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FIGHTERS ON THE FRONT AND IN THE FORESTS 339
in the home of peasant, a "Shtundist," and he
gave us food. When I told him we were going to
Glusha, he dissuaded us from going there, because
partisans came there and murdered foresters,
especially Poles. He proposed that I accept
a position as a gamekeeper 2 miles from his
house because the previous gamekeeper wanted
to leave. The gamekeeper sent me to the forest
commissar in Kamien-Koshirsk, who in turn gave
me a letter to his brother-in-law, Milash Dart,
who would go with me to the commissar.
When I came to the brother-in-law of the
gamekeeper in Kamien-Koshirsk, it was Sunday
morning. He was dressed and ready to go to
church. He told me to join him in church, where
he would introduce me to Commissar Ofke. My
wife and I had no idea how to behave in a church,
but we had no choice. We entered the church and
lowered ourselves to our knees with everybody
else. We watched the behavior of the Poles and
followed suit.
Upon leaving the church, Milash introduced
me to the commissar. He promised to receive us
in his residence at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. In
our conversation, I told the commissar we were
Poles, that we had done forced labor for the Germans
in uniting the rivers Bug and Switerz. However,
we said, the work was too hard so we ran
away. I further told him I was by profession a
forest inspector and was asking his help.
He told me to come to his office the following
morning and he would give me a position as forester
in Wielka-Glusha (exactly where I had intended
to travel before).
In the office of the forest commissar, I had
to fill out a questionnaire consisting of 37 questions
and only then did I receive the job as forester
in Wielka-Glusha. I was provided with official
transportation to the place of work, and the
chief forester found us a large furnished room in
town, in the home of a widow.
On October 21, I began my job; however, in
light of the fact that I had no idea about my work,
I used to take the papers home in the evening
and try to make head and tails of them. I also
made an effort to keep my distance from the Poles
in town. However, they tried hard to get close to
me. The reason was that their wood allotment
depended on my decision and winter was around
the corner.
We had no radio or newspapers, but we
heard that Jews in cities and towns were being
murdered. The peasants would catch the hiding
Jews and bring them to the police so they could
get the reward of kerosene or salt.
On November 7, I received a circular stating
that in connection with the demand by the
Reich's commissar, all foresters must submit
within seven days the following documents: a
statement from the last workplace; a statement
as to one's education as a forester. The following
morning I informed my supervisor that I
couldn't produce the required documents on
such short notice because they were with my
parents, and I asked him to extend the deadline
for about two months or release me from the job.
He replied that it was impossible to extend
the deadline. However, he proposed that I go to
the police and speak with Commissar Ofke, who
had given me the job. We did so, but Ofke's reply
was negative.
I barely finished my conversation when my
landlady came and informed me that my wife
had labor pains. I went directly home, bringing
a midwife. The next morning a baby was born.
The doctor ordered my wife to stay in bed for
the next 20 days.
On November 10, in the morning, I submitted
my papers from the office, and by doing so I
received a statement that I had worked as a forest
ranger and quit of my own free will. I said
goodbye to my coworkers and went home.
Once I was home, my wife and I began to
review our bad situation. First, people in town
would begin to wonder why I quit my job; second,
we couldn't leave because of my wife's health;
third, we had no place to go or person to help us.
That day, we were visited by Majewski, director
of a dairy, who brought us a package of fresh
butter in honor of the new baby. He noticed we
were very sad, and when I told him what had
happened, he offered me a job in his place. For
appearance's sake, I scowled a little at the offer
because this was not my profession, but in the
end I agreed and the director left satisfied.
On November 11, in the morning, I started