrer and Majorgeneral of Police. Certified copy: SS-Sturmbannfuehrer.

Pictorial report [Translator's note: captions of photos follow in order]

1. The building of the former Jewish Council.

2. Out of the factories.

3. Discussion of the evacuation of a factory.

4. The Jewish section chiefs of the armament factory Brauer.

5. Brauer Company!

6. Column marching to the railway station.

7. On the way to the transhipping place.

8. Search and interrogation.

9. Jewish Rabbis.

10. Jewish Rabbis.

11. A patrol.

12. Dregs of humanity.

13. Forcibly pulled out of dug-outs.

14. Just pulled out of a dug-out.

15. Just pulled out of a dug-out.

16. These bandits resisted by force of arms.

17. Bandits destroyed in battle.

18. A dug-out is opened.

19. Jewish traitors.

20. Bandits!

21. Smoking-out of the Jews and bandits.

22. A place which had been prepared for escape and jumping down.

23. Destruction of a block of buildings [2 photos].

24. Destruction of a block of buildings.

25. [no caption]

26. On the way to the transhipping place.

27. Jews are marched away.

28. On the way to the transhipping place.

29. Photos showing parts of so-called dwelling dug-outs.

30-33. [no caption]

34. Measures for covering a street.

35. They were found in underground dug-outs.

36. (1) These bandits are avoiding arrest by jumping down.

(2) Bandits after having jumped down.

37. The radio car of the command post.

38. Ascaris who were used in the operation.

39. The C.O. of the large-scale action.

40. This is how the former Ghetto looks after having been destroyed.

41-48. [no caption]

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1063-A-PS

SECRET

Berlin 2 Jan 1941 The Chief of the Security Police and the Security Service State Police Headquarters, Duesseldorf 15 Jan 1941 IV C2 general Nr. 4685/40 g [rubber stamp] To:

a. Reichs security headquarters (Distributor B).

b. All State police headquarters.

c. All commandants of the security police and security service.

For the information of:

d. All inspectors of the security police and security service.

e. The inspectors of the concentration camps (with 15 copies for the camp commandants).

f. The commanders of the security police and security service in Krakow and Prague.

Subject: Classification of the concentration camps.

The Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German police has given his approval to classify the concentration camps into various categories which take into account the personality of the prisoner as well as the degree of his danger to the State. Accordingly, the concentration camps will be classified into the following categories:

Category I: For all prisoners with only little accusation and definitely qualified for correction, also for special cases and solitary confinement, the camps:

Dachau Sachsenhausen Auschwitz I

(The latter also applies in part to category II)

Category Ia: For all old prisoners and conditionally qualified for work, who can still be used in the medicinal herb gardens, the camp:

Dachau

Category II: For prisoners with heavy accusations, but still qualified for reeducation and correction, the camps:

Buchenwald

Flossenbuerg

Auschwitz II

Category III: For the heavily accused prisoners, at the same time also for those who have been previously convicted for criminal offences, for social prisoners that is to say, those who can hardly be corrected, the camp: Mauthausen.

Not to be included in category Ia are old prisoners not qualified for work and in need of medical treatment. They are therefore to remain in the specifically provided sections for this purpose of the respective concentration camp. More serious cases are to be transferred to the hospital section of the concentration camp Sachsenhausen.

A regrouping of the prisoners within the camps according to the new classification cannot be undertaken right now in view of the current measures for the execution of the prisoner commitment. New dispositions will be made, however, in accordance with the classification.

I ask therefore, that in the future, with the arrest warrant and the transfer to a concentration camp, suggestions be made as to the category of the prisoner with regard to his personality as well as the degree of his danger to the State.

I therefore order that a complete record of the political life, previous convictions for criminal offences and conduct of the prisoner since the taking over of the power be established, and that request for assignment into category III be specifically and carefully motivated.

This decree does not apply to the district and local police authorities.

[seal of the secret state police] /s/ HEYDRICH certified correct /s/ BLEECK

PARTIAL TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1063-B-PS

Headquarters of the Reichs Security Service II C 3 Nr 5028/43-273-2 (General) Berlin 26 July 1943

To the higher SS and Police Chiefs

the commanders of the security police and the security service

the inspectors of the security police and the security service

the deputy of the chiefs of the secret police and the security service within the territory of the military commander in Belgium and northern France in Brussels

the chiefs of the Einsatzgruppe B and D

For the information of:

the state police headquarters

the commandants of the security police and the security service

Reich's security main office—office IV

[seal] State Police Hq Duesseldorf 16 Aug 1943 Subject: Organization of labor reformatory camps

The Reichsfuehrer SS has given his consent that besides concentration camps, which come under the jurisdiction of the SS economical administration main office, further labor reformatory camps may be created for which the security police alone is competent. These labor reformatory camps are dependent on the authorization of the Reichs security main office, which can only be granted in case of emergency (great number of foreign workers, etc.).

At the same time, the Reichsfuehrer SS has forbidden that prison camps of all sorts (among others, enlarged police prisons, labor reformatory camps, transient camps) be placed under the immediate jurisdiction of the higher SS and police chiefs or the commanders and inspectors of the security police and of the security service. He has ordered that those camps come for administration and command under the jurisdiction of the state police headquarters, commandants of the security police and the security service or the immigration and transient agencies. Thus the general supervision of the superior offices remains undisturbed by this affiliation.

The decrees of 28.5.1941 and 12.12.1941 concerning the organization of labor reformatory camps remain also in effect. For the General Government and the occupied territories, reference is made to the decree from 29.3.1943 II c 3 Nr. 5028/43273-2.

[seal of the Reichsleiter] SS and chief /s/ Dr KALTENBRUNNER of the German police Certified correct in the Reichministry /s/ Riemer of the Interior

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1063-D-PS

SECRET

The Chief of the Security Police and the Security Service B. Nr. IV* 656/42 SECRET Berlin 17 Dec 1942

Secret To:

All commanders of the security police and the security service

All inspectors of the security police and the security service

All commandants of the security police and the security service

All chiefs of the State police headquarters

For the information of:

The chief of the SS economic and administration headquarters, SS Lt Gen Pohl

All higher SS and police chiefs

The inspectors of the concentration camps

For reasons of war necessity not to be discussed further here, the Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police on 14 December 1942, has ordered that until the end of January 1943, at least 35,000 prisoners qualified for work, are to be sent to the concentration camps.

In order to reach this number, the following measures are required:

1. As of now (so far until 1 Feb. 1943) all eastern workers or such foreign workers who have been fugitives, or who have broken contracts, and who do not belong to allied, friendly or neutral States are to be brought by the quickest means to the nearest concentration camps. For this, the most necessary formalities, as listed under N. 3 must be observed.

In order to eliminate and to avoid complaints, each and every one of these measures in the individual cases must be presented to third authorities, by giving careful reasons, as being irremissible security police measures.

2. The commanders and the commandants of the security police and the security service, and the chiefs of the State police headquarters will check immediately on the basis of a close and strict ruling.

a. the prisons.

b. the labor reformatory camps.

All prisoners qualified for work, if it is essentially and humanly possible, will be committed at once to the nearest concentration camp, according to the following instructions, for instance also if penal procedures were to be established in the near future. Only such prisoners who in the interest of investigation procedures are to remain absolutely in solitary confinement can be left there.

Every single laborer counts!

The checking must be taken up at once. All withholding of prisoners qualified for work is prohibited. My approval is required for exceptions.

3. The prisoners who are committed to concentration camps till the 1 Feb 1943 will be seized under reference to this decree, solely according to a list (present number, first and second name, place of birth and date, residence, reason for arrest with short commentary). One list will be sent to the Reichs security headquarters as a collective request for both protective custody as well as for commitment to a concentration camp, for which the confirmation can be assumed.

In regards to eastern workers, that is to say for such workers who have to wear the insignia "EAST", it is sufficient to give the total number of the arrested.

One copy goes with the transport to the commander of the concentration camp, and another copy remains with the authorities who are making the commitment.

In order to facilitate the necessary exploitation, the lists are to be made up on single pages and in such a way that enough space be left between the data of the individual prisoners, so that the lists can be cut out.

The lists are to be sent to the Reichs security headquarters, Referat IV c 2.

By direction

signed: MUELLER certified correct [seal of the secret state police] signed: HILLMUTH Chief Secretary of Police

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1063-E-PS

The Chief of the Security Police and the Security Service (SD) IV-C-2 General No. 656/42 g [Initials] B.R. [Stamp] Bureau of State Police, Duesseldorf Berlin, 25 June 1943

TO:

a. All commanders of the security police and the security service

b. All inspectors

c. All commandants

d. All chiefs of the directing office of the state police

e. All groups and sub-divisions [Referate] of Bureau IV of the Reichs Central Office of Security

For information purposes to:

f. The chief of the SS central administrative office of economy, SS Obergruppenfuehrer (Lt Gen) POHL

g. All higher SS and police chiefs

h. SS central administrative office of economy, office group D—Concentration Camp—in Oraninburg (with 30 copies for the camps)

i. Referate II C3

Subject: Increased shipments to concentration camps.

Reference: My decrees of 17 Dec 1942—IV 656/42 g and of 23 March 1943—IV C 2, Gen No 656/42 g

The regulations for exceptions contained in the above mentioned decrees, which achieved their intended goal, are hereby revoked immediately.

The given directives have not been observed everywhere during the execution of those shipments to concentration camps. Subjects of allied, friendly or neutral states, as well as minors, have, for instance in several cases, been committed to concentration camps in spite of the strictest orders to the contrary. Their re-transfer will lead to difficulties and cause an unnecessary, supplemental effort.

In order to prevent justified complaints, especially of a diplomatic nature, I request to check the shipments which have been carried out immediately. Commitments contrary to the regulations must immediately be reported, since the cases have already been classified according to the general rules of protective custody, in every single case, and the release or other dispositions of such prisoners effectuated as quickly as possible.

This decree does not concern district and local police authorities.

By direction

signed: MUELLER Stamp: Reichsfuehrer SS and Chief of the German Police. The Reichs Ministry of the Interior [Pencil note:] Duesseldorf Certified: signed: BLEECK [?] Employee of the Chancellery

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1099-PS

The Commissar General for White Ruthenia Minsk, 29 September 1941

To: The Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, Reichsleiter Rosenberg

Berlin W 35 Rauchstrasse 17/18 Personal My dear Party Comrade Reichsleiter Rosenberg!

Only today, after extensive investigations, was I able to locate the rest of the art treasures in Minsk and store them away in a safe place. Minsk had a large, in part very valuable, collection of art treasures and paintings which were removed almost in their entirety. On an order of the Reichsfuehrer SS, Reichsleiter Heinrich Himmler, most of the paintings, some still during my term of office, were packed by the SS and shipped to the Reich. They are worth several millions of marks and were all taken from the general district of White Ruthenia. The paintings were supposedly sent to Linz and to Koenigsberg in East Prussia. I beg to have these valuable collections, insofar as they are not needed in the Reich, again placed at the disposal of the general district of White Ruthenia, in any case, however, to have the money value secured for the Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories.

According to the report made by a Major of the 707th Division who today handed the remaining treasures over to me, the SS has left the rest of the paintings and works of art to the Wehrmacht for further pillaging, including very valuable paintings and furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, vases, marble objects, clocks, etc. General Stubenrauch has taken a valuable part from Minsk with him up to the front. "Sonderfuehrer" whose names have not yet been reported to me, have carried away furniture, paintings and art objects * * * in 3 trucks, without giving a receipt. I shall ascertain which unit it was, in order to carry out the punishment of those who have made themselves guilty of looting. From the material that was left, local authorities of the Wehrmacht and of the SS took away more art treasures and paintings without my permission; those, however, may still be found in Minsk.

I request that the national socialist painter, Willi Springer, Berlin SW 29, Hasenheide 94, be sent here to restore those paintings which were in part thoughtlessly damaged by knife slashings, so that under his supervision whatever can still be salvaged, should be salvaged. Unfortunately, many valuable vases, china, cupboards, and period furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries were also badly damaged or destroyed. Altogether it is a question of irreplaceable valuables worth millions of marks. I request that for the future the Ministry for Eastern Affairs take action with the competent authorities of the Wehrmacht so that such vandalism be stopped and that those responsible to be threatened with the heaviest possible punishment and that such punishment be inflicted if necessary.

The prehistoric museum also is in a completely devastated state. Valuable precious and semiprecious stones were stolen from the geological section. At the university, instruments worth hundreds of thousands of marks were thoughtlessly destroyed or stolen. May I suggest, my dear Reichsleiter, that you report these events to the Fuehrer? White Ruthenia, already rather poor, has suffered a heavy loss through these actions. I hope that specialists will be employed in Leningrad, and in Moscow, as well as in the old cultural cities in the Ukraine, to prevent occurrences of this kind; otherwise the civilian administration shall find everywhere the same devastation as was found here.

Heil Hitler! Yours faithfully, (signed) Wilhelm KUBE Commissar General for White Ruthenia

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1104-PS

The Personal Reviewer of the Permanent Deputy of the Minister of the Reich

Berlin, 21 November 1941 Bi/T Nr 58 A/41 Secret To Dr. Marquart

Enclosed herewith I transmit to you the copy of an incident regarding the measures against the Jews in the general-district of Minsk, with the request to submit the same to the Minister of the Reich.

On order of the Gauleiter I have sent one copy to Lieutenant General of the SS, Heydrich, with the request for investigation of the incident.

signed: BIGENWALD 3 enclosures

Copy /T The Commissioner General for White Ruthenia Dept Gauleiter/Ka Minsk, 1 November 1941

To the Reich Commissioner for the Eastern Territories, Gauleiter Hinrich Lohse, Riga

Today, money, valuables and other objects were deposited at the cashier of my office against receipt, in the presence of Government Councillor Dr. Idelberger of the Police Battalion 11. These matters were from Sluzk and other regions which the Police Battalion 11 had included in its action without my order and without my knowledge. All objects and the money have been safely deposited by officials of Commissariat General with the Reich Credit Institute [Reichskreditanstalt] and are held at the disposal of the Reich Commissioner. Reserve officer 1st Lieutenant of the Police Brodeck attempted in the course of this incident to purchase gold for private purposes in order to use it for a personal affair, as witnessed by Government Councillor Dr. Idelberger, my adjutant, SS-2nd Lt Wildenstein and myself.

I have immediately reported the case to the responsible field command post at Minsk and requested the arrest of the police officer. 1st Lt Brodeck was immediately set free by the investigating court martial officer as the court martial officer did not find any basis for charges in this incident. This is contrary to the legal conception of my office. Any private dealing in gold is prohibited in the German Reich. Aggravating in this case is furthermore the fact that an officer of the same unit is involved which has effected the liquidation of the former possessors of gold.

The Commissioner General for White Ruthenia signed: KUBE

SECRET Copy / T The Commissioner General for White Ruthenia Dept Gauleiter/Ka Minsk, 1 November 1941 Personal

To the Reich Commissioner for the Eastern Territories Gauleiter Hinrich LOHSE Riga

Enclosed I submit a report of the Commissioner for the territory of Sluzk, party member Carl, with the request not to let this matter rest. Herewith I propose to prosecute the guilty officers commencing with the battalion commander of the security police to the last lieutenant.

For about the last three weeks, I have discussed the Sluzk action against the Jews with the responsible SS-Brigadier General and Brigadier-General of the Protection Police, Zenner, Member of the Reichstag, and I have pointed out that the tradesmen should be spared by all means and that the commissioner responsible for the territory should be contacted prior to the action. Above all, any act lowering the prestige of the German Reich and its organizations in the eyes of the White Ruthenian population should be avoided.

The police battalion No 11 from Kauen has as a unit, directly subordinate to the armed forces, taken independent action without informing me, the SS-Brigadier-General or any other office of the Commissariat General, thereby impairing most seriously the prestige of the German nation. I request to have the commissioner of the territory Carl and all his officials and collaborators from Riga questioned under oath and to record the hearing. Then, in order to set an example, I request to grant my motion to prosecute the entire staff of officers of the police battalion 11.

I am submitting this report in duplicate so that one copy may be forwarded to the Reich Minister. Peace and order cannot be maintained in White Ruthenia with methods of that sort. To bury seriously wounded people alive who worked their way out of their graves again, is such a base and filthy act that this incident as such should be reported to the Fuehrer and Reich Marshal. The civil administration of White Ruthenia makes very strenuous efforts to win the population over to Germany in accordance with the instructions of the Fuehrer. These efforts cannot be brought in harmony with the methods described herein.

The Commissioner General for White Ruthenia signed: KUBE Enclosures

Riga 11 November 1941

Original with two enclosures to the Reich minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories Berlin with the request for consideration. It is deemed necessary that higher authority take immediate steps.

By order of

The Reich Commissioner for the Eastern Territories signed: WICHMANN

Copy/T of the copy The Commissioner of the Territory of Sluzk Sluzk, 30 October 1941 SECRET To the Commissioner General Minsk Subject: Action against Jews

Referring to the report made by phone on 27 October 1941 I now beg to inform you in writing of the following:

On 27 October in the morning at about 8 o'clock a first lieutenant of the police battalion No 11 from Kauen (Lithuania) appeared and introduced himself as the adjutant of the battalion commander of the security police. The first lieutenant explained that the police battalion had received the assignment to effect the liquidation of all Jews here in the town of Sluzk, within two days. The battalion commander with his battalion in strength of four companies, two of which were made up of Lithuanian partisans, was on the march here and the action would have to begin instantly. I replied to the first lieutenant that I had to discuss the action in any case first with the commander. About half an hour later the police battalion arrived in Sluzk. Immediately after the arrival the conference with the battalion commander took place according to my request. I first explained to the commander that it would not very well be possible to effect the action without previous preparation, because everybody had been sent to work and that it would lead to terrible confusion. At least it would have been his duty to inform me a day ahead of time. Then I requested him to postpone the action one day. However, he rejected this with the remark that he had to carry out this action everywhere and in all towns and that only two days were allotted for Sluzk. Within these two days, the town of Sluzk had to be cleared of Jews by all means. I immediately protested violently against it, pointing out that a liquidation of Jews must not be allowed to take place in an arbitrary manner. I explained that a large part of the Jews still living in the towns were tradesmen and families of tradesmen respectively. But these Jewish tradesmen were not simply expendable because they were indispensable for maintaining the economic life. Furthermore, I pointed out that White Ruthenian tradesmen are so to say non-existent, that therefore all vital plants had to be shut down all at once, if all Jews would be liquidated. At the end of our conference, I mentioned that all tradesmen and specialists, inasmuch as they were indispensable, had papers of identification and that these should not be pulled out of the factories. Furthermore, it was agreed that all Jews still living in the town should first be brought into the ghetto in order to segregate them, especially with regard to the families of tradesmen which I did not want to have liquidated either. Two of my officials should be assigned to segregate them. The commander did not in any way contradict my idea and I had therefore the firm belief that the action would be carried out accordingly. However, a few hours after the beginning of the action the greatest difficulties already developed. I noticed that the commander had not at all abided by our agreement. All Jews without exception were taken out of the factories and shops and deported in spite of our agreement. It is true that part of the Jews was moved by way of the ghetto where many of them were processed and still segregated by me, but a large part was loaded directly on trucks and liquidated without further delay outside of the town. Shortly after noon complaints came already from all sides that the factories could not function any more because all Jewish tradesmen had been removed. As the commander had proceeded on his way to Baranowitschi I got in touch with the deputy commander, a captain, after searching a long time, and demanded to stop the action immediately because my instructions had been disregarded and the damage done so far with respect to the economic life could not be repaired any more. The captain was greatly surprised at my idea and stated that he had received orders from the commander to clear the whole town of Jews without exception in the same manner as they had done in other towns. This mopping up had to be executed on political considerations and economic reasons had never played a role anywhere. However, due to my energetic intervention, he finally halted the action toward evening.

For the rest, as regards the execution of the action, I must point out to my deepest regret that the latter bordered already on sadism. The town itself offered a picture of horror during the action. With indescribable brutality on the part of both the German police officers and particularly the Lithuanian partisans, the Jewish people, but also among them White Ruthenians, were taken out of their dwellings and herded together. Everywhere in the town shots were to be heard and in different streets the corpses of shot Jews accumulated. The White Ruthenians were in greatest distress to free themselves from the encirclement. Regardless of the fact that the Jewish people, among whom were also tradesmen, were mistreated in a terribly barbarous way in the face of the White Ruthenian people, the White Ruthenians themselves were also worked over with rubber clubs and rifle butts. There was no question of an action against the Jews any more. It rather looked like a revolution. I myself with all my officials have been in it without interruption all day long in order to save what could yet be saved. In several instances I literally had to expel with drawn pistol the German police officials as well as the Lithuanian partisans from the shops. My own police was employed for the same mission but had often to leave the streets on account of the wild shooting in order to avoid being shot themselves. The whole picture was generally more than ghastly. In the afternoon a great number of abandoned Panje carriages with horses were standing in the streets so that I had to instruct the municipal administration to take care of the vehicles immediately. Afterwards it was ascertained that they were Jewish vehicles ordered by the armed forces to move ammunition. The drivers had simply been taken off the carriages and led away, and nobody had worried in the least about the vehicles.

I was not present at the shooting before the town. Therefore I cannot make a statement on its brutality. But it should suffice, if I point out that persons shot have worked themselves out of their graves some time after they had been covered. Regarding the economic damage I want to state that the tannery has been affected worst of all. 26 experts worked there. Of them, fifteen of the best specialists alone have been shot. Four more jumped from the truck during the transport and escaped, while seven others were not apprehended after they fled. The plant barely continues to operate today. Five wheelwrights worked in the wheelwright shop. Four of them have been shot and the shop has to keep going now with one wheelwright. Additional tradesmen such as carpenters, blacksmiths, etc. are still missing. Up till now it was impossible for me to obtain an exact survey. I have mentioned already in the beginning, that the families of tradesmen should be spared too. But now it seems that almost in all families some persons are missing. Reports come in from all over, making it clear that in one family the tradesman himself, in another family the wife and in the next one again the children are missing. In that way, almost all families have been broken up. It seems to be very doubtful whether under these circumstances the remaining tradesmen will show any interest in their work and produce accordingly, particularly as even today they are running around with bloody and bruised faces due to the brutality. The White Ruthenian people who had full confidence in us, are dumbfounded. Though they are intimidated and don't dare to utter their free opinion, one has already heard that they take the viewpoint that this day does not add to the glory of Germany and that it will not be forgotten. I am of the opinion that much has been destroyed through this action which we have achieved during the last months and that it will take a long time until we shall regain the confidence of the population which we have lost.

In conclusion I find myself obliged to point out that the police battalion has looted in an unheard of manner during the action, and that not only in Jewish houses but just the same in those of the White Ruthenians. Anything of use such as boots, leather, cloth, gold and other valuables, has been taken away. On the basis of statements of members of the armed forces, watches were torn off the arms of Jews in public, on the street, and rings were pulled off the fingers in the most brutal manner. A major of the finance department reported that a Jewish girl was asked by the police to obtain immediately 5,000 rubles to have her father released. This girl is said to have actually gone everywhere in order to obtain the money.

Also within the ghetto, the different barracks which had been nailed up by the civil administration and were furnished with Jewish furniture, have been broken open and robbed. Even from the barracks in which the unit was quartered, window frames and doors have been forcibly removed and used for campfires. Although I had a discussion with the adjutant of the commander on Tuesday morning concerning the looting and he promised in the course of the discussion that none of the policemen would enter the town any more, yet I was forced several hours later to arrest two fully armed Lithuanian partisans because they were apprehended looting. During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday the battalion left the town in the direction of Baranowitschi. Evidently, the people were only too glad when this report circulated in the town.

So far the report. I shall come to Minsk in the immediate future, in order to discuss the affair personally once again. At the present time, I am not in a position to continue with the action against the Jews. First, order has to be established again. I hope that I shall be able to restore order as soon as possible and also to revive the economic life despite the difficulties. Only, I beg you to grant me one request: "In the future, keep this police battalion away from me by all means."

signed: CARL

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1107-PS

SECRET The Leader of Directorate Group, Cultural Missions P / 551a/44g Expert: Goepel Berlin, 17 May 1944.

To the Chief of Operational Staff Politic [Fuehrungestabes Politik] Inter-office Memorandum.

Subject: Bringing of Museum Objects and Works of Art from the Occupied Eastern Territories into the Reich.

Information received concerning the bringing back of museum objects and other works of art now public property in the occupied Eastern Territories into the Reich has shown that the interests of the ministry of the East, i.e., of the Reich in this matter are not being presented with sufficient stress. There is no reason for leaving these museum stocks, some of which are extremely valuable, in the hands of various offices and authorities without establishing unmistakably the claim of possession, i.e., the right of disposal of the Reich. The atrocity propaganda of the enemy side has taken up this question at large and has retained with it evident success in the incitement against Germany in this and foreign countries.

Besides the department of archives in the Reich Ministry, the following have brought back works of art from the occupied Eastern Districts (place of deposit Troppau):

Reich Commissioner for Ukraine.

(East and West European Museum—place of deposit Kiew in the district Reichau (Wehlau)).

(Museum Charkow—place of deposit Wildenhof near Zinten. Various museums of the Ukraine—place of deposit—Troppau)

Reich Commissioner for the East.

(Stock of Museum Minsk—place of deposit Koenigsberg and Castle Hochstedt/Donau)

Einsatzstab Rosenberg.

(Museum objects from the Ukraine—place of deposit Krakau)

Armed forces from various places.

(places of deposit unknown)

For political reasons I consider it important that the rights of possession of the evacuated museums be kept up fully, respectively in all cases where no owner is known, the right of possession of the Reich is to be clarified. I, therefore, ask for approval of the following measures:

1. A decree is to go to all offices involved according to which all works of art of public property which have been brought back should be put under direct control of the ministry of the East.

2. Action should be taken to inventory all returned objects of art and have their art and material values determined.

3. The places of deposit of these objects of art seized in this way are to be examined by experts and, if necessary the required measures taken to secure these objects from air damage or other destruction. A checking at regular intervals of the conditions and intactness of the stocks should be made as is done at the places of deposit of the German museums.

MS 18/5 [v.d. Milwe-Schroeden]

TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENT 1109-PS

Draft Copy Z.f.O. Berlin, 17 June 1944. SECRET

Note for the Director of Operational Group [Fuehrungsgruppe] P-4, Herrn v.d. Milwe-Schroeden, in the building

Concerning: Bolshevic Atrocity Propaganda. Case: Memoranda of the Special Staff RR dated 15 April 1944.

1. Evacuation of the Population. The undersigned was in Kiev during the whole of October 1943 until the beginning of November, shortly before the occupation of the city by Soviet Russia. At the beginning of October a part of the population had been evacuated especially in the parts of the town by the Dnieper and the areas in question were declared "battle zones". During October the population of the city was further evacuated quarter by quarter. This evacuation took place by order of the military authorities; it was, however, carried out by the civil administration [Stadtkommandantur]. The trolley line and the railway trains had already been put in readiness by the German civil administration. Nonetheless, the greater proportion of the inhabitants listened to the Soviet counter-propaganda, with the result that they did not wish to abandon the city; they sought accommodation in quarters still untouched by the evacuation or went off on foot to the neighboring areas of the city. There was an uninterrupted stream of homeless people wandering through the streets, with a few belongings. Hardship was unavoidable as a result of the evacuation, but it was still further increased by the passive resistance of the population. Protection could not be set up in the evacuated sections of the city, so there were very soon no locked doors. It was probably mainly members of the local bands dressed in field gray, who are to be held responsible for the plundering of empty dwellings, etc. At this time much property belonging to museums and institutions was destroyed.

2. The Removal of Cultural Property. A great deal of material from museums, archives, institutions and other cultural institutions was taken out of and away from Kiev in the autumn of 1943, in the proper way. These actions to safeguard the material were carried out by the Special Purpose Staff RR as well as by the individual institute directors etc. at the instigation of the Reich Commissar. At the beginning a great deal of the evacuated property was taken only to the rear areas; later on this material was forwarded to the Reich. When the undersigned, towards the end of September, received the mission from the cultural division of the Reich Commissar to take out of Kiev the remaining cultural effects, the most worthwhile materials from the cultural point of view had already been removed. During October some 40 carloads of cultural effects were sent to the Reich. In this case it was chiefly a question of valuables which belonged to the research institutions of the national Research Centre of the Ukraine. These institutions are continuing their work at the present time in the Reich and are being directed in such a manner that at a given moment they can be brought back into the Ukraine. The cultural valuables which could not be promptly safeguarded, were plundered. In this case, it was always a question, however, of less valuable material, as the principal valuables were taken away in accordance with orders.