Mail is no longer delivered to the Jews of Lodz, second largest city of Nazi-occupied Poland, who are isolated in a ghetto surrounded by barbed-wire fences, according to evidence published today by Glos Polski, Polish Government organ.
The paper printed the photostatic copy of an envelope, dated March 18, which was addressed to a Jew in Lodz and which was returned with the written notation by the letter carrier: “Empfaenger wohnt im Ghetto. Eintreten polizeilich verboten.” This means: “Addressee lives in ghetto. Entrance forbidden by police.”
The text of the Nazi order instituting the ghetto was received here. It ordered the evacuation of Jews into the ghetto by Dec. 31, 1940, and removal of Poles and Germans from the ghetto by Feb. 29, 1940. The order, signed by the Nazi chief of Police in Lodz, states:
“In order to have the Jews who reside in various parts of Lodz completely isolated a special section is being prepared for them north of Deutschland Place formerly Place Wolgosczi–the borders being the following streets: Strfania to Sadowa Street, to Zabia; Takascziewskiego to Marishanska, to Smuggova, to Szilinska, to Fulnaza, to Stub, to Woschodnia, to Lubkan, to Posznanski’s factory and from the factory to Drewbnowska; from Drewbnowska to Pivna, followed by Urgedniczna and all of Advocazka Street.
“The Lodz authorities will delineate the borders more exactly. Meanwhile, the streets Nowomejhki, Ogerska and Limanovska will be open to Jews for traffic only by car, not for walking. Walking on foot in these streets is prohibited to Jews.
“All Germans and Poles who reside in that part of the city will be obliged to move from there, together with their families, household property and labor implements by Feb. 29, 1940. The Germans will receive dwellings in the center of the city in accordance with their own suggestions, which will be received by the Dwelling and Moving Department.
“Poles will be quartered in the other section of the city, around the Kaliszer railway station. (The boundary of the Polish section is not given.)
“The general transfer of Jews will take place gradually, in accordance with instructions which the authorities will issue setting the place and time of the transfer.
“Each landlord or principal tenant, Jew or non-Jew, must accept in his house anyone whom the authorities assign. Those transferred must submit on the day of their transfer a detailed list of their furniture and the number of rooms in the apartment they have vacated. Landlords throughout the city, except in the section assigned for Jews, must report to the police regarding all Germans and Poles who have moved into their houses.
“Jews engaged in industry or artisanship who cannot be replaced may continue working in factories when the factory owner recommends it, providing the latter obligates himself to feed these Jews and to keep them in isolated quarters without their families and undertakes to take care of all matters concerning these Jews.
“Violation of this order will result in fine of 150 marks or imprisonment. The order goes into effect immediately and must be carried out by Dec. 31. 1940.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
