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214 J. GRAF, T. KUES, C. MATTOGNO, SOBIBÓR
derably more intelligent than the mass of White Ruthenian population,
presents great risk for pacification of White Ruthenia.”
The report goes on to state that the Jewish population of White Ruthenia
was “Bolshevik and apt to adopt any kind of anti-German
stance,” being involved in clandestine resistance activities. Hence, the
German-Jewish deportees would get in touch with communist organizations.
For that reason, and also because the transports were hampering
the German army, the commander asked “to ensure that no Jews will be
sent from Germany to White Ruthenia.”
The protests, however, would always be ignored. Franz Walter Stahlecker,
chief of the security police and SD for the Reichskommissariat
Ostland, notified Lohse: 622
“Jewish transports will continue to arrive at Minsk as planned.
Of the 25 transports originally scheduled for Riga, the first 5 will be
sent to Kowno.”
On 13 January 1942, a note from Lohse’s staff reiterated: 623
“Submitted to Reichskommissar [Lohse] requesting acknowledgement
of report from Minsk city Kommissar regarding evacuation
of allegedly 50,000 Jews from Germany to Minsk.
In the absence of other orders from Reichskommissar, the instruction
of 28/11 will remain in force to the effect that objections
against any kind of transport from Germany are no longer to be
raised.”
The Minsk local Kommissar, Wilhelm Janetzke, who opposed deportations
into this city, turned directly to Rosenberg on 5 January
1942. In a letter concerning “The evacuation of Jews from Germany to
Minsk” he explained that he had learned that the central agencies intended
“to send another roughly 50,000 Jews from Germany to Minsk.”
The city lay literally in ruins, with some 100,000 civilians living
there, in addition to “some 7,000 Jews from Germany,” as well as “approximately
15 to 18,000 Russian Jews” as prisoners. Hence, it was impossible
to house any more people. In addition to these difficulties,
there were “the very serious problems of feeding the population (including
the Jews).” For these reasons, Janetzke requested the deportations of
Jews to Minsk to be suspended. 624
622
623
624
GARF, 7445-2-145, p. 62. The original has Kauen, the German name for Kowno.
GARF, 7445-2-145, p. 67.
GARF, 7445-2-145, p. 67.