Small Riga Ghetto

102
That evening, when the take had been counted up at the command headquarters,
it was of course concluded that it was much too low. Thereupon the
Kommandant summoned Kölmann and Wand and informed them that if any
money or valuables should still be found in anyone's possession, they too - that
is, Kölmann and Wand - would be put to death. The deadline for the second
"voluntary contribution" was set for three days later.
Kölmann and Wand, who realized at once that the situation was serious,
called in the prominent members of our ghetto so that they could discuss the
situation with them and immediately draw up a list of wealthy people who
were in the ghetto. All those on the list were forced to make a contribution
consisting of paper money, gold rubles and valuables. Large wooden boxes
were used for this collection and the contents were then handed over to "Herr
Kommandant".
Moreover, part of the total was used to buy a solid-gold cigar case for the
Kommandant, which was then filled with gold coins and jewels. This was intended
to "soothe" him somewhat. Three persons, including Wand, handed it
over. Later the rumor arose that Wand had intended to keep the cigar case for
himself, but the presence of the other two had prevented him from doing so.
People also said that only a fraction of the entire collection had landed in the
SD coffers, and that a far larger part had remained with the "prominent figures".
In any case, by paying well we avoided a gzeire (affliction). We were
satisfied, and the Kommandant was even more so!
After the columns returned from the money collection, our policeman Damski
was standing at the Prague Gate. He turned to the people passing him and
said, smiling, "That's what you stupid boys get for going into the German
ghetto and pretending to be well-to-do!"
Nonetheless, the order to give up our money claimed some victims later on;
it was discovered that certain people had money, and they were shot on the
spot.
After people had been talking about it for some time, about 350 Jews – men,
women and children – arrived on 25 October 1942 from Lithuania. Among
them were some very well-known people. The new arrivals were taken from
the railroad station directly to the Spilve camp (see the chapter "Satellite
Camps - Small Concentration Camps"). This arrival caused great joy among
the Lithuanian Jews in the ghetto, for some of their relatives were among the
new arrivals.